The wedding planning reception takes lots of time and great care because it requires a complexity of services. Before shopping around for locations, you need to choose a date and book the hall or the restaurant at least a year in advance. The budget also needs to be planned starting from the date, because the costs for the reception party depend on the season, the month and the time of the week.
In wedding planning, reception costs will be higher for Saturday parties than for Sunday events. Moreover, late spring, summer and early fall months take more money out of your pocket. Halls, restaurants and caterers are willing to grant discounts to people getting married in winter, with two exceptions: the end of December and Valentine’s Day. Why not plan your wedding at the end of January and make considerable savings?
Setting the budget is also crucial for wedding planning. Reception parties add up costs for videography, flowers, favors, cake too, in addition to the expenses for the hall and the catering service. Even if the reception party is not the only expense, it is definitely the largest. Do not order too much drink or food; good estimates are essential in order to stick to the budget. This is why you should know the exact number of guests you are expecting.
Many restaurants and halls charge by person. Get a round figure before you start negotiating for the hall, since you won’t be able to estimate the rest of the expenses. Include a confirmation card with all the invitations, asking your guests to confirm their participation to the reception party and the religious ceremony, depending on the case. Then focus on the seatings, because wedding planning needs to cover this issue too.
Reception details should be put down in checklists so that you do not overlook important aspects. Go through each of them step by step, preferably with help from family and friends. Before actually deciding on a certain location, it is a good idea to read some wedding testimonials and try to learn from other people’s experience. Moreover, there is lots of information to read in wedding magazines and directories available at newsstands as well as on the Internet.
Don’t forget about how important music is. The reception hall manager or owner could help you with some recommendations for bands. Yet, you are free to choose anything and anyone you like.
