The perfect wedding day has been pictured in your mind and dreams almost your entire lifetime. If you're like most, you may already have a vivid picture of how you want your wedding and reception to look even down to the last detail such as which flowers are going to be included in your flower arrangements and decor. But did your daydreams and imaginings include where you want to the sacred event to take place and where you are going to celebrate your union with family and friends?

If not, there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting the perfect spot to hold your wedding and reception: budget, amount of guests, theme and type of wedding, and whether or not you want your ceremony and reception at the same location.

Let's start with the budget first. By keeping in mind your budget throughout the whole decision making process, you can prevent heartache in the end. Suppose you found the perfect dream wedding spot only to learn that you could not possibly afford to hold your wedding there? Likely if you chose to have your ceremony in any other spot it would pale in comparison and be a disappointment when compared with the one you couldn't swing.

On the other hand, what if you threw caution to the wind and indulged in the more expensive site? In this case, you might become bitter about your wedding day when the bills start to pile up or when you have to forgo your honeymoon to cover the costs. These two scenarios illustrate why it is very important to evaluate the cost before investigating any particular wedding or reception site. If it's over your budget, don't even look at it.

Your theme and type of wedding are also very important when choosing the perfect spot for your wedding nuptials. If you are having an informal country wedding, it would not make much sense to book an elaborate reception hall. A better choice may be to have an outdoor reception on a farm complete with a bonfire, country band, and wagon rides for the little ones.

If you're just looking for a little inspiration and a list of great wedding sites to investigate, your local chamber of commerce can supply you with sites, historical and modern, that can be rented for functions such as weddings. This may be a great help when you're trying to find a spot for your wedding that is unique and truly reflects your personality.

Remember, it's your wedding and your dreams. Do not give in to family pressure or be tempted to take the first place that comes along. Do your homework and you will be guaranteed to realize the wedding of your dreams.