With the vision of your dream wedding
in mind and your projected number of guests in hand your next step is
to consider the location and date for both ceremony and reception. Since
your first move was to start your planning early you have a high probability
of finding your desired location(s) available on the date you want.
Wedding ceremonies can be performed almost
anywhere, and even large formal church services will not impact your
budget like the costs generated by the reception. Whether you seek one
location for both ceremony and reception or wish to separate these events,
the availability, guest capacity, and costs of the reception are key.
Start your consideration of potential
reception sites by talking with friends who have used a given facility
for their weddings. Look at advertised reception sites in wedding and
bridal magazines and set up appointments to meet with the catering/event
managers of the ones you find attractive. You can eliminate those unable
to accommodate your projected number of guests or that are out of your
budget over the phone. A few suggestions in selecting potential reception
sites follow:
- If your dream is of a formal reception,
with marble floors, chandeliers, fine table service and a spacious
dance floor a hotel ballroom might work well for you. Such a facility
also generally accommodates a large number of guests, and is equipped
for and experienced with events like yours. Usually there is an on-premises
caterer who works exclusively for the hotel. Such a caterer may or
may not offer you much latitude in your selection of food. On-premises
caterers often take some of the hassles out of your decision-making
by making some of those decisions for you. When interviewing the catering/event
manager be sure you understand just what is included in the cost and
what is not.
- A more informal reception could be
held at a museum, on the patio of a country club, in a park, or in
your own backyard. Outside events must, of course, be planned with
the weather in mind. A full-service caterer can arrange for a tent,
and power, and can even help connect you with a photographer and florist.
The key, again, is qualifying the service-provider. If a friend has
used the caterer and was satisfied, you probably will be as well.
When you interview the catering/event
manager you are considering determine what kind of food and bar are
offered at what cost per guest. You can tell very quickly if your budget
can support the number of contemplated guests at the facility in question.
You then may need to go through the process of adjusting your desired
guest list, reception menu, and bar choices to come to a realistic fit.
Once your reception plan is complete
you should book the site and caterer to lock down your date. If your
desire is to use one facility for both your ceremony and your reception
your reservation can be made for both.
If your dream wedding calls for a ceremony
somewhere other than the reception site your attention should now be
focused on securing this site and officiant.
If you have a strong spiritual background
and wish to be married only by your own minister, rabbi, priest or other
spiritual officiant, be sure before reserving the reception site for
a given day and time that your ceremony can be accommodated in your
spiritual facility by your spiritual officiant on the same date at your
desired time. You may have to be flexible to obtain a date and time
match for both ceremony and reception. Remember to try to plan your
timing in such a way that you and your guests aren’t faced with
several hours to kill between the wedding and cocktails.
When you and your fiancé are from
different spiritual backgrounds you may find that your ceremony requires
a bit more detailed planning and preparation. Often it is difficult
to find a spiritual officiant of one faith who is willing to perform
a ceremony outside his own facility, much less a ceremony in cooperation
with a spiritual officiant of another faith.
Some spiritual officiants may be unwilling
to perform a ceremony for anyone who is not a member of their congregation.
Many take offense when the only reason you want to marry in their facility
is that it’s location or architectural setting is pleasing to you.
You may end up having to use a non-denominational officiant to marry
you. Many of these can perform very personal and spiritual ceremonies.
Whatever your desires for your ceremony
it is important now to make your decision on a location and officiant
and reserve them to coordinate with your reception plans.
