Not having enough parking is no joke, so make sure that a prospective reception hall has plenty of parking spaces. At the very least, there should be space for parking on the surrounding streets. No one wants to walk in from blocks away in formal clothing.

Photography and videography is common at celebratory events, especially wedding receptions, so be sure that you know and respect the rules for both at your reception hall. Most of the rules will be self-imposed by management, but some may be local legal requirements.

Some towns offer town halls or civic centers for rent as reception halls. You often have to provide your own food and drinks (especially alcohol), but they can be excellent choices in tight-budget situations. They're also great for small town events, where the options are limited.