Tips for Perfect Reception Party

The exchange of vows may be at the heart of your nuptials, but if you're like many brides-to-be, you've already started to focus much of your energy on the celebration afterward. It's no wonder. Not only does the postceremony party take up the most amount of time on the wedding day (typically five hours), it also tends to eat up the biggest portion of your overall budget -- about 40 percent to 50 percent. To make matters more stressful, a reception requires you to consider a seemingly endless array of details and logistics. There's the menu to draw up, the space to dress up, and a slew of other choices to make, from favors and flavors of icing to when to send your save-the-dates. A few ideas on how to save some money here and there wouldn't hurt either. Take a deep breath. The job may be big, but it doesn't have to be tough. The key is to think like a professional. Here are dozens of tricks designed to make your planning easier and ensure that you pull off an affair to remember. So wit