What kinds of reception venues are available to me? The search for the perfect reception venue can be quite a task.

Here are some popular types of reception venues:
Hotels
Country Clubs
Upscale Restaurants
Banquet Halls
Large Churches

Some un-traditional reception venues are:
Museums
Parks
Historic Homes
Art Galleries
Botanical Gardens
Yachts
Cruise Ships
Office Building Lobbies
Roofs
Terraces

The choice is truly yours.
Are you looking for an outside affair?
Are you looking for a formal affair?
Do you want the feel of your reception to be intimate with an at home feel?
Would you like your guest to gaze upon fine paintings while drinking champagne?
Or do you want to marry with the scent of thousands of roses in the air?

When answering these questions, consider these facts: Hotels, banquet facilities, and country clubs. These establishments offer with their onsite services; tables, chairs, linens, flatware, stemware, etc. With most non-traditional reception venues, these items will have to be rented and brought in and set-up. Usually the cost is drastically elevated.

Know Thy Caterer!

Your caterer is equally important as your reception venue choice. This is where the majority of your reception money will go. You should put a lot of time into this search.

Here are some questions to ask a potential caterer:

1.Does the caterer specialize in a certain types of food? Can you taste his food?

2.What are the caterer's prices? Do they charge per head?

3.Does this include the food, linens, alcohol, etc.?

4.What other services does the caterer offer? Does he work like a wedding coordinator/banquet manager by cueing the band, telling the couple when to cut the cake, etc?

5.Will they supply references? If not, you should find another caterer?

6.If you choose an off-site reception venue, will the caterer arrange for rentals such as tables, chairs, plates, linens, silverware, etc.?

7.Will the caterer provide wait staff?

8.Does the caterer accept outside recipes?

9.How will the caterer arrange the food on the buffet table?

10.Does the caterer supply wedding cakes as well?

You should be aware of the following terms when speaking with your caterer:

1.A La Carte: You create a customized menu by selecting items from different categories (appetizers, entrees, etc.)

2.Complete Menu: You choose one of the caterer's menus.

3.Tray/Butlered Service: Servers walk among guests with trays of hors d'oeuvres or beverages.

4.French Service: Food is prepared or finished on tableside carts and served to seated guests.

5.Russian Service: Waiters serve guest from platters.

6.Seated Service: Food is preplated and served to guest.

7.Family Service: Waiters put platters on the tables and guest serve themselves.

8.Buffet: Guests help themselves to food displayed on buffet tables.

9.Food Stations: Food is divided by themes, such as sushi, pasta, baked potato, ice cream, etc.

Your contract with your caterer should include: the date, time, location, hours of service, on-site person in charge, timetable for reception and meal service, overtime, date for final head count, type of meal and service style, alcohol policy, beverages, rentals, clean-up, bar-set-up, final menu, number of servers and their attire.

Also, a payment schedule, gratuities, taxes, extra costs, liability insurance, cancellation and refund policies. Bon appetite!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rene'John Designs offers its clients an individualized design experience with attention to detail.  By listening to her customers and applying information that she obtains from their personalities and lifestyles , Rene' designs an event reflecting her clients' vision -not Rene's.
Her services includes floral design, rentals, custom linens, lighting and wedding consultation.
Rene's one goal is to deliver a level of excellence like none other. 
www.renejohndesigns.com