i am doing a BBQ AHR, wearing a dress, what about guest attire?

[PurpleUnicorn]

 

that's my dilemma, do i politely ask the guests not to dress too grungy. I mean i get its a backyard BBQ party, where normally it would be okay to come in shorts and t-shirts.  But i am hoping since it is also for a post-wedding reception, people will try to dress nicely. i will be wearing a white dress - not my big fancy wedding dress, but the dress i wore for my TTD pics - which is still super fancy for a BBQ.  I know some of my BMs will be wearing their BM dresses again (or for the first time since two of them couldnt make it to Jamaica).

 

So i am wondering - should I put something on my website about what to wear for this BBQ, or just let it go and hope for the best that people put some effort! 

 

and if i do put something on my website - how do i word it??  what did you do??

 

any suggestions are appreciated, thanks!

[torilynnsmith]

I would do something along the line of playing of the DW, "beach chic" "casual elegance" etc.  Here is what we put on our website to help our guests.  You would have to alter some wording but I think it is fair to ask

 

 

Beach Chic

We encourage all our guest to dress comfortably for our wedding on the beach and embrace the elements of sun, sand and sea with their own take on "Beach Chic" attire!

Here are some suggestions:

Ladies 
-sundress
-skirt and top
-pants and top
-sandals
-rock your heels if you like as the reception will not be on the sand, bare feet for the ceremony are encouraged!!!

Gentlemen
-khakis
-linen pants
-slacks
-polos
-linen shirts
-short sleeve dress shirts
-sandals or shoes
-leave your jackets and your ties at home!!!!

[canadiangirl]

this is what we put in our AHR boarding pass invites

 

Reception attire preferred. For our BBQ/cocktail celebration

RSVP would be appreciated by April 2^nd 2012

[nmw134]

I was wondering about this too, we are having a similar AHR, and so I was debating on whether we (me, groom, wedding party) should wear our wedding attire and then what to have our guests do. I sort of like this as it will enable us to take more "wedding" photos with guest who couldn't make the wedding, but also feel its very formal for a backyard BBQ, so I'm torn.

[canadiangirl]

that is what we are going to do... i am wearing my wedding dress, my Fi is wearing his linen suite, same as wedding party...so in my invitations im going to add something in there about it being a run off of the wedding for all of those who couldnt make it.
 

Originally Posted by nmw134 

I was wondering about this too, we are having a similar AHR, and so I was debating on whether we (me, groom, wedding party) should wear our wedding attire and then what to have our guests do. I sort of like this as it will enable us to take more "wedding" photos with guest who couldn't make the wedding, but also feel its very formal for a backyard BBQ, so I'm torn.

 

[clgriffi7]

We will actually have our photographer at our AHR (which will be at a less fancy reception hall but will be a party with no seated meal) so I have put something to the effect of "comfortable enough to dance, but cute enough for pictures".  To me that means I will get less dressy than standard wedding attire, but more like "going out" attire.  Because I won't be wearing my wedding dress (I will be wearing the dress I bought for my legal wedding) that will be good enough for me - I just want the pictures to look okay...

[meBonidie2be]

I don't think u will offend ppl by asking them to dress a little more formal. IMO u dont need to list specifics. Maybe be funny.....dress to impress or something like that.

[meBonidie2be]

BTW purple unicorn since u have already wed....would you give any advice to a plan-in-a-hurry DB? How did everything go for you in Jamaica? My FI wonders how a wedding away is legit in the US

[PurpleUnicorn]

hmmm, i can give lots of advice, do you have any specific questions?  when are you getting married adn where?   everything went amazing in Jamaica.  it does take 5 months for them to send us our marriage certificate, so i haven't looked into making it legit here yet - but i have been told we just have to register our marriage in our state/province. sounds pretty simple to  me.  

 

what questions do you have?  maybe you can PM me. or look at my recaps thread or the thread i started on the resort i got married at - Sunset Beach Resort and Spa - i have answered a lot questions in there.

Originally Posted by meBonidie2be 

BTW purple unicorn since u have already wed....would you give any advice to a plan-in-a-hurry DB? How did everything go for you in Jamaica? My FI wonders how a wedding away is legit in the US

 

[anna524]

i think that its a great idea to say reception attire, or even the beach chic. It gets the point across but in a subtle way.