You’re married. Now it’s time to celebrate! This is a time for you and your husband to relax, mingle, dance, chat, and thoroughly enjoy the company of your friends and loved ones. While finding the ideal reception location is one of the biggest and most important wedding-related tasks, have no fear…we’re here to help. Below are six simple steps to finding the right reception site for your perfect day.
Step 1: What to do first
“Where?” is the biggest question regarding the reception. Before you can work on this question, however, you’ll need to know two things: what style of wedding do you envision and how big? Obviously, a casual, relaxed, summer afternoon reception would require a completely different reception site than a formal, elegant, winter evening reception – so clarify the type of wedding (and the time of year) you both desire first. Once that’s been established, determine the rough guest list, including all interested parties: you and your groom and each set of parents. Of course, you’ll also need to consider your budget as well. This will have great influence on the number of guests you can afford to have. Once you’ve made these critical decisions, it’s time to start looking for the ideal reception site. As with anything, the more time you have, the better: some choice reception sites get booked one to two years in advance, particularly for prime dates.
Step 2: Start the search
Local bridal publications like Premier Bride Mississippi, the Internet, bridal shows, and married friends are all good sources of potential reception sites. If you have no idea where to hold your reception, consider: hotels, banquet halls, restaurants, community centers, and country clubs. Other less obvious options are country inns, historic homes or mansions, city parks, college or university facilities, art galleries, museums, and boats. Each location offers its own unique style and ambiance.
There are two basic types of reception facilities: on-site and off-site. Most on-site locations provide the majority of services you will need for your reception: catering, beverages, tables, chairs, tableware, linens, and serving staff, making this a very convenient option. The facilities normally charge on a per person basis and have a minimum guest requirement. Such locations include hotels, private clubs, and restaurants. Off-site locations offer the use of the facility only, providing no other services. You supply nearly everything yourself, paying a flat fee for the use of the site. The nice thing about off-site locations is the freedom to do everything your own way and having more choices – although this can also mean more work!
Narrow down your search by focusing on those sites that seem to best meet your needs, depending on your style, season, and estimated guest count. Once you’ve selected some possibilities, it’s time to go on a road trip with your fiancé, maid of honor, and/or Mom to check out the sites in person.
Part II will be in Friday’s blog. Stay tuned!