Have it at your house. Hey, at least the facility is free. Be aware that you may have to rent chairs, tables and other equipment, which will add to the tab. If you plan to pitch a tent in the back yard, the expense can go even higher. Of course, the savings of bringing in a caterer (instead of holding the reception at a pricey hotel) may put you ahead overall. Between 10 and 20 percent of all receptions are held in private homes.

Try a restaurant reception. Many restaurants have banquet rooms, some that can hold large crowds. Those may be a great alternative to pricey hotels or catering halls. A bride in Chicago provided us with some cost comparisons: She priced a reception at a gourmet French restaurant called Cafe Le Cave (in Des Plaines) at $55 a person. That's for a chicken or filet mignon dinner. Compare that with fancy Chicago downtown hotels, where a similar reception starts at $75 and can go up to $200 per guest. Another bonus: Most restaurants don't charge ''room fees'' or other bogus charges that other facilities do. And the food may be higher quality than in a hotel or catering hall.