The wedding reception is that part of the wedding that your guests will look forward to. Not just for the eating and drinking, but because they will have the opportunity to mingle with others as well. Also, the reception is technically the first party that you and your fiance will host as husband and wife. You want a picture-perfect place for your picture-perfect wedding.
In order to decide on a great place for the reception, you should think about this:
Would you like your reception to be inside or out? In order to host a garden reception, it is necessary to consider the weather. Always take the rainy seasons into consideration when opting for a garden wedding, and avoid winter and the fall. Something else you could do is to rent a roof deck area big enough for all the attendees. Just think of the lovely view everyone will have. There are a lot of options that you can pick from if you choose to have your reception indoors. Many fine hotels and country clubs have a space for wedding receptions, but you have to book it well in advance.
If budget is an issue, you can simply hold your wedding reception at your home, or your fiance’s, if it is spacious and presentable enough. You might also consider relatives at this point, who may be willing to let you use their houses for your reception. Just think about how much you can save by planning it so that you don’t have to pay for the location. Another way to remedy financial concerns is to decide what is more important to you and balance things accordingly. For instance, it may be the best choice to go for spending more on the venue for your wedding by spending less on someting else. In this spirit, there are many gorgeous yet cheap wedding dresses, cheap tuxedos, and cheap wedding shoes that you can choose from.
How formal is your wedding? Most formal weddings have receptions in swanky banquet halls inside hotels and country clubs. Formal dress will most likely be best inside. The beach is always a great choice if you are open to having somewhat of a less formal ceremony. The relaxed, island vibe to be had on the sand will do better with a casual wedding reception.
What part of the world will your attendees be coming from? If many of them will be coming in from out of town, it will make it more convenient for them if you book a location that is in a hotel where they can stay before and after the event. And as inviting as it may seem to have your wedding in a picturesque Italian castle, it wil only cause problems if most of the people you are inviting are from the United States and will have to spend a great deal to get to the event.
How much do you want to spend? Some couples go so overboard with planning for the dresses and the wedding proper, and neglect to opt for a quality cheap plus size wedding gown or inexpensive bouquet instead, that they forget to provide enough of a budget for the reception. Some venues will offer packages that include the food, the music, the beverages and decor; there are some that you have to pay for separately. To find somewhere that makes you happy, scout the area for places, look through magazines, or do research on the net. There are lots of wedding sites that offer comprehensive listings of venues and restaurants that can host your reception.
Pick a unique place. Instead of having your reception in a banquet hall, you might try thinking outside the box by booking an art museum, planetarium, or aquarium. If you are okay with doing a bit of extra legwork, you will be shocked at the places that agree to host your reception, and delighted by the unique aspect of it all.
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