Hurricane Wedding Means HUGE AHR

[SMBride42012]

Well Ladies, Everyone's worst nightmare...happened to me

 

Hurricane Rina hit the night before my wedding. The day everyone was supposed to be coming in for the wedding. Only 10 of the 30 people were able to come.

 

The morning we were leaving I checked the weather, as I did every morning for the weeks prior to our departure date. It was then I saw "Tropical Storm Rina" had formed. I was devestated. I was thinking at that point, ok...so it rains on my wedding. Get over it, and go on with life.

 

Little did I realize that it would gain enough strength to actually cancel EVERYONES flights that were planning on coming down the day before the wedding. People that were not able to make it included the Groom's Parents, Brothers & My Bridesmaids, among others.

 

The day of the wedding actually turned out beautifully. Not a cloud in the sky.

 

Since  NONE of my husbands family was able to make it down due to cancelled flights we are now having to do something in our hometown in addition to an At Home Reception. I am thinking we just do Pictures with everyone, then hold the ceremony, then do the Reception thing. Pretty Much......I am going to try to have a 2nd wedding on SLIM budget. We may not be able to organize that until next summer sometime.

 

So yea, your worst nightmare happened to me.  After many tears about the whole thing I have decided to take a deep breath and realize the way I had imagined it wasn't the way it was supposed to go.

 

So ladies my question to you is...What would you do for something at home in my situation!? What is too much? What is too little? Since everyone got their money back bc there was a hurricane and the airport closed for more than 12 hours....would any of you consider inviting everyone back down to mexico to the same resort and trying it all over again!? Should I just have the at home reception in my hometown? I need ideas, Suggestions, ANYTHING! I haven't found anyone that had this situation happen to them, and I need some MAJOR advice!

 

Thanks Ladies!!!

[britb618]

I'm so sorry hun! thats awful! but it sounds like you still enjoyed your time. Personally I don't think any of us can tell ya what is right for you guys but I think I'd just do something small at home, a small ceremony followed by maybe a desert reception with champagne to keep costs down perhaps?

 

I mean in the end you both are married now but if you want to try the whole destination thing again I say go for it! Whatever makes you happy is what you should do. You could always use the money towards a vacation for just the two of you for your one year anniversary? sorry I'm not more help! Good luck!

[kat2012]

I am really sorry it happened to you! But I think the most important is that you and your husband were there and you got married, to me that is all that matters. I would do at home reception with a cake and champagne and maybe some cold hors d'oeuvres. And wear your wedding dress so everyone will enjoy it. But you should do what you want to, do what you think will be the best for you!

[SMBride42012]

Thanks for the advice!!

 

I guess my main question is....since My Hubby's parents weren't able to attended and didn't get to see the ceremony, as well as my bridesmaids & groomsman didn't get to walk down and all. I felt the ceremony was lacking because of that. Shouldn't I do the ceremony over again!? I know some people would think its kind of stupid since we are already legally married. But really, we got legally married back in July in our hometown...so...the one in mexico was "just for show" too....  Plus,  we will be doing pictures with everyone, since we don't have them from mexico.  Then I am thinking we need to do the ceremony again for Lawrence's (hubby) parents. Then....just a small dessert reception sounds really fun!! I would never have thought about that! Time to start looking at this thread...We weren't even planning on doing an AHR..so now..I have to look into all the fun ideas for something at Home  A Silver lining perhaps

 

 

 

Thanks again for your help! Any advice or opions are GREATLY appreciated

[Jamie5280]

First of all I am sooo sorry that so many of your guests were unable to attend.  I know I would have been devastated as well.  But I am thinking, that you are right by saying it happened the way it was supposed to. And from the picture it still looked amazing!!!!

 

Like Britb said, we can't tell you what is right for you and DH, but....I can tell you what I would do. I am not planning an AHR, but I would end up having one for the family and friends that were unable to attend because their flights were canceled due to a hurricane.  I would not have one for everyone that didn't pay to go in the first place, so that way it would still be small and special.  I would do something where I could show them a slide show of our photos and our wedding video.  I probably would rent a room at a restaurant, but again, I would only do this for family and friends that had planned on being there in the first place.

 

I hope you are able to figure out what is best for you guys!  Again, I am sorry!!!!  HUGS!!!!

[leigh2011]

In your shoes, I would feel like I needed to have a ceremony for the guests that couldn't make it to Mexico (especially his parents and the wedding party).  In order to keep the costs down, I do like the idea of just inviting those that were already booked for Mexico.  With the winter approaching, which is typically a slow time of year for weddings, you may be able to negotiate some inexpensive rates for a ceremony and reception (of whatever sort you choose).

[britb618]

I think I would def. do the ceremony over again so that his family could be there for that. I mean people renew there vows all the time, we are doing a legal ceremony here which has turned into a full blown christmas wedding with 50 people coming afterwards for dinner and then leaving two days later for our beach wedding where we will do the ceremony all over again. it was the only way to make all family happy that was and was not coming. Its alot of work but in the end the dress costs alot so might as well wear it as often as possible and theres nothing wrong with sharing your vows and telling your hubby how much you love him again in front of people whatever you choose just don't stress it and enjoy it...thats what I keep trying to tell myself at least! Happy planning