The reception is a wonderful, after ceremony affair at which the bride and groom are officially introduced to the guests and are given a fond departure into the world. It is the launching off point of the bride and groom's life and honeymoon, provided you are taking one immediately after the ritual.

Traditionally, this is paid for by the father or parents of the bride but lately, etiquette has provided that just about anyone can foot the bill. More and more often, the bride and groom have opted to do this. To me, this always made sense. It is after all, the bride's big day. Paying for and planning the wedding should be her responsibility, that way, if there are specifics that she wants and/or needs, she just included it in their budget.

Another question that usually pops up concerns the bridesmaid's gowns and who pays for them, but this is a simple question to answer. The bridesmaids pay for their own dresses if it is something that can be worn to other functions. If the bride wants a themed wedding, then she will have to foot the bill. It is that simple and it is that fun.

In choosing a site for your wedding reception to take place, you may want to check for places like wedding halls that actually have an all-inclusive package. This means that they include the hall, music, food, and many other amenities that make for a complete wedding. By going in this direction, you could save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on caterers. These places do exist; it is just a matter of finding them. Most of them either do not advertise or just advertise the use of the hall as a rental property for weddings. Remember also to choose wedding shower favors that match your theme. It makes the bridal shower favors much more fun.

Hiring a wedding photographer or videographer is not as easy as it sounds. There are different styles of photography and it will depend largely upon your taste in these styles. Each style, like artistic photography, will have his or her specialized portfolio to show you and show off their talents. However, there are three very important aspects you need to be comfortable with before you even begin to approach a decision. First, do you like the photographer as a person? This is important because the better you get along, the harder he or she will try. This is just a basic fact of life that you will have learned by now and if not, you will.

You will also want to know what happens to the negatives of your weddings photos. Find a photographer who is either very stable and will be in business for years to come, or is willing to give them to you. If something should ever happen to your wedding photo book, the negatives are the only way you will replace it. Without them, the album could be lost. If you keep the negatives, keep them in a separate location from the photos, like a safety deposit box. It may also be a good idea to have them insured by the bank that stores them.

The last tip is a simple one and should be common knowledge. The photographer may the nicest person in the world and you could like him or her very much and become friends forever. That does not make them a good photographer. Their portfolio only proves that they are adept at picking out their best pictures. Always check their references. These tips should help make your wedding planning a little bit easier. There are hundreds of sites online that will have plenty of time saving and money saving tips that will help as well. Congratulations and have a wonderful wedding!