Finding Unique Ideas For A Wedding Reception That Will Save You Money

After the wedding ceremony itself, the reception is the aspect of your wedding that your guests will most look forward to. A well-planned reception is always great fun and offers a wedding planner a great deal of imaginative scope. That's why engaged couples are always on the look-out for unique ideas for a wedding reception that won't take them over their budget.

Great deals can be found when you know how much money you are working with. It really doesn't matter how small your budget is for the reception because all budgets can be accommodated.

Your reception budget should consist of approximately 30% of your wedding budget or more. Most wedding receptions are so expensive due to the fact of providing meals, decorations, hall rentals etc.

Renting a Hall

If you prefer to rent a hall or space for your reception, you must consider many things before making this decision. You will have to think of the prices for the hall rental, the cost of using their servers (most halls include servers in price and they are not negotiable), decorations, flowers, meals, drinks etc.

So when you wish to rent a hall for your reception there are some things that the hall will include in your rental that you can't avoid paying for. However, some halls will give you the option to pick and choose the extras that you want.

Depending on the type of hall that you choose to rent, the costs can vary greatly. For example, if you rent a large hall you might pay more than if you rented a legion hall.

You might also want to consider that if you are starting with a small budget, renting a hall might not be worth either the effort or the money. If you do rent one, it may leave you with fewer options for other parts of your wedding.

Ideas for keeping costs down

• You should only consider renting a hall if you have invited 50 or more people to your reception
• When renting a hall, you have to decide if you are opting for a cash bar or an open bar. A good compromise is to purchase a few cases of beer on your own and host a cash bar for those who want mixed drinks if you are trying to keep costs down
• Rent a hall that you can decorate yourself
• If you must have servers, rent a hall that includes servers in the price of the rental -- or choose a hall that lets you bring your own
• Choose a hall that will allow you to bring your own food if you would prefer to not pay extra for catering
• Serving vegetable and fruit trays, as well as finger foods such as finger sandwiches, will be of great value in accommodating vegetarians
• Opting for a casual reception will allow you to serve your food buffet style which will be predominantly cheaper
• Opting to tell people to forego giving you a wedding gift and serve a completely cash bar is a great way to accommodate guests and recover some of the money of the hall rental
• Opt for non-weekend dates because these are probably not peak hours for the hall and the prices may be cheaper
• Choose to host your event during the winter for the best rates
• Negotiate a special discount by paying cash instead of credit card. Many reception halls will come to an arrangement with you if you pay like this
• Choose to go with a non-dinner reception offering instead snack foods or canapes

Renting a hall is likely always to occupy a major part of your wedding budget. Just remember that you can still make savvy choices that can help you stay within your budget, especially if you plan well ahead.

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