Planning The Reception

The Perfect Venue
Once you have determined a budget for your reception, it’s time to consider your options. The choices usually revolve around function centres, restaurants, clubs, hotels, and marquees. But other locations can include halls, gardens, boats, private houses, wineries and museums.

Special Meaning
If practical, selecting a venue that has special meaning for you both offers a romantic solution to the question of a location for your reception.

Ideally, the venue should suit your personality and reflect your individuality. However, some of the key factors you must consider include location, capacity and catering.

Room to Move
Choose a reception venue that is relatively close to the ceremony, your photography location, and your wedding night accommodation. This makes your day less stressful, and travelling much easier for your guests.

Your venue should be large enough to seat your guests comfortably, with sufficient room for your entertainers and their equipment, as well as a dance floor. Ask whether the venue has a lounge or similar area for your guests to gather while you are having your photographs taken.

Also enquire whether there is a room you could use to freshen up on arrival, and to change into your going away outfit before you leave. And if some of your guests are elderly and find stairs difficult, or require wheelchair access, ensure that this won’t present a problem.

An Intimate Affair
If your reception is to be a more intimate affair, make sure the venue you choose has a suitably sized room. Restaurants can be an excellent choice in this regard. Many restaurants cater for smaller wedding groups and can offer menu choices suitable for wedding breakfasts, brunches, lunches or dinners.

Choice of Menu
Some venues do not have their own caterers, so you will need to arrange for your own. If the venue you have in mind does include catering, be sure you are happy with the choice of menus and the quality of the food before making a booking.

Reception Perfection
Many reception venues will provide a wedding co-ordinator to help with all of your arrangements and will work with you to create the reception of your dreams. They may also offer package deals. This is a wonderful idea as it can make your budgeting decisions so much easier. As well as a choice of menu, your package may include many additional wedding services such as decorations, cake, MC, music, etc.

Optional Extras
Before booking, enquire about any optional extras, or surcharges for items such as floral arrangements, pre-dinner savouries or table linen.

Also be sure that you know the length of time the venue is allowing for your reception. It is also wise to ask if other functions have been booked in during the same time frame. If so, is there sufficient space to allow for privacy?

Booking Your Venue
When you have decided on your venue, book it immediately and ensure you receive written confirmation of date, time, inclusions, menu, and any other special arrangements. Provide the venue with your estimated guest numbers at the time of booking, but be sure to confirm the exact number closer to the day.

Changing Traditions
Traditionally, the bride’s parents pay for the wedding reception. However, you may find it more appropriate to either meet the costs, or contribute to them. Discuss this tactfully with your parents before any decisions are made.

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