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Tips on Choosing a Wedding Reception Venue

Most of your wedding will be spent at the reception venue. That is why picking the perfect spot is so important to the success of your wedding. These are the top tips on choosing a wedding reception venue.

Before you even visit a possible venue, find out how many guests they can accommodate comfortably. You want to avoid a site where your guests will feel crushed together, of course, but it is also important to choose a space that will feel cozy and intimate for a smaller guest list. The atmosphere of the party will be really low energy if a vast space swallows up a small number of guests. Ideally your guest list should fall somewhere in the middle of the range the venue can hold. If you are on the upper end, be careful to ask about whether the max capacity is for a seated dinner or a buffet (some places will squeeze the tables closer together when they do not need to keep a path clear for servers).

Of course, price is a key consideration in choosing a reception venue. Find out not only what the price range is for the size of your wedding (there will be a range, depending on your menu choices), but also exactly what it includes. At some venues, the rental cost covers nothing more than the space itself, leaving the bride and groom to hire the catering staff, bring in a large number of rentals, and so forth. This will always add up quickly (as will a tent rental), so if budget is a concern, look for an all inclusive venue.

Also find out what your venue is willing to let you bring in yourself, should you choose. Do you have to use their liquor, or can you save money by buying your own alcohol from a wholesale warehouse? Can you use the baker of your choice for the wedding cake? If you wish to have a specialty menu (such as Indian food or cuisine from Brazil), will they work with an outside caterer? These can be very important factors in determining both the style and cost of your reception.

Then there is style, which to many brides is one of the most important things about a wedding venue. Take a look around, does the room (or outdoor site) fit in with your image of a dream wedding? If you love glamor, plan to wear a satin ballgown with crystal bridal jewelry, and have an orchestra play, the reception venue needs to be grand and elegant. (Brides who love crystal bridal jewelry always love fancy chandeliers!) On the other hand, if you plan to serve an organic vegetarian meal and have a bluegrass band, you need a space with an easy rustic charm, like a farm. Both places are great, but they are not great for the same type of wedding.

Finally, give some thought to weather. When you are choosing an outdoor reception site, obviously you will need a back up plan in case of rain. Can a tent be set up outside, or would you have to move to an inside conference room? If you hate the back up plan, keep looking. Take the views of the venue into consideration, as well. I once attended a reception that was held in a fairly pedestrian site which was chosen not for the charm of its interior decor, but for the walls of huge windows with impressive views over water of New York City. The only problem was that there was fog and pouring rain on the day of the wedding; the feature which the bride and groom had most cherished about their venue was completely obliterated by the weather. Don’t let this happen to you!

Keep these tips in mind, and you will be well on your way towards finding the reception venue that will be the best possible place to host your dream reception. Happy hunting!

Guy has been writing about society and weddings for a long time. If you have a topic you would like to know about. Let us know at SilverlandJewelry.com. Crystal bridal jewelry adds the perfect sparkle to a wedding gown.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Guy_Antonelli

Posted in: Wedding Planning

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