Planning a Wedding Reception

A wedding reception takes careful planning. After all, you want everything to be perfect. It's easy to see how a couple can become overwhelmed with all the details. Unless they hire a wedding planner, they have to be sure they didn't leave anything out.

Set a Date

If you haven't already set a date, you need to do so before shopping around for reception locations. Many venues are booked at least a year or two in advance. Without that date, you can't move forward on anything. Even the salon where the bride purchases her dress will want to know the wedding date. Once that date is set, you can get down to business.

Your choice of wedding date might have a lot to do with the cost of your reception. For instance, getting married during the week is much cheaper than getting married on a weekend. In some places, getting married on a Sunday costs less money than a Saturday. Also, the time of year makes a big difference. Catering halls scramble to add events during the winter months (with the exception of Valentine's Day). You might consider getting married at the end of January to receive a discount.

Set a Budget

The second most important item on your "to do" list after setting a date, is setting a budget. Once your budget is set, you can decide what type of wedding reception to plan. For instance, the couple on a budget might want something low key with only a few guests, while the couple with unlimited resources might pull out all the stops. When you're figuring your budget make sure you've included all of the wedding incidentals including clothes, invitations, flowers, photography, videography, favors, cake and anything else that will figure into the cost of your wedding. The reception may be your biggest expense, but it is by no means your only expense.

How Many Guests

Since most reception halls charge by "the head," it's important to know how many guests you will be inviting to the happy event. Even if you'll be pruning down your list later, it's still important to have a rounded off figure to offer the sales person at the reception hall. Your head count will determine the size of the room, which will figure into the per head cost. If you're unsure of exactly how many guests will be coming as of that early date, it's best to give a figure that may be a little high than to not know at all.

What to Look For

What should you look for in a reception hall? That answer differs from couple to couple. It's a safe bet that the establishment must be clean, affordable and have a stellar reputation. Most couples discover their reception locations from attending other weddings. The recommendations and testimonials of other couples are important.

Most newsstands carry wedding magazines and directories. These directories are different for each region. A good way to weed out reception halls is to go through one of these directories. They offer charts listing all of the reception and catering halls in each region. Each chart will list the various amenities. At a glance you will be able to see which venue is affordable to you and what the package might include. Make a short list of halls from this directory and make an appointment to meet with a representative from each.

Shop Around

It's important to shop around for wedding reception location to be sure you're getting the most for your money. Each venue might offer different packages. Many will include a room for the bride to prepare, ceremony location, food, open bar, champagne toast, wedding cake and music. You're welcome to partake in as many or as few of the amenities as you’d like. You may prefer to have your own baker bake your wedding cake, for instance.

It's not only about who can offer the cheapest package, however. Make sure you take a thorough tour of the reception facilities. Is the room to your liking? Is it well lit? Is it clean? Is it cheerful?

When you find the perfect spot for your reception, you'll be requested to put down a down payment. In many cases it's a percentage of the perceived final bill. This will secure your wedding date.

Afterwards

After the reception venue has been chosen, you'll need to shop around for the other components of the party. The manager of the catering hall is sure to have recommendations for musicians, disc jockeys, florists and photographers. You can go with these or choose your own. It's important to meet with all wedding professionals beforehand to make sure they're worthy of your event. Make note of available packages and keep these packages in mind as you compare prices with other wedding professionals.

When you plan your wedding reception, you're planning what might be the most important party of your life. It's important you and your guests have a wonderful time and the day is the fairy tale you always dreamed it to be. Never settle on a professional you don't trust, even if they cost less money.

Source : weddings.lovetoknow.com

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