Reception-Planning 101 . If you answered the dress or the photography, guess again. It's the reception.
Entertainment is extra.
At some sites, you have to pay a flat fee or an hourly charge to use the facility. Other sites, such as hotels, let you use the ballroom for free, but you have to use their catering department and spend a minimum amount on food and drink. Some caterers will also provide the wedding cake and the groom's cake, if you follow that Southern tradition. The typical method of calculating wedding catering costs is based on a per-guest figure. Drink Beverages can consume a significant chunk of your catering budget, whether your reception has punch and coffee or a full open bar with premium brands.