Couple only Destination Wedding, Family Reception

I am not sure how it would save on cost if you're going to throw a party after the wedding anyway. I would also not put your registry information on the invitation since it doesn't belong on there anyway.

Is there some reason you don't want these people witnessing your wedding? I just can't see it being cost-effective to have the two of you get married separately and then throw a reception for everyone anyway. You can always cut your guest list to what you can afford.

ETA: A reception is really a thank you for your guests for attending your wedding. If you want to have some "celebration of marriage" later on, you have to make that pretty clear to your guests ahead of time and be prepared for the negative reaction from some of them.

Do you mean eloping? As in, just you and FH go off and get married, then come back and have a celebration with everyone?

Registry information should never go on an invitation, in either case.

The ceremony is the cheap part, and you're traveling to do that, so I don't see this as much of a money saver.

Do you need witnesses for your ceremony where you're getting married? Some do, some don't.

This is all good information. Maybe I'm overthinking it. Maybe I could just have the ceremony and reception together. I'm so confused Lol. Also, where does the registry information go? I could have sworn I'd always see it in invitations.

Registry info can go on your website, or be spread via word of mouth.

Have you considered a destination wedding? You would need to check with your VIPs first to make sure they were all able to travel, but that could be an option for you.

I have thought of a destination wedding, with my VIP's and then having a wedding celebration/reception back at . My issue is that fiance's family is larger than mine. So, I fear the ceremony will just be mostly his family. I'm okay with that at the reception, but ceremony-wise...Not so sure. He has so many people he wants to invite vs me who just wants close family and friends.

Ok, so I'm still considering my beach wedding, but I'm torn on having our children in it (will be 2 and 10 at the time), or having couples only. If we have our children go but no other guest, then we won't get time to ourselves. If we have other guest go they may have to pay for their rooms at least for a night or two. This would more than likely be our parents and siblings...Just immediate family. That way we have the important people there and babysitters. Then we could come back home and have a marriage celebration party (not reception) with everyone else. I'm brainstorming, but any ideas help. I'm so new at this and on a tight budget.

FH & I are having a DW in JA with about 60 people. After we return from the wedding my mother wanted to host a reception for those who couldn't make it, but I don't like the idea. Once our wedding has passed I don't want to deal with anymore wedding-related anything for a while lol. Keep it as simple as possible. If your VIPs are certain they can make it and it's in your budget I think it's a nice option. Just be prepared for declines because of the cost and/or distance, even from VIPs.

I'm not having a destination wedding, but I am having an immediate family only wedding. Then larger open house.

I read your comment about his family being larger than yours & how you don't want that to dictate it. I am in the same boat but it is mostly my family making up the guest count. He doesn't have too many family members & the ones that can make it narrowed it down to 5 people plus a few coworkers that he is close to. We discussed how my family makes up 95% of the wedding & honestly he is perfectly fine with it. He's been part of my family for so long that in the end it is just our family.