When is a good time to have a AHR

[Tropical Love]

Ladies,

    I'm getting married in Oct 2011 and I originally planned to have a AHR reception the following Spring of 2012.  My FH has suggested having a pre celebration party and renting out a pavillion at one of the local parks...one of my bridesmaid also suggested a pre celebration party too. So, now we're attempting to discuss which one would be better. I'm totally torn between the two. 

  I wouldn't mind having a pre celebration party because that would allow us to celebrate with all the friends and family who couldn't make it/ or I couldn't invite before we go and it would be in the summer. But would people get an attitude if I invite them to AHR but didn't invite them to the wedding?  Then, if we have it the following spring after our wedding..I was wondering if people would even show up since it'll be 7 months after the ceremony! But this would give us the opportunity to show our wedding pictures and would allow our guest to share in our day. 

HELP Ladies...let's discuss

 

Oh and PS ..there are so many people that I couldn't invite to the DW...but I would love to invite them to my bridal shower....is that rude? That's one reason I was actually leaning to a pre celebration party too...

[curtney17]

I personally would have ahr after your wedding. then you get to show possibly the wedding video and professional pictures!! which is what your guests who cannot make it want to see! also if you didnt want to wait soo long for your ahr, think about a christmas ahr/celebrationg! what better way, people LOVE christmas parties annnd receptions!

[Tropical Love]

The only problem with that is, I live in the northeast and I would hate for people to have to travel in the winter time and to have to come out of pocket around the holidays. That's one of the main reasons why I wanted to do it the following spring/summer.  But that's a great idea!

 

Originally Posted by curtney17 

I personally would have ahr after your wedding. then you get to show possibly the wedding video and professional pictures!! which is what your guests who cannot make it want to see! also if you didnt want to wait soo long for your ahr, think about a christmas ahr/celebrationg! what better way, people LOVE christmas parties annnd receptions!

[clgriffi7]

I am getting married (hopefully - contract is being signed now) Nov 5, 2011 and our AHR (more like a party) will be Nov 18, 2011.  I wanted to have my AHR soon after the wedding so people will still be excited.  I would be a bit worried that if you wait too long people won't be as excited and your turn-out may suffer.

 

But I definitely like the idea of the AHR compared to a pre-wedding celebration.  After the DW you get to show pictures and possibly even wear your dress again. 

 

I think I might be upset at getting invited to a bridal shower if not invited to the wedding UNLESS there is already an AHR planned and I have been invited to that.  You wouldn't want any of your friends to think (incorrectly of course) that they are only being invited to the shower so they can give presents.

[Ashlee2011]

After reading these I can see how its hard to choose between before or after, but I think after is great because you are able to share all the experiences with people who werent able to make it!

[Tropical Love]

Thanks for the advice ladies! I'll let you know once the FH and I decide on what the heck we're going to do.

[DiamondGirl]

I agree, definitely after the wedding.

[L&J]

I vote for before. (That's what we are doing!) You can call it a bon voyage party. 

[skp1]

I'm doing it beforehand like an "engagement party" even though we've been engaged for months already!  I'm afraid after the wedding there will be a huge wave of relief and the last thing I'll want to do is plan yet another party.  At least beforehand there is excitement and momentum.  Yes, you can't show any pictures or video so that is the downfall.  We will invite people who are not invited to the wedding and its easily explainable as a lot of people can't or won't travel anyway.  I think it's odd to invite people to a shower if they aren't invited to the wedding but since a regular party doesn't require a gift its OK (although people can give gifts if they want to).  We'll probably have our party 2-3 months prior to the wedding at which point we'll have a better idea of who is attending.  I think someone on here suggested calling it an "almost married" party and I like that.  Bon Voyage is good too, L&J. 

[Valentine_Baby]

Hi Tropical Love,

 

I'm in the same boat as you - we are getting married in October 2011 and it has been suggested to wait until summer 2012 to have AHR.  I really don't want to wait that long to have a reception (if we end up having one at all).  Mind you it wouldnt be so bad to even have a family / close friends bbq the summer of 2011 that way those who are unable to make it can still celebrate your marriage with you.

 

This is also something that been coming up in conversation and I don't have an answer to this as well.

 

And they said planning a destination wedding would be easy lol