Anyone having a party when they get back for guests who couldn't come???

[marisolhernandez]

This is a tough one. We are inviting everyone to Mexico and figure that the randoms will opt out. When we get back we may have either a backyard bbq, or small cocktail party with hors d'ovres. The wedding in Mexico is our main celebration and I'm having my mom market it that way, so that the randoms wont expect anything huge when we get back. Afterall, our wedding budget only goes so far.

 

I know this is your day, but I know it was hard to convince my mom that the randoms werent really necessary. Do your parents/in-laws have any expectations? Could you get away with skipping the post-party all together, or do you really want one?

[mnewbauer]

We aren't inviting everyone to Mexico so we have to have a party when we get back. Everywhere is just so expensive. I would rather spend my money in Mexico. I thought brunches would be cheaper...but what I am finding out is that they aren't.

[mpetzold]

We are having a party when we get back. Instead of doing it right away we are going to get married on September 4 and have our reception on October 11. We are going to have someone at home mail the wedding announcement/invitation the day after the wedding. This will give about a month for people to return their response card.

 

You would be surprised about the reception venues you can find for the right price. We are having our reception at a golf course clubhouse and their rental fee is $250.00. If you decide to have a tent and heat lamps be prepared for the extra costs. They add up very quickly!

 

Mandy

[kate.com]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnewbauer We aren't inviting everyone to Mexico so we have to have a party when we get back. Everywhere is just so expensive. I would rather spend my money in Mexico. I thought brunches would be cheaper...but what I am finding out is that they aren't.

There are ways to do it cheaper in Minnesota! We are renting a tent and having a reception at my future in-laws house. They have several acres so we can have a DJ, and what's nice is we are going to pick up the food and drinks... drinks way ahead of time. Since we are not getting married that day it will be less stressful. We can decorate the tent so I can still create the ambieance I am looking for!
Lets talk, we can figure something out!!!

[2bebridejamaica]

We are having a AHR when we get back but we are waiting 2 months and having in Jan 09 when our wedding is Nov 8th. Once we get back from our HM everyone will be in with the swing of the holidays and most of our families work in the medical and blue colar (firefighter, police) fields. Getting any time off during these times espec on a weekend doesn't happen often because of the unions they are in.

 

It was a long thought process but my FH has a wonderful family and I love them but most just can't go for many different reasons along with our grandparents now living in homes a flight is something they can not handle. I was sad that so many of them wouldn't be able to join but we understood totally. It only seemed right to have something fun and include them and make it feel like our special day all over again.

 

We are not going overboard just renting a hall (think a Legion or Elks hall)... and decorating with everything you can think of from Oriental Trading or other websites that have Luau themed items. We live right outside of Boston and winters in January BLAH!!! along with the coming down of the holidays.. a fun afternoon with Hawiian Shirts and Lai's seemed appropriate.

 

Just remember to make it a fun day if you do it ... don't stress out just enjoy the fact you get to spend the day with all the people that want to go and see you as Mr & Mrs.

[Lisa09]

We are doing the same thing, I considered an outdoor venue but am now considering a resturant, depending on the number of people you could check out Spill the Wine or a place with food that matches with your DW, check out opentable.com and you can find out which restaurants have banquet rooms. Some of the Golf Courses are pretty reasonable.

[Becksy]

We are haveing an AHR at my FH's Uncle's place. We are getting married in January, but waiting until June to have our AHR so hopefully the weather will be nicer. We are renting a tent or two, buying a keg or two, borrowing some BBQ's from family and friends, asking our Mothers and close friends to prepair some salads and deserts. We will play some texas horseshoes, volleyball, boca and hang out in the pool during the day and at night we will start the music, get a big bonfire going and hopfully have the hot tub ready. It will be very casual, but a lot of fun... I can't wait.

[Lisa09]

One question - is anyone wearing their wedding dress? I read somewhere that your not suppose to but less that 15 ppl will have seen me in the dress and we are having the AHR a week later so we won't have been back to work yet -- so I'm thinking it's like a continuation of the celebration like we just came from the ceremony!?

[kevsgirl]

Our original plan was to have our AHR in January at home or at FI's parent's place.

We would wear what we wore for the wedding (2nd time to wear my dress!), decorate the house with Mexican/luau themed stuff and put together a slide-show of the wedding that we'd project onto the wall and have photos, etc. scattered around.

 

FI has a huge family and everyone (well some) are grumbling that they can't come to the DW and most of my friends can't, so we thought it would be a fun way to include everyone.

 

The problem is our wedding day is December 12, so we want to do the AHR shortly after - like late January, so we may have space trouble if we do it in someone's home. I think we'll not invite kids, which may help.

 

I guess another option is to wait til spring/summer and have it outside, but isn't that too long for people to wait?

 

I don't know. There are tons of threads on AHR on BDW. I think I may go searching for them and read up.

 

Blah! IMHO it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to have an AHR if you're trying to save money and make things more intimate by having a DW.

[kate.com]

Hi! We are getting married in January and having our AHR in June. I think it is totally cool to wait to have a reception until it is nice enough to enjoy the outdoors! You can do whatever you want... and by waiting you can plan the AHR when you get back without adding stress to planning a DW.

I am wearing my dress too... at least for awhile if not the whole night.

 

YOU make the rules!