The vows have been spoken and the first kiss has already been given. The procession leading to the reception hall begins. As the reception hall fills up with wedding guests, many people are looking around to see what is next...

The wedding reception is one of the most important things, besides the act of accepting vows, for the marrying couple. Many guests are happy and jovial after witnessing yet another moment of a happy couple becoming husband and wife. There are many options to consider if you are the person who is in charge of putting together entertainment for family and guests. Here is a breakdown of wedding entertainment costs and what to expect:

Under $100

Best spent when there is only eight to twelve people in attendance. Buy music CD's that have a compilation of wedding songs. If there's someone who has music stored on their computer, have them to burn a few CD's to play. Since your budget is low, spending a lot on equipment would prove too costly. Instead it's best to either use your stereo with large or multiple speakers to output the sounds, or you can borrow a nice stereo speaker from a neighbor or friend. Make sure to take special care with the stereo. It may be wise to ask the person from which you borrowed the stereo system to operate it during the reception. This will cut down on cost should anyone accidentally damage the equipment.

Spend money on the basics to eat such as chips, soda, crackers, and other small items. A vegetable dish can be bought at a grocery store for about $18 dollars. These dishes consist of carrots, celery, broccoli chunks and dip. Peanuts work well because it is handy and always readily available for guests to scoop up. Finger sandwiches are also excellent for quick meals. Bake the wedding cake yourself and decorate it with small trinkets found in an arts and craft store.

Since most of the budget calls for you to purchase refreshments, eating utensils, and other items, the obvious place to host the reception is at your home, either inside or outdoors. The wedding reception can be held at a relative's house. Set aside a day prior to the actual wedding day and spruce up the surroundings. Make sure there's ample space to mingle, eat, and dance. Set the stereo someplace nearby but out of the way. If the reception is held outdoors, study the weather forecasts to determine if it's feasible to do. You'll lose money if there's a gusty wind or even rain that will jeopardize the condition of decorations. Have someone with a digital camera take the wedding photos.

$100 to $500

This amount works best if there are fifteen to twenty-five guests attending. A karaoke machine can be rented to fill the area with music. Make sure there are several speakers situated around the area so that everyone will be able to hear the music. Most karaoke machines have inputs where multiple speakers can be attached. Some advanced models even offer monitors and built in cameras to capture precious moments. Be careful not to overspend on these options, especially if your budget includes other expenses. The machine should have a wide variety of music to accommodate the many tastes your guests may have. It should be filled with lots of wedding tracks and romantic songs to suit the mood. Depending on the type of karaoke machine, a fourth of the budget will go to this expense.

Refreshments should be limited to finger foods such as finger sandwiches and snacks. You can also grill most of your food. Buy the refreshments in bulk from Sam's Warehouse or Costco stores to help save money. You can decorate lightly with balloons strewn around the area, inexpensive tablecloths, and napkins that match the wedding colors. Most of these items can be found at a party store. Expect to spend around $300 for food and supplies.

Under this sort of budget, it's possible to rent a small place to host your event for around $200 for a couple of hours. Cummunity centers, churches, small parks, and other places are just a few places to check. Make sure to investigate if there's a cleaning fee attached. There may even be a deposit needed to hold your reservation. You can always borrow this amount from family, as you will be receiving the money back once the occasion has ended from gifts. 

$500 to $2000

This amount can accommodate 25 to 150 guests. For music, there are several options to choose from. Depending upon how much you are willing to spend, a quartet, or a small independent band can be hired to fill the eardrums of your guests. It's possible to find musicians ranging from a single instrument player to a full ensemble. If you are prone to listening to more popular music, hiring a DJ is probably the better choice. Most DJ's offer flexible rates and options. Some DJ's have flat or plasma screens and video projectors for guest viewing pleasure. Others offer live performers, fireworks, or other crowd-pleasing acts. Other options to consider includes hiring drummers, dancers, or other forms of live entertainment. These options offer interesting combinations of culture, both visually and musically.

Under this budget, a caterer can be hired. Most caterers will work alongside with you to come up with the refreshment menu. Many have information to where you can save by purchasing your decorations in bulk. Some may even assist with decorating. If this option isn't feasible for you, then consider asking family and friends to help cook the menu items. You can have the wedding cake done professionally, but remember not to spend a whole lot. Look for a place that's big enough to accommodate this amount of people. Renting out a reception area at hotels and community centers will be the best options to do. There's even room in the budget to hire a photographer for taking pictures.

$2000+

The sky's the limit! With a bigger budget available, anything can be purchased to make this day more special. This budget will allow 200 or more guests. The bigger the budget, the more people can be accommodated. Entertainment can be as simple as a band to more extravagant spending such as pop stars showings and celebrity drop-ins. Food should be catered due to the extreme amount of guests. The wedding cake can be as simple as a one-tier cake or many tiers, depending on your taste. Remember to rent a big enough area that is able to accommodate the number of people. Outdoors is always a good option for the amount of people providing the weather is good.

Establishing a budget to fit your perfect reception is not hard. All it takes is how much you are willing to spend, what entertainment options you want to do, and where you want the event to take place. Don't let the wedding budget dampen the entertainment portion of this special day. There's an option for just about any budget you want to set.