What's everybody's AHR plans? Indoor Outdoor Casual Formal

[tyrebride2b2013]

Hey Ladies, what is everybody plans for AHR? How many are having formal vs casual.  How many are having Indoor vs Outdoor.  Please Share your plans.  We are planning an AHR but not sure how we want to do things as of yet. How long after your DW are you planning your AHR? 

[MissBubbles205]

Our DW is May 29th, 2013, and I would like to have our AHR by July 29th, 2013.

 

As far as location, I would like to rent an indoor space. Such as a hotel room or something of that sort. Planning on finger foods, wine, beer, and dancing.

 

I've heard that many ladies are doing cook-outs, which sound like a great idea. But I don't know of a back yard large enough, plus I want to wear my wedding dress again and dance. )

 

What are you wanting to do?

[tyrebride2b2013]

I am not really sure I actually want a reception like one that would follow an at home wedding but I feel like that would be defeating the purpose of a DW and cost double.  I am so torn.  I do see a lot of the ladies are having bbqs but i would rather something indoors so that I can play the dvd of the wedding that I am hoping is going to be amazing and detailed for those who cannot attend the wedding as well as lots of pics

[tyrebride2b2013]

oh i really wanna wear my dress at the reception as well but not sure how would be able to.  If not atleast want to have it maybe altered to a shorter version.

[justine416]

We are having our AHR at an old barn that is an art gallery. It's a not for profit so the rental price is cheap. I wanted to showcase the outside so we are having it June 1, almost 6 months after our wedding which is Jan. 4 2013.

I also want it casual, open house style but playing a DVD inside. We are going to have it during the day providing light food and open bar...that way it cuts down on food cost and people drink less during the day.

We are thinking of having a blessing ceremony for my grandparents but that will be the only part of a "real wedding" again for the grandparents.

[Mufin1785]

We are having and semi formal brunch for an AHR

[Jenna1511]

We are having a casual open house party at our house! Its going to be about a month after we get back.....want to do it before it gets to hot here in southern california! We are having food(all day taco man), open bar, cake pops, mostly cocktail tables and a few sit down tables scattered throughout our backyard! We are inviting 200 thinking 150 will show and all come at different times (crossing my fingers haha)! We will have it in the afternoon into the evening.... We are having pictures placed around as centerpieces and our DVD playing in the house! I'm not wearing my dress again and I'm going to purchase a short more casual white/ivory dress! Hope this helps with getting more ideas of you want!

[shan0487]

I think we're doing close to the same thing.  My only problem is our wedding is Nov 23rd right around the holidays.  So the earliest we could have ours is in January after all the holidays.  But we live in the midwest...we want to do an open house, but we know our home will not hold 100+ people, we have to hope people come at different times also.  I don't want to wait until April/May when the weather starts getting warm.  So I guess we're just going to have to hope for the best!  We will do mexican as food, provide beer and margaritas and soda.  And some sort of dessert.  I want to have  a slideshow of our wedding pics constantly rolling in the basement and then have framed pics all over along with our guestbook out again.  I don't think I will be wearing my dress again, but I haven't decided.  I may put it on for a couple hours and then take it off.

 

Did you include a Open house Invite in your wedding invitations?  I think I'm just going to put a Save the Date Open house invites to be sent out at a later date or something like that in our wedding invitiations, just so people that can't attend the wedding in Mexico know. 

Originally Posted by Jenna1511 

We are having a casual open house party at our house! Its going to be about a month after we get back.....want to do it before it gets to hot here in southern california! We are having food(all day taco man), open bar, cake pops, mostly cocktail tables and a few sit down tables scattered throughout our backyard! We are inviting 200 thinking 150 will show and all come at different times (crossing my fingers haha)! We will have it in the afternoon into the evening....
We are having pictures placed around as centerpieces and our DVD playing in the house! I'm not wearing my dress again and I'm going to purchase a short more casual white/ivory dress! Hope this helps with getting more ideas of you want!

[mrsnova]

I am doing a casual "celebration" in my parents backyard/house. We wanted it to be more of a party than a reception because there will not be dancing, I will not wear my wedding dress, and none of the standard reception type things will go on. Already will have done that once and don't want to repeat it . It was hard to decide when to have the party because I wanted it at least semi outdoors and March-April in Portland, OR is not very nice! However I didn't want to wait longer than a month after the wedding...I wanted it to feel "fresh" and like we were actually celebrating our new marriage!

 

We will have a Mexican food buffet, margaritas, beer, and cupcakes that go a long with the Mexican theme (thinking lime or something). 

 

I am also going to havw a slideshow and/or video of the wedding running inside. Still deciding but thinking about doing a homemade photo booth with sombreros and mustaches for props! 

 

I think how formal, big, and location of the AHR all depends on how many people/who are able to make it to your destination wedding. If you are able to celebrate there with most of the people you care about then it may not be necessary to do something extravagant (such as in my case). 

[Jenna1511]

I think we're doing close to the same thing.  My only problem is our wedding is Nov 23rd right around the holidays.  So the earliest we could have ours is in January after all the holidays.  But we live in the midwest...we want to do an open house, but we know our home will not hold 100+ people, we have to hope people come at different times also.  I don't want to wait until April/May when the weather starts getting warm.  So I guess we're just going to have to hope for the best!  We will do mexican as food, provide beer and margaritas and soda.  And some sort of dessert.  I want to have  a slideshow of our wedding pics constantly rolling in the basement and then have framed pics all over along with our guestbook out again.  I don't think I will be wearing my dress again, but I haven't decided.  I may put it on for a couple hours and then take it off. Did you include a Open house Invite in your wedding invitations?  I think I'm just going to put a Save the Date Open house invites to be sent out at a later date or something like that in our wedding invitiations, just so people that can't attend the wedding in Mexico know. 

I'm planning on sending a separate invite for the open house party....when I sent the save the dates it had our website on..... it that has the info of the party on there! So everyone has the info early..here it is for example: www.carlsonhughes.ourwedding.com