Normally, reserving your wedding reception site should be one of the first tasks in your wedding planning strategy. The trendiest reception sites go quickly. It is best to reserve the venue at least one year in advance. It should be one of the first things you take care of on your wedding planning list.

It is true that first impressions are important. How you feel the first time you walk into the venue should be an important factor in deciding on your wedding reception site. If you enter the venue and you have an uneasy feeling, or you are simply uncomfortable about the place, you should move on and continue your search. If you find the place charming, you might move on to the next question. Never book the first venue you visit, you never know what you are missing by limiting your search to only one place.

Wedding reception venues vary in size, and you have to make sure it is large enough to accommodate your party. The venue has to accommodate your wedding party, therefore, you have to make sure the place is large enough. It is not enough to consider your wedding guests. You have to take into account everything from the wedding band to the dance floor to the place for the wedding cake. See if the management allows you to visit the place in action. It is best to get a feel for the size of the place, as it is being setup for a wedding reception.

Most likely your guest will drive to your wedding, so parking is a big concern. You may find a great venue with insufficient parking. It is you job to find a place where your guests can park. If parking is unavailable you should arrange a shuttle or a van to take your wedding guests from the wedding ceremony to the reception.

If you feel comfortable in intimate settings, avoid public reception sites such as hotel lawns. If privacy is something you cannot compromise, you should arrange a private estate. Even hotels and restaurants can be less private than you might think since they often host multiple events on the same day. If this bothers you, you have to make sure there are no other events are scheduled for your wedding day.

A view is worth a million dollars, and it adds to the overall experience. Whether it's a dramatic ocean view, a beautiful mountain view, or a historic park, wonderful art, a great wedding reception will always have something fantastic to see. If your reception is help during dark hours, the view has little significance.

Lighting can influence the overall feel of the event, so make sure the reception hall is well lit. Light can make or break your event. It sets the overall mood of the place, so make sure you see the place lit during your walk through.

There are many more issues and questions you must consider. How much does it cost to use the venue? How much do you have to pay up front? If you are asked to pay the entire cost up front, you should turn around and walk faster than you can say “Tank You.” You should never pay more than fifty percent of the total rental cost. If you put a deposit down, ask about their refund policy. Anything can happen, and you might need to cancel your reservation. You must get the cancellation policy in writing.

Whatever happens get everything in writing. Never assume anything, and only believe what is in the contract. If you can have a wedding planner look through the contract with you before you sign.