At Home Reception (AHR) Do's and Don'ts

[kat2012]

We are thinking about splitting our AHR in 3 parts. My FI family lives in different province and we will go visit them right after our wedding. So we will have some dinner with his family ( not sure where, at home or at the restaurant) since it will be january,it needs to be inside. Then when we will get home, we will take my mom out and celebrate some with her. And some time later we will have wedding party with our friends. (not sure when and how, since my FI is military and all our friends are military too, so it is quite hard to plan in advance when everyone will be able get together.) AND my FI will be away for 4 months right after we get back from visiting his family.....We are paying for everything ourselves (also we have a house and me being in school it does not help), that's why we can't make it big and have everyone come...... Oh well.. Gotta make best out what I have.

Good Luck everyone with Planning!!!

Such an exciting period in our lives

[Sllefebvr]

Is anyone just doing a casual AHR? Like a BBQ or something?

[Aruba Bride]

I am! We are having it at one of our friends homes in our home town. We are going to have a big BBQ! It is going to be very casual--more like a celebration than a reception.

 

Originally Posted by Sllefebvr 

Is anyone just doing a casual AHR? Like a BBQ or something?

 

[Sllefebvr]

Yeah that is what I was thinking... I really do not want to get into a wedding dress or have a formal meal I think it is kind of pointless at least for us... I do not want to pay for another wedding!! We have a great catering place out here that does an outdoor BBQ they bring their own grill, make potato, macaroni, and regular salad!! All I have to buy is the fixings!! Glad to hear someone else is going to be doing the same!!

 

Originally Posted by Aruba Bride 

I am! We are having it at one of our friends homes in our home town. We are going to have a big BBQ! It is going to be very casual--more like a celebration than a reception.

 

 

 

[shan0487]

If I do anything, I will have a BBQ or a fiesta type party, no real reception for me! The point of a DW besides the beauty of Mexico is that it is cheaper!

[ssapper]

That's what we'll be doing too.. having a very casual backyard bbq type of reception when we return... we don't want to spend the money on a "true" wedding reception.

[KandiK]

we are looking to only spend about $5k

I will have a new dress, a short cocktail style dress, it will be held at a small venue in our hometown 2 weeks after we return from our wedding.

I am looking into bringing a photographer with me as well as makeup and hair and they are all willing to give me a special deal to include their services for my home reception since they are are close to my home town as well.

we will be doing buffet style food from a friend that caters and have a dj that I booked through a family friend that also gave me a good deal. We wanted to focus on the food and music and just have a great party for everyone. We would like our photographer to put together a slide show as well that we can show to our guests, especially those that wont be able to make it!

I cant wait!!!!

[Brenners]

I would love to have a BBQ.  I wonder if I can somehow get my family to see the wisdom and fun in that rather than a full blown formal reception/dance because I agree - a DW is supposed to be cheaper than a big formal wedding back home!

[cbandemer]

This is exactly what i'm doing. Trying to save money all around
 

Originally Posted by shan0487 

If I do anything, I will have a BBQ or a fiesta type party, no real reception for me! The point of a DW besides the beauty of Mexico is that it is cheaper!

 

[cbandemer]

I'm sure they would have to see the wisdom in that. Make it an open house/yay we did it fiesta with a mexico theme. Thats how i've made everyone who cant come feel better. It will be like being in mexico without being in mexico.

 

Originally Posted by Brenners 

I would love to have a BBQ.  I wonder if I can somehow get my family to see the wisdom and fun in that rather than a full blown formal reception/dance because I agree - a DW is supposed to be cheaper than a big formal wedding back home!