Begin Your Reception Planning Early in the Process

There are only a few major decisions to be made when planning a wedding. After deciding to get married, the next biggest decision will likely be the location of the reception.

Some couples choose to set the date first and find an available venue. Other couples find it easier to find the reception venue and let that determine the date of the ceremony. Many venues are booked one to two years in advance, depending upon the popularity of the venue. If you have a long planning horizon – in excess of one year – you can probably choose your wedding date and find a reception location to suit you. The less time you have to plan, however, the more flexible you’ll need to be when it comes to the date.

Dates that fall on Saturday are the most popular, and they book fast. If you have your heart set on a Saturday evening event, you’ll have less control of where and when your nuptials will take place. A longer engagement isn’t the worst tragedy to befall a bride-to-be. Extending your planning period also gives you more time to save money for the wedding bills.

Before you choose a venue, you’ll need to know approximately how many people you will invite to your wedding. Understand that not all of your invited guests will be able to attend the reception, so choosing a reception site whose maximum capacity approaches or even exceeds your guest list should work out in most cases. The more local people you invite, the more likely they are to attend, so plan accordingly.

The choice of reception venue may also dictate other elements of your wedding reception. More likely than not, choosing a commercial venue will dictate your choice of catering service. It may also determine your reception decorations, the length of your reception, photography rules, alcohol service and more. If you choose a commercial reception site, ask about all of these things before you sign a contract.

If you’re having trouble making a choice, see if you can visit the site discreetly while a wedding reception is taking place. Seeing a reception in progress may help you make your final decisions about where you want to hold your reception.

Keywords: Reception Venues, Weddingblog, Wedding

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