by Eileen Livers and Monica Bernstein

Q

"I booked this cute little wedding chapel for my wedding that also came with a reception area in the basement. We are planning on serving finger foods and cake, setting up a few tables and having a DJ and dance space. The problem is making it all fit. The area just seems too small, but I don't want to change the reception site. Any tips on how to save space?" --iVillager lacenbran



A

Dear Lacenbran,

Believe it or not, it's better to have a space that's slightly too small than one that's too big. When a space is too big, guests feel uncomfortable and unconnected with the main players of the day (you two and your families).

Of course, you still need to be reasonable about the size of your reception. But there's plenty you can do to maximize a small space:

  • First and foremost, see if renting a tent and setting it up next to the reception room is an option. If there's an open doorway leading outside and a way to wire speakers so that both the tent and reception room get the same sound, you'll be in great shape. Or consider taking the reception outside entirely. That can be done any time of year, thanks to portable heaters and air conditioning.
  • You might consider eliminating tables altogether and just lining the walls of the reception room with chairs. Instead of a buffet table, you could have waiters passing finger foods on trays.
  • Finally, think about areas of the church besides the basement that you might use during the reception. You could have the cake displayed in some other part of the church and hold the cutting ceremony there so that it doesn't take up room in the main reception area. You could also have cocktail tables and chairs set up in the lobby, in case guests wish to sit down. Put pictures of the two of you (or other wedding decorations that match the rest) on each table so that such areas still feel connected to what's happening in the main reception area.

Talk about your wedding planning on the Ask the Wedding Women message board.