Outdoor wedding receptions can be magical. As the sun sets, lights cast a soft glow over you and your guests. Music plays in the background and conversations and laughter fill the night.  The tables are draped in fabric while candles illuminate floral centerpieces.

Many girls dream of having at least some part of their wedding outdoors. If you are one of those people, then there are a few things to consider when choosing your venue to be sure you end up with the perfect day.

The first decision is how many people are you inviting? Is it going to be an intimate wedding with 50 or 60 friends and family members, or is it going to be an extravagant affair with hundreds of guests? Once you have a guest list, it's time to start looking for a venue for your outdoor wedding reception.

Be sure to ask how many people the venue can accommodate. Some venues can seat up to 400 people outdoors. Another consideration is what alternatives they have to the outdoor space if weather doesn't cooperate. Do they recommend a tent, or do they have an indoor banquet hall that could be used?

Another decision is how much of your wedding day do you want to celebrate outdoors? Do you only want the ceremony outside and reception inside? Would you prefer dinner be served outside and dancing take place inside? Once that is decided, then it's time to figure out what time the outdoor events will be happening. If you are having an afternoon wedding and only the ceremony is going to be outside, then you don't need to worry about lighting. If, however, you are having your ceremony or dinner in the evening or when it's dark out then lighting is going to be a huge consideration.

As far as lighting goes, there are several options. The first is figuring out what lighting the venue already provides. Some venues have gas lamps outside and fireplaces for ambiance and heat. Candles always give a romantic feel to the setting. Some places will have spotlights that light up trees and shrubbery. For an outdoor wedding reception, you may want to consider tiny white lights that can be strung through trees and bushes. If you have a favorite color, or want to incorporate the lighting into your color scheme, then think about using colored lights, or Chinese lanterns.

If the wedding is during the winter months, the evenings may cool off, so it might be smarter to do a cocktail hour outside where guests can mingle under heat lamps, then move the dinner inside. Wind might also be a factor, so find out if your outdoor space is enclosed, as in a courtyard in the middle of a villa, or if you are in open air. If so, think about using table clips to hold tablecloths in place.

Taking a tour – virtual or physical - of the venue for your outdoor wedding reception is going to help you visualize if your color scheme will work with the features of the venue. There may be herringbone brick floors, or a certain flower blooming at that time that you may want to use to accentuate your color scheme. No matter what you choose, having at least some part of your ceremony outside is a beautiful way to celebrate your union.