Wedding Tips - Don’t Break the Bank with Wedding Reception Cost
The average wedding reception cost can be staggering depending upon several factors. Full course meals, alcohol and a band or DJ can add up. It is not uncommon for the wedding reception to cost thousands of dollars depending on the number of guests. Far too often if there is going to be a crisis, it will come with trying to schedule the reception. With planning and a careful adherence to budget, the fantasy wedding of your dreams is attainable.
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.
A wedding reception can be what you want it to be. All too often cost can turn a happy day into one of frustration. The key to avoiding this is to stick to your budget and shop around for reception sites and caterers. If the initial costs per guest seem to be too much, there are ways to help reduce the overall expenses. It does require preparation and thought about what you really must have and what you want.
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?
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.
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.
