Many venues can double as a ceremony location as well as a reception location. This could save you fees and a lot of time. In addition you are more likely to have guests stay for the reception if they do not have to travel to a second location.

If you are a member of any club or church the fees could be significantly lower, if not free, to use facilities belonging to that organization. Some churches are affiliated with church camp facilities and you can get a deal on one of these private parks for your wedding.

Some venues include vendors in their packages. For example, the Empress Palace in Woodland, WA offers 5 hours of DJ service with their wedding venue package. Ask the venues you are considering if they have any similar packages. Then, ask for more information about their vendors.

Some venues stronly recommend or require that you use vendors on their list. If you have vendors that you want to use, the venue should not decide who you can and can not have. Try to negotiate with a venue or find another.

If you do not have your ceremony and reception at different places, remember to include a rice toss or similar showering. One way to achieve this is by placing Pew Cones full of flower petals on the ends of pews and encoraging your guests to shower you with them as you walk out of the ceremony.