Conservative Family Members

If you have not sent invitations you can include on the invite.. Dinner, Drinks and dancing. If not just add a note to them saying "The merriment will include Drinks and Dancing" this way you twll them with out assumptions and it is a sime add to the envelopes.

You could put something on your invites like 'Dinner, drinks and dancing to follow" after your ceremony info, but that's probably all you can do.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! I didn't even think to put it that way. All of this planning is frying my brain!

View Quoted Comment Thank you! I think that's a great idea!

Honestly, I don't think the onus is on YOU to let them know that alcohol will be served and that dancing will happen. These things are nowadays pretty much expected, and going out of your way to notify them of it is a bit excessive. If they can't deal, that's on them. I went to my cousin's wedding a handful of years ago and they were SUUUUPER southern traditional, the reception was cake and non alcohol punch, no dancing, in a church reception hall. The bride's father is a pastor.

FFW...this past weekend she showed up for my own bridal shower, and drank wine and ordered an alcoholic beverage at a dinner out (at our venue) and she had a freaking blast. She and my cousin *her hubby* have recently reached out to ask if they can join us for July 4th so clearly she had a blast with us.

If people are so skivvy about alcohol and dancing they won't come. If they come and feel assaulted by it then that's their own problem. I really would not worry about it.

TL;DR my cousin's wife who had a super traditional wedding with no alcohol and no dancing is beyond excited to come to our wedding which has ALL the alcohol and dancing and things.

Well unless they’re all inbred, I’d assume they’ve been to family weddings where there was drinking. And probably friend weddings too. I don’t think it’s on you to let them know you’re having a typical wedding.

I would just talk to them, and be honest. Something like "we can't wait to celebrate with you! Just an FYI, our younger crowd may get rowdy later in the night due to the open bar and loud music. I just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to leave before that". I don't think it's rude! I'll probably tell all the family's with kids that, since we have an open bar and plenty of young guys that drink a lot.

That's also a good point. They are all very conservative Christians (the ones I'm talking about) and they all married within that community. They all come from very very small towns and never leave. Coffee and cake is their kind of reception. We are looked down upon bc we have a few tattoos and don't have the same hardcore beliefs or values. I could go in and on lol! Thank you everyone for their input!! It's greatly appreciated! 😄