You've decided to get married, but where will you hold the wedding? For many planning a wedding, deciding between holding the wedding and reception in one or two locations should be thought over. Convenience for you and your guests is a significant factor, but so are a good location and good food. In places like New England, temperature and weather can also limit the locations a wedding can be held. A Connecticut wedding, for example, shouldn't be held outside in the winter. These factors vary no matter where you'll be getting married. How do you get both of those factors to meet?

Typically, when a guest receives a wedding invitation, he or she will see the location of the ceremony and also the reception. A direction card will be included to give the guest a written or visual route from the ceremony to the reception hall. But, in most cases, this only works for lavish ceremonies. Those planning a small to medium sized event should try to keep the ceremony and reception as close as possible. Preferably, they should be in the same location.

Wedding themes vary, but one common one over the years has been a spring or summer wedding. This is often reflected in the wedding invitations sent out – often with a floral or plant theme – and also in the location. Outdoor ceremonies are popular all over. The Connecticut wedding, as mentioned earlier, would benefit from an outside location, although Northeastern states generally aren't limited by temperature in warmer months. If you decide to go with a spring or summer wedding ceremony, consider an outdoor location.

But, while the outdoors is often a common and appropriate backdrop to a wedding, where do you hold the rest of the event? Some options for the reception include keeping it outdoors under tents in case of rain. However, again going back to the Connecticut wedding , rain can strike at any time, so why risk the outdoors for a reception? Consider moving all of the guests indoors to a structure, such as a banquet hall or large restaurant, that can accommodate a medium-sized group with a roof and food.