church or reception?

I don't know which you're supposed to book first - the church or the reception. We have a good idea where we want the reception and what day but maybe we should do the church first. I'm getting differing opinions.

Re: church or reception?

We had the hall hold the date first while we checked with the church. Our church is so small, I didn't think they would be booked anyway.

Re: church or reception?

WHich is more important to you? If you want to get married in a specific church and nowhere else, you should book the church first. I booked the hall first because even though I wanted to get married in my church, it wasn;t a priority (I got it anyway )

Re: church or reception?

I checked the availablitly of the hall first, had them hold a date. I let them know I had to check witht he Church and that the date was subject to change. I immeidatley checked with the church. Luckily I did, b/c they were having a fair on my original date, so all I did was let the hall know and we took the next avail date.

If you book early enough, you should be fine b/c the Churches for some reason don't book that fast

Re: church or reception?

That is very true. Most halls will hold the date if you find out (I had to within 1 week). You are basically telling them you will definately have it there you just may need a different date (that's what we did). They are usually very accomodating as long as you are flexible with your dates. Get a list of available dates that you like, and go to the church to find out what is available. Word of advice though. I know churches don't like if you go to the halls first so you may not want to mention that - just find out what dates they have open and, if possible, coordinate it in your head without them knowing

Re: church or reception?

If you do book the hall first don't tell the church that. Some churches freak out if they know that you didn't come to them first.

Re: church or reception?

Agreed - dont tell the church that you've booked your hall. They believe that the reception is a party, the REAL wedding vows take place in the church under God, in front of friends and family and to be honest I never realized how important the ceremony really is until I had my own.....its very moving and also nerve-wracking! We told the hall to hold the date, then met with the priest - booked the date, went back to the hall and signed.

Re: church or reception?

My church said since our wedding wouldn't be until 2004 - that we should go ahead and book the hall first.

Re: church or reception?

I booked the hall first We kind of had a 'toss up' between churches, I'm Lutheran and he's Catholic... We tried the Catholic Church first and it was free.... If it wasn't we would've went with my Church We're having my Pastor come and do the ceremony though

Re: church or reception?

Technically, you are suppose to book the church before the reception hall. We booked the hall a week before we booked the church, but I did not have to worry. We are getting married in my church (and I am a very active participating parishioner) so I did not have to worry about the date. My pastor told me that I can have any date and time, so we went to book the hall first to make sure that the date we wanted was available at the Manor East.

Re: church or reception?

We called both the church and the reception hall to find out their available dates, then we just matched one up. Once we did that we put that date we wanted on hold at the reception hall until we confirmed everything with the church.