Assisted Wedding

How To Choose Your Wedding Reception Hall

December 17, 2009

You’re engaged! Now you need to set a date and choose the setting for your reception. You can have a lot of fun with this, but it can wear you out. There are so many possibilities and so many variables.

Do you want a large ballroom or a smaller, more intimate location? Can you afford what you want? How much decorating do you want to do? How many guests will you have? Does the hall allow an outside caterer? The answers to these questions, and probably a few more, will determine where you will hold your reception. Here are five items that should help you find the right place. First, think about your lifestyle. Do you prefer a simple setting in a rustic location or are the suburbs more to your liking? Are you someone who likes big city life? Are you planning a lavish event that will accommodate everyone you know? Or do you like the ambiance of a small gathering where your intimate friends and family will feel welcome?

Think about the place you would like to have your reception and then research the surrounding area for something that fits with your preferences. Look at the size of your guest list. Will your budget allow for the kind of reception you want to have? The answers will determine which locations are either too small, too large, or cost far more than you have to spend.

Many reception halls have websites and you can save yourself time by getting information online. Email any questions you might have. After you’ve done your homework, pick four or five wedding reception halls and make an appointment to see the rooms that are available.

This can be a lot of fun! When you visit a facility you’ll be able to visualize how the room will look on your special day. Remember to write down your questions so that you can ask them of each reception hall manager. If you have a digital camera, take pictures so that later you can refresh your memory.

By the time you have seen all of the reception halls you should know how much you will need to spend, what kind of food is offered, the preferred caterers, various fees, down payments, room capacity, hours of operation, deadlines for payment, and other details. There’s more homework now as you make your final decision and you can’t wait a long time to do this. Call the facility you’ve chosen and reserve your date because good reception halls are in high demand.

Don’t wait too long or the place you like best may already be booked by someone else. You probably will have to pay something down to hold the date. After you have your reception hall booked you can start thinking about how you want it to look on the big day. You’ll need to decide whether you want round tables or long tables, white or pastel tablecloths, small or large centerpieces, small gifts for your friends and family, cameras at each table, a DJ or live band, and much more.

Your wedding will be unique and your reception will be a reflection of who you are and what you value. The planning you put into it will guarantee a reception that will be perfect in every way. Whatever else you do, remember to have fun making your choices. This is a day you will remember forever and life is too short to settle for anything less.

Posted in: Wedding Destinations