Regardless of the type of wedding reception you wish to have, taking the time to plan and work out all the details of what needs to be done is very important. This advice applies whether you are planning a small intimate gathering of a few close friends and family after the ceremony or if you want a lavish reception.

Couples are often surprised at the amount of time and effort involved in personalizing and organizing a perfect reception, which needs to be done several months in advance. The following tips are intended to guide you through some of the wedding reception details that you will need to address.

Begin By Pre-Planning and Organizing

Before you start any wedding reception planning make sure you know your exact budget. There is no point in organizing a lavish reception for 200 people if your budget only allows for a small toned-down gathering of 50 people. Your budget will not only include the cost of the reception venue, but also the food, favors, decorations, music, cake, table linens and tableware, any additional entertainment, etc. The reception will take the largest chunk of your budget.

I also strongly recommend that you purchase a good wedding planner book to walk you step-by-step through the wedding planning process. These books provide some great information on details that you might miss or not even think of. Plus, they provide you with a place to record and store all wedding information for quick retrieval.

One of the cheapest (since it's free) ways to find out more about what's involved in planning a wedding reception is to start by talking to friends and family about their wedding experiences. Write down any advice and tips they might give, as well as references to caterers, DJ's, etc. Word of mouth is often the best way to locate exactly what you're looking for.

Choosing a Location

Deciding on where to hold your wedding reception can often times make a key difference in how well it goes... and how fondly it's remembered by you and your guests. Take your time with this. Get recommendations and check out all venues thoroughly.

Be aware that the number of available locations will be much more limited for weekends and certain times of the year... often popular spots are booked a year in advance. You may wish to consider having your wedding during an "off-wedding" month, such as January or during the week, rather than on a weekend. Cost wise, it will be much cheaper as well.

While at each reception location there are several details that you should pay attention to. Available nearby parking, adequate bathroom facilities, cleanliness of the location, and ample room for dinner and dancing