Let me start off with a shocking statistic that you probably didn't know: nearly 40% of your entire wedding budget is going to be spent on your reception. That's something you'll want to keep in mind as you are setting the budget for your entire wedding and deciding what you can afford.

Now let's talk about how you're going to spend that big chunk of money to throw a fabulous party your guests won't soon forget.

Reception Locations

The first order of business is to pick a location. As soon as you set the date, you should start finalizing location details. In many cases, you'll have to book the reception location you want 18 to 24 months in advance, particularly if it's popular for weddings. Hotels and restaurants are two of the most obvious choices for receptions, but you could pick something more unusual too, such as a zoo, aquarium, art gallery, botanical garden, yacht, vineyard, scenic rooftop, etc. Some ceremony locations will also allow you to hold the reception on their grounds as well which will make it convenient for your guests and will cut down on your transportation costs.

If you do have two different locations, try to keep them somewhat close together. Your guests don't want to drive an hour to your wedding reception.

Catering

Besides the cost of booking your location, the catering bill is probably going to be one of the biggest chunks of your budget. You do have a number of choices in terms of catering. For example, you could have a full sit down meal (most expensive option) or hors d'oeuvres passed around on platters (cheaper choice). The tone of your wedding dictates the style of meal you'll have with full service meals being appropriate for formal weddings. Semiformal weddings can include buffets or food stations.

When you're selecting your catering menu, try to pick items that will not only please the two of you but also your guests. Be aware that many guests may have special dietary needs, including limited carbohydrates or vegetarianism.

Additionally, you'll need to determine what to do about alcohol. If you have an open bar, you'll be looking at a pretty large bill. If you have a cash bar, some of your guests may feel offended that they have to pay, especially after buying you a nice wedding gift. The middle ground might be to have some free alcohol, such as a bottle of champagne at each table or beer, but then charge for mixed drinks. Of course, you'll want to have free non-alcoholic beverages, such as tea, coffee, and soda.

Reception Activities

Although parties are supposed to be free-spirited and spontaneous-feeling, you'll need to put together a schedule to make sure all of the activities you want to include in the festivities are done. For example, you'll need to set a time for the receiving line, for your first dance as husband and wife, for the cutting of the cake, for wedding speeches, etc. If you're going to have special entertainment, such as a magician or comedian, or a pyrotechnics display, these need to be included in your schedule.

Be reasonable when you're setting up the time lines. Don't only give your guests fifteen minutes to finish their meal before you jump into cutting the cake. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy each activity, even if it means having a longer reception or cutting out some activities.

Remember the key to a good reception is planning. Start early so you won't be rushing around at the last minute to make important decisions about the menu, the bar, or the reception activities.