Reception venue ideas!

When it comes time for the wedding reception, most brides and grooms want a little more than cheese, crackers and a champagne toast. Here are some ideas to make sure your reception venue fits your new family like a glove:

Watch the room capacity. Too big a room, and your guests will feel lost. Too small, and they'll feel cramped. In a perfectly-sized wedding reception venue, guests will be able to walk between tables without moving chairs or shimmying between them. This will make everyone feel a little more comfortable, which will make the party last longer. Ask to see a real wedding at your location to make sure the space feels great.

Consider dramatic lighting. Your guests will want you to turn down the lights when it's time for dancing, leaving that awesome and gorgeous room you hired for your reception in the darkness. Play up what you've got by hiring a lighting company to add light to the space where it matters most. Check out Chip & Meilyn's trailer to see how one couple converted a simple tent into a fabulous, club-like atmosphere with a few simple, well-placed lights.

Think about your family. If you're dancers, consider a space that allows for a large dance floor; if you're not, you might want more socialization space by the bar.

Everyone is going to want to see you cut the cake -- including your photographers and videographers! Make sure your cake space is big enough to handle your chroniclers as well as the friends and family that are gathering around with their own cameras.

Try a distinctive venue, like a museum, barn, nightclub, theater, garden, restaurant or gallery, depending on what you and your fiance love the most. Having your wedding reception in a place that is unique always kicks your party up a notch, as a certain TV chef would say!

Factor in the weather. If you want to get married in the late spring, summer, or early fall in Central Florida, you need to think about thunderstorms and severe weather. You might fall in love with an outdoor location -- but make sure your site has a fabulous secondary spot in case the weather strikes back.

Whatever you do, have fun with it!