- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
I think it's totally fine to have a separate party if you make it clear that it is completely separate from your wedding. So there wouldn't be a wedding dress or wedding cake or other reception-y things. (It would seem like this is the second, not so good reception for the not so important guests, which is not the message you want to send). It sounds like you're already do that. Just make it another fun family get together and celebrate all being together. Of course, plenty of people will congratulate you during it
Also for context- when my dad's brother got married they had the whole family at the reception but had only the bridal party at the ceremony (which included the bride's siblings but not the groom's siblings) And people were mad about it.
My dad's cousin got married in Hawaii knowing that most of the family wouldn't come because it cost too much, and people thought that was rude.
I want to avoid similar ridicule without bankrupting myself/compromising my position on inviting everyone.
@MidwestBride2012: Yes that's definately what I want to avoid!
Hmm...people might still be put off, but you have to draw a line while inviting people. It's just a reality. I'd double down on my advice to make sure that your BBQ is in no way shape or form billed as a reception or wedding event. It might seem like a technicality, but it seems like your crowd is sensitive to these issues.
ETA: But it's totally proper to have a party like this. You should definitely have fun at it and enjoy being married!
How would I invite people? I want to send something to the effect of a wedding announcement to my extended family, because I never see the people on my mom's side but I want them to be aware we're married. Could I include an invite with that? Or would that make it a reception-like event? Do wedding announcements get mailed out before or after the wedding?
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Lyndzo | 26 |
| Ms. Salamander | 18 |
| LammChop | 17 |
| fivemonthsnotice | 17 |
| kat2014 | 15 |
| mypinkshoes | 15 |
| Mrs. Chai | 14 |
| ticatica | 14 |
| his chippymunk | 14 |
| aussiebee | 14 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| LammChop | 3 |
| Ellegee | 1 |
| messymonkey | 1 |
| dlujan | 1 |
| rebwana | 1 |
The first thing we've decided about our wedding is that it's going to be small- ~25 people, so we're limiting family to parents, grandparents, and siblings. I have a big family on my dad's side that I see pretty often, but if we invited them all our wedding would suddenly be twice as big (and expensive) and severely unbalanced to my side. I don't feel sentimentally sad that they won't be there, but I feel like it might be a bit offensive to ignore them altogether. So I was thinking we would have our more formal ceremony and reception like we've planned, then a bit later host a backyard cookout type thing to celebrate our being married, but it wouldn't be that different than the family parties we have every few months. Is this an ok thing to do? Would it be better to just have the small wedding and leave it at that?