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Ceremony and reception same day?

Michelle, on January 10, 2019 at 2:32 AM Posted in Planning 1 10

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My fiance and I are thinking about doing a ceremony 1 day with just our immediate family(mom dad brothers and sisters grandparents) and our bridal party only. We thought doing this would be nice,small, and intimate. We would also do pictures this day maybe a video not sure yet. We think that it would save us money and have less stress and be able to enjoy the moment since we belive the ceremony is for us and the reception is just for everyone else to enjoy haha. Then we would do the reception another day so we can celebrate us and acually be able to enjoy the party more with out feeling like we need to rush and do things. We would have a photographer for this day as well but not posed photos more like just capturing the moments. What do you think about doing the ceremony and reception on different days? How are you all doing yours? Let me know! We are not set and stone we are just throwing out ideas on what we might like to do! 😊

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Latest activity by Kristin, on January 10, 2019 at 12:36 PM

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isabel1115 · on January 10, 2019 at 3:28 AM
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We are thinking about doing this too because we want to get married at City Hall and they only do weddings M-F. I thought it would be less tiring and stressful too but...I came across a problem. That's two days of makeup/hair and photographer! We're now looking at holiday weekends so we can get married on a weekday AND have the reception vs. the costs of hiring those vendors for two days!
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Michelle · on January 10, 2019 at 4:36 AM
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I have a rare autoimmune disease and found a photographer who works with the chronically ill on pricing and sometimes she dose it for free so thats covered and no big deal. Hair and make up i thought about professional doing it for ceremony but not on the reception day i figued im there to enjoy why not do it my self for that day thats just me though. My fiance's family is very religious and wants us to get married catholic church and the father said if we do it on sunday during church we wouldn't have to pay a reservation fee. I believe that we would only have to pay for a olace to have the reception?
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Expert July 2019
Cara · on January 10, 2019 at 6:06 AM
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I think that’s totally fine! This is something that happens often for elopements and destination weddings so there’s no reason you can’t do your ceremony and reception on a separate day too. I’d maybe consider hosting a small lunch, or drinks and appetizers, or something for the people who do come to the ceremony though. That way you’ll still have a small celebration rather than just leaving and going home after your ceremony.
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KiwiDerbyBride · on January 10, 2019 at 6:34 AM
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I’m not sure how it would save money - the ceremony is not the expensive part of a wedding - cost isn’t generally affected by the number of guests. Anyway, I would have no issue with this if I was a guest invited to your reception but I agree that you should host your family and bridal party to a lunch or something after the ceremony.
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Super September 2019
Courtney · on January 10, 2019 at 6:52 AM
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Since you have found ways to avoid paying twice for photos and hair and makeup I think this sounds like a good idea. I also don’t know if it will result in huge savings as usually the reception is the most expensive part of the budget, not necessarily the ceremony, especially if you won’t be decorating and having it at a affordable or free venue. I agree it would be nice to bring your ceremony guests out for lunch or drinks and appetisers to celebrate and thank them for coming. It would be nice to celebrate the occasion on the day instead of just going home and then have a bigger party with all your loved at a later date.
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VIP March 2019
Porterpoppin · on January 10, 2019 at 6:54 AM
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I agree! I always say this because my dad said just have a small ceremony and just invite everyone to the reception 🤷🏽‍♀️ Who is that saving money?! lol not me!

I don’t see anything wrong with having a small ceremony and a reception later down the line. That’s gives you more time to plan and save money
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Master October 2018
MrsV1027 · on January 10, 2019 at 7:32 AM
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If that's what you want then go for it! I know quite a few people that did this but they did it because the ceremony was not local.
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Legend November 2019
Caytlyn · on January 10, 2019 at 8:32 AM
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I don't see any problem with having the big reception a different day, but you will still need to host some kind of reception for your ceremony guests that day, whether it's a meal or cake and punch during a non-meal time, to thank them for attending.
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Michelle · on January 10, 2019 at 11:18 AM
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For us it would save money because the father of the catholic church my fiance and his family attends dosent charge any fees if we have the ceremony on a Sunday during normal church time. But if we want it on a day thats not sunday we have to rent the church space for the people that attend. Both of us would like to have the reception on a Friday or Saturday so people can enjoy them selfs and not have to worry about going to work the next day. Dose that help some?
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Super November 2019
Kristin · on January 10, 2019 at 12:36 PM
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My best friend had a destination wedding and then did a local reception for all those who couldn't make it to Costa Rica. They were a week apart. I dont think she did hair and makeup again (at least not professionally) or a photographer but she wore her dress, they did a grand entrance/introduction, first dance, etc and we partied! It was great and everyone special to them got to see them as if it was the day of.
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Ceremony and reception same day?

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