Find wedding reception venues near me

Wedding reception venues average $311 per hour to rent, but it’s easy to spend less or more depending on what you’re looking for. For a space on the smaller side, expect to spend closer to $282, whereas larger venues run about $379 per hour.

Planning a wedding reception has four main steps: First, book an unforgettable wedding reception venue. Do this first since it will determine what's needed for the additional steps. Your venue may even have preferred vendors, which may result in discounts on your end. Second, line up food and drink. Your venue may have options, or you may need to hire a caterer. Third, book your entertainment. A wedding DJ or band is typical for a wedding reception. Fourth, make plans for decor, including table centerpieces, wall decor, and entryway decorations.

Traditionally, all of the parents sit together at the wedding reception. If there's room, the same table will usually include the wedding officiant, the grandparents, and any siblings that aren't in the wedding party. There are no hard and fast rules, however—it's your reception, so you can arrange it however you like. For groups of parents who don't get along well, divorced couples, or simply sets of parents who might prefer to sit with their honored guests and relatives, it's entirely fine to configure the wedding reception table arrangements differently.

You can host an amazing but cheap wedding reception by tapping into your DIY spirit and getting creative. Start by crafting your own decor, which will save a ton of cash but also give your reception a personal touch that your guests will love. You can drastically reduce your food and drink costs by serving bulk carry-out food like barbeque or pizza that you can set up buffet-style without having to hire a full catering service. If you're serving alcohol, you can opt to serve beer and wine and skip a full bar service for a drastic cost reduction. You can forgo a DJ or band in favor of playing music via a playlist and having a friend emcee, too.