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C H I C A G O W E D D I N G & P A R T Y R E S O U R C E
W W W . C H I C A G O W E D D I N G R E S O U R C E . C O M
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B A N Q U E T S , R E C E P T I O N S , S H O W E R S & P A R T I E S
WHO’S INVITED?
The first thing that will dictate possible
reception spaces is the general number
of guests. A very small wedding party
can happen most anywhere, but fewer
sites will be able to accommodate 500.
Take advantage of country club and
alumni club memberships. Some sites
will rent space to nonmembers, but
members get first consideration.
If you plan your wedding for any day
other than Saturday the number of
available sites will be much greater.
ARE YOU NON-TRADITIONAL?
If you’d like to hold your reception
somewhere unusual to make your day
more memorable, that’s great. Just keep
in mind that the more creative the
space, the more details you’ll have to
tend to yourself. More traditional and
established reception locations have the
infrastructure in place to pull off such
events and that will make planning
easier.
It’s romantic to dream about getting
married in your childhood home,
but really think this one through:
You’ll have to rent everything for the
reception, which can translate quickly
into big, big bucks, and, unless your
childhood home has many bathrooms,
it’s not an ideal location for a large
number of guests.
It might seem silly to consider or
discount a location because of decor,
but if it’s not in keeping with the style of
your wedding, you won’t get the right
overall effect. Also, be sure to scout
spaces at the same time as your planned
event. Rooms and views look very
different during the day and at night.
IS THERE ENOUGH SPACE?
Consider spaces that are designed
for flow. No, you don’t want all the
groomsmen holed up in a separate bar,
but guests should have the option to
whoop it up on the dance floor or to
catch up with friends and family in a
quieter space.
It’s a lovely thought, getting married on
a beach or in a park, but make sure you
make alternate plans in the event of bad
weather.
It’s a boring detail to consider, but it’s
also one of the most important: You’ll
need a place for your guests’ cars, or
you’ll need to arrange an alternative
form of transportation to shuttle guests
from place to place.
© CTW Features
Where you’ll conduct your nuptials is up to the two
of you, depending on religious beliefs or family
traditions. You can get married anywhere, from a
Gothic cathedral to a sandy beach to a tent in
your grandparents’ back yard. This is one of the
most personal decisions you and your spouse-to-be
will make, so make it one of your first decisions.
How to
Choose a
Stunning
Site