Reception

time to celebrate ! !

You’ve said the “I do’s,” kissed the bride, and now it’s time to party! You want your reception to be unforgettable. The venue itself, the food, the ambiance, and the overall guest experience determines just how your reception will be remembered for years to come. Where to host your reception is a huge, daydefining decision. There’s so much to consider. Luckily, we’re here to help!4

amandaketterhagenphotography.com

PB

SET THE MOOD

For a sensuous pause before a highenergy party, have a small jazz quartet set the tone with a wine and micro-beer tasting served with cheese selections.

Make sure you’re both on the same page regarding the type of wedding you both envision. The options for ceremony and reception locations have increased dramatically over the past decade. Here are examples. • RUSTIC STYLE: Barns, farms, country inns, and ranches. • TRADITIONAL/CLASSIC STYLE: Ballrooms, banquet halls, hotels, country clubs, or community centers. These are often all-inclusive! • NATURAL/OPEN AIR STYLE: Waterfront, forest, vineyard, city park, or other locations where

Mother Nature’s beauty shines. Also consider a Plan B for inclement weather. • NON-TRADITIONAL STYLE: Museums, zoos, planetariums, and antique stores. • URBAN/INDUSTRIAL STYLE: Downtown lofts, art galleries, and warehouses. • INTIMATE STYLE: Unique spaces catered toward small weddings — historic homes, a small party room at your favorite restaurant, or a tent in your parents’ backyard (tented weddings can work for other styles, too).

3 FACTORS TO CONSIDER

Once you’ve settled on your reception’s aesthetic and the type of spaces you wish to explore, it’s time to get to work. Here are the first three factors to consider during your hunt.

GUEST COUNT AND BUDGET. These sound like two separate entities but you can only afford to host the number of people that your budget allows; therefore, your budget will determine your wedding’s headcount. That, or you need to increase your budget to accommodate more guests’. Once you finalize your budget and total number of potential guests, this will quickly eliminate any outlying reception venues: venues that are too expensive or too small.

WEDDING DATE. Being committed to a particular wedding date - perhaps it’s your parents’ anniversary or a holiday weekend - this will also narrow down your options. If a reception site doesn’t have your date available, move on. If it does, know that nothing is final until you’ve signed a contract and made a deposit. Once your decision is made, it’s critical to officially secure the space as soon as possible. Some choice venues are booked one to two years in advance, particularly in popular months.

ON-SITE VS. OFF-SITE. Most on-site locations provide most of the goods and services needed for your reception: catering, beverages, tables, chairs, tableware, linens, and serving staff. Such locations are typically hotels, ballrooms, private clubs, restaurants and more, which usually have an experienced wedding coordinator on staff to assist. These facilities usually charge on a per-person basis and have a minimum guest requirement.

Off-site locations mostly offer the use of the reception space only — no other services. You’re responsible for supplying the caterer, furnishings, décor, waitstaff and bartenders, and everything in between. Such locations range from openconcept urban lofts to tented receptions.

The responsibility of coordinating your own reception goods and services might sound like a headache to some brides, and to others, it’s an opportunity to fully personalize their day. Off-site venues are often a blank slate, allowing you to furnish and dress up the space as you like, along with more flexibility regarding food, beverages, and timing. Catering and rental providers may help with coordinating as well. There are pros and cons to both on- and off-site venues — what matters is what’s right for you and your wedding!