The Place and the Time: Ceremony and Reception

The Ceremony
Unless you plan to be married by a Justice of the Peace, the location of your nuptials should be decided upon with your spiritual needs in mind. Many of you have been brought up in a certain house of worship and this is often an easy choice. But when a conflict of religion exists between you and your fiance, you must carefully work out all the details to meet both of your needs and desires. Try not to let parents pressure you! How you plan to raise your children may assist you in your decision making. Don't hesitate to make ah appointment with the clergy of your fiance's house of worship (or he with yours, depending on what the case may be). You will want to understand everything about the faith you and/or your children will be entering.

When approaching the ceremony site of your choice, have an alternative date in mind, just in case. And when choosing the time of day, if your house of worship is flexible, keep in mind that most function facilities prefer to book two wedding receptions per room on Saturdays. Typically, the first arrival would have the room until 4:30 or 5 p.m. If the facility has a sizable working staff, the evening reception might be given an arrival as early as 6 p.m., although 6:30-7 p.m. is more the norm.

In other words, don't plan your ceremony in such a way that you and your guests have two hours to kill before cocktails.
Obtain from your clergy all requirements and restrictions, in writing if you can. Know what documents of proof you will need, when you will need them, and if premarital counsel is required. And be sure to determine to some degree how long your service will be, so you may quote a fairly accurate arrival time when seeking your reception site.

The Reception
Once the ceremony site has been set, get out the yellow pages and contact every banquet facility within easy or acceptable driving distance of your church. Ask family or friends if they have ever attended a social
function at any of these places. Make note of their likes and dislikes, but always keep in mind that the final judgment rests with you. Besides, if someone makes a negative comment about a particular banquet facility, you can always contact your local Better Business Bureau to inquire if any formal complaints have been lodged against that facility.

When phoning the hotel, restaurant, or function facility, ask to speak with the banquet sales office. Furnish your requested wedding date, arrival time, and estimated number of guests, and ask that all menus and package plans (when available) be mailed to you. Do not hesitate to call the most expensive place in town, or even the one you vowed you'd never have your reception at, because the menus and planners may provide you with ideas you never thought of, as well as handy price comparisons. When calling, you need not commit to anything, or provide your phone number. Just reply politely that you will look over the brochures and get back to them if you're interested. And if any particular place claims to be booked for your requested day or dates, ask for the material anyway, explaining that you are still in the planning stages.

Then sit back and wait. But you shouldn't wait too long. The best banquet sales representatives will get the information out to you that very same day if they know anything about the value of your business!