Choosing your reception venue

One of the most important part of the wedding is usually the wedding reception, so the venue you choose will be of great importance. These can range from your local church hall to an exotic international location.

The reception venue is usually the first and most important booking you make and this usually sets the wedding date. The reception venue staff will be very useful in helping you understand your options and what the popular choices are in terms of food and alcohol.

For a unique wedding reception we need:

- Great atmosphere - A sense of participation with all guests - An absolutely out-of-this-world-kind-of-brilliant ceremony and reception venue

Here are some Unique Reception Locations:

Zoos, Waterfronts: ferries houseboats, dockside restaurants, parks , Waterfalls, Religious Centres , Public Parks or Private, Lookout Spots, Historic Buildings , Country Clubs, City Halls, Castles, Art Galleries, Aquariums.

After all these tips about the Wedding Reception Venues let’s talk about Reception Room Décor.

The number one tip on décor is, don’t simply go by the photos on the website! Try to visit venues when they are “stripped” of all the trimmings, and then try to sneak in again when the location is “set up” for someone else’s reception. This will give you an idea of what the venue can do, and in what areas you may use your imagination to make the location your own.

Tables, seating, and linens are all topics that should be discussed with the venue. The difference between 10 tables seating 8 guests each and 8 tables seating 10 guests each will impact the appearance of the venue, and the comfort of your guests. Usually linens are provided at locations that cater the receptions themselves, but extra fees may be added for outside caterers, non-traditional colours, or added décor like satin sashes over seat covers.

The most difficult part will be picking the theme. You need to make sure the theme is fresh, elegant, and appropriate for you and your spouse-to-be. Here are 2 ideas to get you started:

Black and WhiteWith a black and white themed wedding, you will base everything off of the basic and elegant colours of black and white. This is a very inexpensive theme for the bride and groom because the guests themselves will be the main decorations. At a black and white wedding, guests are invited to wear black to set apart the bride and groom who will wear white. A word of caution: Do not make your theme white and some other colour other than black. Most guests will already have something black to wear and would not have to purchase a new outfit for the wedding.

SeasonalNo matter what time of year it is, it is always some season, and therefore, you can always do a seasonally themed wedding reception. Holidays, such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter, are very easy to decorate. You could also decorate according to spring, summer, autumn, and winter. For example, if you are doing a spring wedding, you could have a garden theme including gardening tools as centrepieces and little potted plants as the wedding favours. Decorating seasonally will allow you to save money on your wedding flowers as well.