Picking a Reception Spot

You have probably always had a vision of what your wedding would be like, most women dream of this most important day their whole lives. You've pictured the dress, the cake, and likely even the setting for which you want to hold the wedding. Now that it's time to plan your wedding, picking a reception venue can be one of the most important parts of your wedding planning. It's one of the first things that you want to book and so you want to be absolutely certain that you pick a setting and venue that is perfect for how you want things to flow on your special day.

If you are going with a more traditional wedding, then you will likely want to visit several reception halls and restaurants in the area that your wedding will be. This may sound like a daunting task, but with a little bit of preparation and organization, you can make this fun and more relaxed. You want to make a list of what your criteria for picking a reception hall is centered around. It can be quite helpful to ask yourself several questions to narrow down your list, here are some idea starters:

• How many people do I plan on having at my wedding? Just a general estimate can help you to narrow down the possible venues to look into.


• Is there a certain style that I am looking for in my reception hall? Are there certain foods that I want included that some reception venues may specialize in?


• Are there specific amenities that I want included at the reception hall? Think if you want a venue that includes an outdoor area, is set on a golf course, has a big staircase for pictures, or has a big bar area.


• Do you want to keep the reception venue in a certain geographical location?

If you are looking for a more unique venue, then think through possible sites and what you want the theme or tone set around. If you want a beach wedding, then think through beaches in the area that would fit the criteria. If you want a venue on the water, then make a list of locations that would fit the bill. The more you can narrow down your criteria for your perfect wedding reception location, the more enjoyable it will make the search.

This is certainly an instance where the more preparation you put into your criteria ahead of time, the more you can enjoy the journey. You won't be able to answer every question ahead of time, but if for example you can determine the approximate amount of guests you intend to have, that can narrow down the list in and of itself. If you know you want your wedding in a particular geographical area, then that can help you to narrow the list as well. Put some thought into how you see your special day and you'll be amazed at how much easier it makes the task of finding a reception venue for your special day.