Planning Your Wedding Reception

Organizing a wedding has become such a complicated task as there are so many choices and it's hard sometimes to make up your mind. There are so many details that it seems impossible to pay attention to all of them.

The idea of planning your own wedding reception is nothing new. The day when parents planned their children's weddings is hardly remembered now. This tradition has been left aside for so long mainly because young couples are too independent to let others do that for them and because so many modern aspects of modern life interfere in the organization of a wedding.

So planning your own wedding reception today is normal and can bring you more satisfaction than if you hire a specialist. Of course it is much harder and time consuming but you can get it exactly as you want it and you will get all the praise for it.

Most people will ask their families and friends to get involved in preparing for the big event since they will not know exactly what to do.

Planning your own wedding reception can be very easy when you know where to search for information. Fortunately, there are a lot of sources of information starting with magazines, books, DVD's, and ending with the Internet. These are all helpful sources that assist the future bride and groom in the organization of their wedding.

These resources can help you begin planning your own wedding reception, provide you a step by step guide for the organization, tell you what to do each week, and also helps you verify that your list contains all the important details.

If you'll take advantage of all these sources it is nearly impossible for you not to be able to organize the perfect wedding.

Don't Let Your Wedding Reception Get Out of Control
If you do not make the list of your guests wisely, things may go out of your control since wedding reception is the biggest of all your wedding expenses. So, how to keep this list of guests to minimum? Invite only those people who are in direct contact with you. What's the point in inviting long distant relatives, whom you have never seen in your life time?

One advantage of planning your own wedding reception is getting the same reception at a lower price. For a typical wedding the average number of guests invited is aroud 150. The typical catering price is $25.00 per person so for 150 guests you will spend $3750.00. But if you decide to plan your own reception you can do it for just under $500.00. As a cost cutting measure, you may choose a hot and cold buffet instead of three course meals.

Wedding Reception Location
Choosing your wedding reception location may be one of the more difficult things you do in planning your wedding. There are many locations to choose from, and it does not have to be in the same place as your wedding. You can save a great amount of money if you can manage the reception at a club or at the house of your friend instead of holding it at an expensive hotel.

One popular location many couples choose is a historical site located in their city. These sites can be great locations when you're planning a themed wedding. Look through your city directory to help you find historical sites and areas.

Another trend happening is holding a wedding reception at museums. This option is especially popular if you're holding a large wedding reception. Besides holding a large number of people, museums will add an elegant setting to your wedding reception. You can contact your local museum and ask them about planning your wedding reception there.

Outdoor receptions are great when the climate permits them. Perhaps you can locate a mansion courtyard or public park that already have great scenery included. These locations can greatly simplify planning your wedding reception, letting you focus on other parts of planning your wedding reception.

Remember when choosing your wedding reception location that it be easy to find for your guests and also have convenient parking for everyone.

Wedding Catering Services
Many couples don't realize that the catering or food bill is typically your largest expense involved with your wedding (45-50% of most budgets). This is why it is essential to choose your caterer carefully. Spend plenty of time with your caterer talking about your budget, what style of reception you want (buffet, sit down dinner, cocktails, etc) and the types of food you'd like to serve.

If you're unfamiliar with the caterer, schedule a 'tasting' to sample their culinary skills and take note that food is presented attractively too. Another way to 'check-up' on your caterer is to check references. Many brides ask for references but never actually call them. Make at least 2 reference calls. Don't be shy-ask questions.

There are a lot of catering services that can help you and do all the work. Finding a good catering service should be no problem, just ask your friends and family and I am sure they will give you some ideas. To locate more catering services, simply look on the Internet. You will find varied offers, save a lot of time and be able to check out services from all over the world. Even if you're not planning to hire a catering service you find on the Internet, you can still find a few good ideas for your wedding.

When hiring your caterer, be sure to ask about the dinnerware or china they use. Some will include the dinnerware in their price, but it may be chipped, scratched, or worn down. Ask to see samples to make sure the place settings will nicely compliment your wedding décor.

Service is also a very important element when choosing a caterer. Be sure to ask about the ratio of servers to guests. This can vary depending on the type of reception you have. A good estimate is about one server for every 8-10 guests.

When determining a final head count for your caterer, be sure to include a meal for your entertainer(s), photographer and wedding day coordinator. But, always confirm with these vendors that they do want a meal before you include them in your head count. Make sure to separate these from your guest head count, because a caterer may charge less for 'vendor' meals.

Be sure to ask your caterer about 'guaranteed numbers.' Many caterers will quote prices based on a minimum or 'guaranteed' number of guests. Many base their figures on a minimum of 100 guests. If your final guest count is less than 100, there may be an additional fee.

Ask your caterer to prepare a 'leftover' basket with a sample of all the food at the reception. Most likely, the bride and groom will not get the opportunity to eat and enjoy all the food at the reception. Even if you're leaving the next day for the honeymoon, it will be a good snack.

Master Wedding Planning Guide

• The Master Wedding Planning Guide is the easiest to follow system for learning how to plan a wedding available. It is jam-packed with information, including over 150 cost saving tips covering every aspect of your wedding, the questions that you must ask to make sure that you get what YOU want and avoid getting ripped off, timelines, budgets, seating plans, bride/groom photos and much more.
• The Master Wedding Planning Guide will teach you how to plan your wedding like a professional wedding planner, so you can organize everything and be as prepared as you can be, while still having that once in a lifetime wedding you have always dreamed about - this is truly cutting-edge material

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