Ed and I spent Saturday looking at reception venues and asking for directions. We were in Boston, so finding the places took longer than actually viewing them.

First up was the Charles Riverboat Company, which promises to wine and dine 130 guests while cruising around Boston Harbor. Ed really loves this idea. My mother hates it. I’m a little nervous that we won’t be able to cut the guest list to 130 people, and I’ll end up inviting people, hoping they’ll say no because I have no room for them. But I am drawn to the idea of partying on a boat under the stars.

We did have some concerns that people who wanted to leave the reception would be stuck there, but Heather – our sales rep, who didn’t even yell when we showed up 20 minutes late – said the boat could schedule a stop halfway through the cruise.

Saturday was a warm, beautiful day, so I could absolutely see Ed and I getting married on a boat. It might have been different if it rained. However, Heather assured us the decks are heated and the boat is enclosed.

Next up was an American Legion Post along the Charles River. The river was beautiful, but I was less than impressed. The function room smelled of stale smoke and had low ceilings and no windows. The patio was also available, but trash was sitting along the edges and would have to be cleaned up. I really don’t want to pick up trash the day before my wedding. I can tell you right now, I’m not going to be in the mood.

We scratched this one off the list, but if you’re looking for a hall rental on the cheap, check out your local VFWs and American Legions; hall rentals are usually only a few hundred dollars. Some of them are quite nice, and I’ve been to some lovely weddings at these type of halls. One in Clinton, Mass., looks just like a hotel ballroom.

We never did go to the New England Aquarium. We planned to make an appointment, but a sales rep called back and told us the events team only met with people during business hours. As in Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. This sent up a red flag. That absolutely doesn’t fit in with our schedule, and if the facility can’t be accommodating when they’re trying to sell us on their venue, I don’t have high hopes for the future.

So Ed and I kicked around at the Museum of Science, which sits on the Charles River. By chance, we saw caterers setting up for an event, so we asked to take a look. Wow. There is an outside venue for 200 people right on the Charles River. Ed and I can get married right there at sunset, and then move into the tent for our reception. It looked absolutely beautiful, and the catering was by Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant. Even better, guests can also look at the exhibits during the reception, which make it a great place to have a wedding where lots of children are involved. I’ve already e-mailed the museum for a price list.

If you’re looking for something different in the way of receptions, check your local museum. I’ve come across fine art museums, photography museums and science museums; if you have a special interest, chances are there’s a museum that will hold your reception.

Also, check out the story on our Web site about farm dinners. It ran Oct. 2. I don’t know if it’s possible for weddings, but some companies specialize in creating gourmet, outdoor dinners on a local farm using local produce. While the idea is to bring the freshest food possible to diners and raise awareness about where our food comes from – often a local farmer gives a presentation – I think this would make a great, casual wedding.

Right now, I can’t seem to narrow it down to a favorite. I’ve cut a couple of places from my list of possibles, but I think picking the final facility is going to be toughie.

 If anyone has seen or used a reception site that worked really well for about 200, post a comment. We’re still open to ideas.