So I’ve done it. I’ve scheduled more appointments to look at reception halls.

Saturday, Ed and I are heading to Boston to check out a riverboat, an American Legion hall and the New England Aquarium.

Each facility has some plusses. The American Legion is a definite possibility. It costs a mere $400 to rent the facility, which is on the Charles River and has an open patio. The riverboat would allow Ed and I to get married as we cruise down the Charles at sunset. The aquarium would provide entertainment for all the kids.

Be wary of hidden costs when choosing your reception site. Many places require that you purchase the food from them at anywhere from $30-$100 a plate, then charge you an additional site fee – some as much as $4,000 – to have your reception there. That’s like ordering food, then paying to sit and eat it! Others will throw in an additional fee if you get married on-site.

Ed and I are sticking to reception halls that either have no site fee or will allow us to bring in a caterer from the outside, such as the Legion.

We also have some concerns about renting a boat for four hours. It seems like a cool idea, but then people are trapped on the boat for the entire reception. They can’t leave early if they have to get up in the morning. They can’t leave if there kids are acting up. They can’t leave if they get seasick. We’re all bound together in their misery, so to speak. It would definitely be a reception where you’re in it for the long haul. I love the idea, but with a lot of older people in my family, I’m not sure that everyone’s going to want to party all night.

The Aquarium offers a compromise. Ed and I could rent a boat for an hour, get married on it and have a short cocktail reception. Then, we could all head back to shore for the main meal and some great views, and people can take off whenever they want.

But I think I would feel funny serving seafood as the entrée.