Wedding Reception Venues Chesapeake VA

Selecting a wedding venue is one of one of the most time-consuming items on your wedding planning to-do list. To be sure you’re spending your money (and time) wisely, Perfect Wedding Guide expert Susan Southerland shares eight questions to ask before booking your reception site.

Question #1: What comes with my rental fee or my food and beverage package?
If you are having your wedding reception at a hotel or restaurant, you will most likely have tables, chairs and linens included in your fees. However, if you decide to have your reception in a park, garden or a facility you should make sure you are not going to have to rent additional items.

Question #2: Does the caterer include equipment or do you have to rent it?
Most of the caterers I have worked with include all of the stoves, grills, service ware, etc., however, on a wedding earlier this year,the caterer informed me my client would need to provide everything from the linens to the charcoal for the grills. That was a huge additional expense and a great deal of additional work.

Question #3: How do you charge for service people?
Some wedding venues charge a percentage of the overall fee and others have a separate service fee. Make sure you figure this amount in when planning your budget. Either way, the amount could be significant.

Question #4: Do you have any additional fees?
Some venues and caterers will charge you a cake cutting fee if you do not purchase through them. While cake cutting fees can seem like an unnecessary expense, over the years I realize that most wedding venues when they charge those fees, they decorate the plates or add additional accompaniments to the cake (think chocolate covered strawberries!).

Question #5: How many hours do I have the facility and personnel.
If you like to dance the night away, make sure you are not in a location that will require you to leave at a certain time. For example, if you choose to rent out a night club on a Saturday evening, most likely they will want your group out by 10:00 p.m. so they can open their doors to the public. Most wedding venues will allow you to stay if you pay a room rental fee, or simply keep the bar open.

Question #6: Do you have decorations I can use? Some locations have items in-house like plants, latticework, votive candles and even centerpieces that you can use. That can be a huge money-saver.

Question #7: What other events are taking place at the location and how do you have it scheduled?
Most larger wedding venues will have multiple events in one evening, especially if your reception is at a prime time on a Saturday night.The key is to find out how these other events are scheduled compared to yours.It is best not to have both parties starting at the same time as guest arrival can become confusing. The best option is to have the cocktail hours scheduled an hour apart—that way the guests from one party will already be in at dinner when...

No matter if you're wedding planning a non-stop party or a grand formal affair, here are some tips to help find the wedding venue for your reception, and save yourself some stress in the long run.

Start Early
Most popular wedding reception sites often book far in advance. As soon as you set a date, you’ll want to start your search for a wedding reception site. If you already have a space in mind, call to schedule a meeting with the site manager to get the process started. Some locations will let you reserve space for a short time without placing a deposit. This is a great option if a particular reception venue has caught your eye, but you still want to keep your options open.

Size Matters
Once you’ve created the guest list, you'll be able to get a better sense of the amount of space you’ll need. Your guests, and any service providers you hire, should all fit comfortably within the wedding venue . Ask about the square footage of the reception sites you visit to figure out how to position tables, serving stations, and the entertainment setup such as the dance floor and space for whomever will be providing music.

Seek with Style
Contemporary or classic? Fairytale or no frills? Your location should reflect the style and taste of you and your fiance. If you want to customize the space, ask the site manager if you are allowed to hang decorations from the walls. Ask to review a portfolio of other weddings and events held at the wedding venue , as this can give you and your wedding planner ideas for creating the space you desire.

Look Outside
Outdoor wedding receptions are still a popular choice for many couples. For one, you’re not as restricted to the amount of guests you can fit in one space. Plus, depending on your location, the great outdoors can serve as a beautiful backdrop requiring very little addition to the natural setting.

Guest Provisions
As much as you want to enjoy your special day without any mishaps, so will your wedding guests. Logistical items such as guest parking, valet service, wheelchair ramps and handicap-accessible bathrooms are all things to consider when booking your wedding venue .

Create Ambiance
Lighting can make all the difference in setting the mood. Visit your site during the day and in the evening to see how the space looks with its existing lighting. If the wedding venue calls for a more technical setup, turn to a ...

Your cousin Mark, aunt Shirley, kindergarten teacher and sorority sister have all RSVPd yes to your wedding reception . But where do you seat them?

Creating a wedding reception seating chart is important for several reasons. For one, it’s a kind gesture that let’s guests know that their presence is important to you and that you took the time to figure them into your wedding planning .

It also helps the wedding coordinator or wedding reception emcee stay on schedule (instead of guests searching and scrambling for available tables, they’ll already know where they’re supposed to sit and the emcee can begin the presentations). Read on for other tips and advice on how to create a wedding reception seating chart.

Stay organized
First things first: start off by documenting RSVPs in an organized filing system. An electronic spreadsheet will keep things neat and orderly in order for you to create the wedding reception seating chart, and it’s easy to for making changes to the document as needed. One basic organization system is to list guests by their relationship to the couple (guest of the bride/guest of the groom), their RSVP status, and their table location. Once all guests are accounted for, you can organize the list by other details (age, dietary needs, etc.) for table configurations.

Arranging of friends and family
It’s common for members of the respected families to sit together. One time saver is to ask your parents to assist with assigning seats/tables to family members and friends of the family. Also, try to mix different groups of friends at tables to get people mingling and interacting with new faces.

Table shapes, sizes place cards
The number of wedding reception tables needed depends on the number of guests you plan to have at your wedding reception. Customarily, guest’s tables are round, but it’s totally a matter of preference. Many couples often have place cards with guest’s names and table numbers at each station. If you’re wedding reception includes a seated meal, tables numbers will help the wait staff tremendously.

Seating at the head table
The standard in arranging the head table is as follows: the happy couple is placed directly in center, immediately flanked by the maid of honor and best man, and the rest of the wedding party seated with groomsmen on one side and bridesmaids on the other. A more modern approach to the head table includes a “sweeth...