So, the ceremony is over -- all of the legal and official matters are under your belt (or garter, depending on how you look at it). The only thing left to do next is start the celebration, right?! Well, first, the two of you must discover a locale that is fitting for all of your reception needs. This is where atmosphere, food choices and the size of a location all come into play. And since you are having your reception in the Buckeye State, you will have a multitude of options available from which to choose.
Important Questions Before the Party
Since there are oh-so-many options available for the Ohio bride and groom, you will have to begin by answering a few major questions in order to choose your reception site:
- Do you want an indoor or outdoor reception? This is important to answer because it will cut your options in half. It is also vital because if you want an outdoor reception, then weather and seasons are essential to keep in mind.
- Do you want to bring in your own caterer? If so, then you will not be able to have your event at a location that will only allow you to use their in-house food service or to choose from a specific list of one to four approved caterers.
- How big is your reception? If you have 250 guests, then obviously a homey cafe is not going to suit your needs.
- What kind of theme are you looking to bring to your reception? If you want to go crazy with decorations, be sure the spot you choose is open to you bedazzling the site.
- Another element to consider is what food and drink your location may allow. For example, some museums have food or alcohol restrictions -- Can anyone say red wine spills? -- that will limit your options.
Finding Your Ohio Site
Once you have whittled down your choices, then you can begin to check out a few venues in the Buckeye State. And there are an array of options ranging from historical theaters to museums to a classic restaurant, including:
- Corazon Club and Spa, Dublin
- Cincinnati Marriot, Northeast Mason
- Confluence Park Restaurant, Columbus
- Creekside Conference and Event Center, Gahanna
- Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus
- The 20th Century Theater, Cincinnati
- The Bell Event Centre, Cincinnati
- The Toledo Zoo, Toledo
- Walden, Aurora
- Windows on the River, Cleveland
Keep Your Guests in Mind
In the midst of all this planning, be sure to think of your guests. Are there enough tables and chairs? Will grandma and grandpa be as comfortable as the kiddies running around the dance floor? Is there adequate room for everyone to move around? Is there a space for guests to take a break from the noise and peacefully munch on hors d'oeuvres?
These are all important questions to answer, in addition to making sure guests have directions to find their way to the reception and table markers that tell them exactly where they will be seated for the evening.
All of these final touches an thoughts will make everyone's night enjoyable, leaving plenty of room to party 'till the break of dawn!
