There are many ways to save money on your reception. It just takes time, patience and many, many phone calls. Believe me, it's worth it, though.

LOCATION

Your location is probably the most important part of your reception. Start scouting as soon as possible (especially if you'll have a June or December wedding). Some halls I checked into had been booked for over a year and a half in advance. Call around, ask friends and family to give you suggestions and look for the best deal that will accomodate the number of guest you'll have.

If you're wedding party is small enough, consider having a back yard b-b-q. Some people will graciously offer their home for your special day in lieu of a gift. Be careful with this option, however, since importing tables, chairs, etc. can sometimes inflate your budget so much that it's no longer worth it.

Check with your local parks and recreation dept. A clubhouse at a local park will usually cost about $25-40 for the first hour and $10-$15 each additional hour. This would be a perfect location for a more casual event. Make sure you ask in advance about allowing alcohol. Many city parks will not allow it.

Did you know that many restaurants will offer their "party room" for your reception? Some can hold up to 150 people although most only hold 50-75. More often than not, they'll insist on catering, but the room will cost next to nothing.

Do you live in an apartment complex or trailer park with a clubhouse? Maybe you have a friend who does. For most residents the cost of the clubhouse is $50 or less (many cases FREE). A friend who has access to one can sponsor you and you could use theirs. If you don't know anyone, however, call the apartments in your yellow pages and ask if non-residents can rent the clubhouse. I found several who did and they ranged between $75 and $150. I started looking too late, so they were already booked.

Consider having your reception in a hotel meeting room. Most of them offer reasonable prices for your reception, but many of them insist on catering and that can add up to $2000.00 to your cost. Be SURE to ask in advance what their catering policy is.

Call your local fraternal organizations (American Legion, VFW, Elk lodge, Moose Lodge, Knights of Columbus) and inquire about their hall rentals. These usually range from $300- $750 for about 4 hours. Good news, though, if you know someone who's a member, they can sponsor you and you'll get an extremely incredible discount, or ever better, FREE. Almost everyone has an uncle or family friend who's a member of some sort fraternal organization.

FOOD

Timing is everything if you want to trim your food budget. Let's face it, a catered sit-down dinner can cost $15-$100 per head. If you have 250 people, well, you do the math. (ouch). Oh, and did I mention that there's also the serving costs, the waitstaff cost, and the delivery cost? It just keeps adding up. My favorite suggestion is hosting a reception BETWEEN meals (10am or 2pm). Most guests will have already eaten and h'ors d'oeurves will be fine. If you insist on having your special day catered, call around and ask for the best deals. Hiring a caterer is a wonderful option if you want to reduce some stress, but be very careful. They're not all guilty of this, but some tend to overcharge naive, unsuspecting brides. Your best bet is call, call, call. Ask a million questions and learn everything you can about hidden costs, policies and "fine print policies" in advance. If the caterer seems elusive and doesn't want to disclose certain things, go with someone else.

Consider approaching your favorite restaurant about handling your reception. They're usually not quite as expensive, and you know in advance what the quality of the food will be.

Another option is a great big b-b-q. It's casual, fun and you're practically guaranteed to have happy guests (almost everyone loves b-b-q). You could ask your aunts, friends, or grandma to bring the potato salad, garlic bread, deserts, etc.

I've heard of some brides having "potluck" receptions. This is actually a nice idea, but have someone organize if for you. I attended a reception once with nothing but green bean or potato salad dishes--no main course or breads or deserts. No one found out what other people were bringing.

Cut back on alcohol costs by having an a.m. reception. Most people don't drink as much in the morning (I know, there are quite a few who do, but not ALL of them). You can also deter costs by limiting yourself to one or 2 kegs of beer. An open bar is nice and appreciated, but terribly expensive, and if you can't afford it, your guests will understand. If you'd like, opt for a B.Y.O.B.

Here's a miscellaneous money saving tip for your reception. If you want to save some cash on your photos, hire a professional to take the "standard pics"(you know what I mean), then place disposable cameras around the room for your guests to use and drop in a basket on the way out. It's more candid and you're more apt to get pictures that are more sentimental to you and your new spouse.

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful day and most of all, enjoy yourself!

Good Luck and Happy Planning!