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Wedding Reception Cost And Managing Your Wedding Expenses

By Natalie Glass

All too often the magic of a wedding is tainted by the ugly reality of financial concerns. It is said that today’s wedding cost an average of thirty thousand dollars. Considering that the average wage of America is between thirty and forty thousand, that white dress and all the associated wedding reception cost can quickly turn a fantasy experience into a nightmare of logistics and dollar signs.

Many brides and grooms suffer what is called "sticker shock" when they begin setting a budget for the wedding. The cost of photography, dresses, flowers and tuxedos will quickly add up and that is not even taking into consideration the wedding reception cost. It can be expensive to get married but there are ways to minimize the expenses while still having the wedding of your dreams.

Managing Wedding Reception Costs

Wedding planning takes time and effort. Even with a wedding coordinator, the details for a bride can become overwhelming when dealing with the dress alone. Far too often the wedding reception cost takes a huge portion of the allotted budget due to poor wedding planning. In order to avoid this unsavory side dish it is necessary to manage wedding reception cost carefully.

Cheap wedding receptions do not have to mean tacky. There are ways to minimize the expenses and yet still have everything that you want in a reception. Far too often unnecessary expenses occur due to oversight or not sticking to the original plan.

Shop Around For Reception Sites And Caterers

The best way to stay within budget is to shop around for reception sites and caterers. Big name caterers and sites are going to cost more than smaller venues or small catering businesses. Ask around for recommendations.

The first step to planning a wedding reception is to get a general idea of the date of the wedding and how many people will attend the wedding and reception. Once a general guest list is attained and the date of the wedding is assigned, it then falls down to a few fundamental choices that must be made. Where will the reception be held? Will the reception be a sit down meal or a finger food event? Will there be available seating for unexpected guests?

Look For Package Deals

Many reception sites offer catering. While the initial cost may be daunting, consider the "extras" that are figured in with the cost per guest. If the wedding reception cost includes servers, tables, chairs and a menu of food choices, it may be well worth going for a package deal.

Most packages do not include alcohol so this needs to be factored in as well. For a busy bride, turning over the reigns to a competent staff will save time and money in the long run. Sanity does not come cheaply but it is worth every penny.

Lower Catering Costs By Holding Wedding Reception In The Afternoon

If the wedding reception is geared towards a finger food buffet, keep in mind the time of day the wedding is held. Guests typically expect a sit down, full meal reception if the wedding is scheduled between 5:00-8:00 p.m. whereas if the wedding is held during the afternoon, a finger food buffet is a great alternative. The wedding reception cost will decrease significantly if there is no need for wait staff or a kitchen to prepare the meal.

It is easy to get carried away in the competition to have the biggest and best wedding reception. Unfortunately this competition translates into budget breaking costs and unnecessary headaches. Don’t let spontaneous decisions derail the best day of your life or let uncontrolled spending be a bad start to a marriage.

Wedding reception cost can be controlled and make the fantasy wedding still complete.

About the Author:
Natalie Glass is an author of dating and relationships articles including Teen Chat Sites, Online Love, Wedding Gift Ideas, Free Gift Cards, Gifts Online, Birthday Gift Ideas, Gift Ideas For Men, Gifts Ideas.
Keep a lookout as more articles are added from this author on this website in the near future.

More Romantic Wedding Facts....

I’m getting married, should I ask my wedding party to give a speech?
That is a tough question. It comes down to whether or not you intend to micromanage everything in the wedding. Speeches, much like toasts, should be voluntary. No one wants to be forced to give a speech they do not truly mean.

Making someone give a speech is a step away from writing the speech yourself and having them read it aloud. It is better for everyone if the members of the wedding party wish to do a speech because it means that they truly believe in the words they are saying. It should not be about a formality but instead a blessing on the future of the bride and groom.

If you have a real fear that no one will give a speech, you may want to evaluate who is in your wedding party. The wedding party should consist of people who love you and wish you the best. If no one in the party can or will do that on their own, you wouldn’t want them to be a part of your special day anyway.

The exception to this is if everyone suffers from severe stage fright or agoraphobia. The chances of that are pretty small.

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