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Simone
Devoted April 2020

Day After Brunch? Who Pays?

Simone, on January 28, 2020 at 6:42 PM Posted in Parties and Events 1 18

Our wedding is a destination for half of our guest list (we live in NY, wedding is in FH's hometown in AZ). Instead of flying back out immediately the next morning, I was thinking about putting together a brunch at a local restaurant in town for the out of towners (mostly family and close friends). SO, the question is, do I add this to our wedding website so folks know that there is something going on the following day so they can plan accordingly? And will putting on the website so cause them to assume we're paying for it? Is it off-putting to ask folks to pay for their own breakfast the next day? I'm pretty sure by the time April rolls around our budget will be pretty close to max, so we'd rather not. How to do this without conveying that we are hosting it? TIA

18 Comments

Latest activity by Kari, on January 30, 2020 at 10:45 AM
  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    Putting it on your website makes it sound like you’re hosting. Telling people via word of mouth, hey, we’re going to brunch at xyz on Sunday morning, if anyone would like to meet us,” would let people know that they’re paying for themselves.
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  • Simone
    Devoted April 2020
    Simone ·
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    Ah, yes. Ok, that makes sense. Thanks Smiley smile

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  • Sierra
    Savvy November 2020
    Sierra ·
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    I have been curious about this too! We plan to have our rehearsal dinner/welcome party on our wedding website (but only visible for thoes invited) plus my future in laws will be footing the bill for that. We also plan to have a afterparty after the ceremony and dinner and the afterparty will not be paid for. Im still trying to figure out how to advertise that... I have been at a wedding after party before where it seemed to be a standard rule everyone covered themselves. Im not sure what i typical of a brunch.
    I would maybe spread word of mouth? If all ootg are invited maybe add it to a welcome bag? I would definitely add to any type of invite whether it is online or paper that everyone is going Dutch with payment.
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  • Simone
    Devoted April 2020
    Simone ·
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    We are having an afterparty at our venue as well. I put it on the website. Maybe we could put Sunday Brunch "non-hosted". Is that tacky, though? But the other suggestion works too. I could just tell everyone word of mouth. I just wanted ppl to know so that they keep that in mind when booking tickets, that there will be something going on the following day. Our website is on the Knot. I wonder if I can elect to show certain events to certain ppl. I'll have to check.

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  • V
    Rockstar July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    We had a day after brunch and I put it on our website and on an insert with the invitations. We included where, when and the price of breakfast on both so it was clear we were not paying as it was an optional event.
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  • Simone
    Devoted April 2020
    Simone ·
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    That's such a great idea. And now Im kicking myself because we're just now deciding to do it and invites went out today, so it's too late for that. But your idea is great. I can add it to the site with the location and include a price and it will be super-clear. Did you have ppl RSVP for that, or was it jist an FYI on your website?
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  • V
    Rockstar July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    People were supposed to rsvp, but a lot of them forgot to even though it was listed on the reply card. It ended up not mattering because there was enough room and food.
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  • Simone
    Devoted April 2020
    Simone ·
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    Did you do a buffet? Sorry for all the questions lol

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  • V
    Rockstar July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    Our venue was a hotel and they have a restaurant located in the lobby. Our coordinator at the venue recommended having people RSVP to make sure there would be enough seating. Because so many people didn't RSVP and some people were unsure if they were attending or not, we weren't able to get an accurate count. We also were there for like 2.5 hours so our guests could come and go as they please so there was plenty of seating. Guests had the option to food order off a menu or go to the buffet.
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  • Sherry
    Master September 2019
    Sherry ·
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    Typically anything after the wedding is "pay for yourself." If you include this as part of your wedding website, details card etc, it implies that you are hosting it which also means that you pay. I would just let everyone know that it is something you would like to do and for them to let you know if they would like to join you guys so that you can make sure there is enough seating.

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  • Simone
    Devoted April 2020
    Simone ·
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    Thanks. I forgot to mentionnthat most of the ppl who would be coming to the brunch are our out of town guests (it's a destination for half of our guests)..With that in mind, is it wrong to ask them to pay for themselves?
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  • Sherry
    Master September 2019
    Sherry ·
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    No. It is not required that they come, it's optional. I think people would assume they pay for themselves unless it was something being hosted by the hotel as part of your wedding package.

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  • Simone
    Devoted April 2020
    Simone ·
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    Thanks for your input! Smiley smile
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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    If you organize it like an event, then you should host/pay. What we did was mention on our website and on our welcome pamphlets "the bride & groom will be hanging out at the hotel bar on Friday night from 8-10PM if you want to see us before the wedding, and Sunday morning we will be in the lobby saying goodbye to our guests!". It was a great chance to see everyone and no one assumed it was hosted.

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  • Cherry
    Expert February 2020
    Cherry ·
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    I think mentioning casually that it's optional is the way to go. "Would you love one last chance to hang out before we're off? We're planning on brunching the day after the wedding, if anyone is interested in joining us."


    I don't know, though. Anything official on the website could make it seem hosted, unless it's just a separate invitation portion to fill out on the website that only out-of-town guests will see. Like we put our rehearsal dinner on there for specific guests but not everyone could see those details. Then you could mention that it's optional and that you're not paying for it. LOL.

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  • Andrea
    Beginner April 2020
    Andrea ·
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    Hi Simone, are you inviting to the after party at your venue? I am still debating whether to include the "after party" or just omit it completely...was planning on hiring the dj for a couple extra hours and just covert the bar to self-pay. Thoughts?

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  • Simone
    Devoted April 2020
    Simone ·
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    So, our venue closes at 10 and it opens to the public at that time. It's a rooftop bar. They offer a VIP section of the roof with bottle service beginning at 10 p.m. with a $500 minimum. I'm trying to work it out where the minimum can be met by the guests so I don't have to buy the bottles up front and spend more money.

    Right now, I have it on the website without asking for any RSVPs. For us, I think I need to leave it up there because half of our guest are traveling across country to the venue and I want them to see that there's going to be more than just the wedding. And this is why I wanted to do a brunch so it can feel like a full weekend for my family and friends who are traveling. But I'm not going to put the brunch on the website though, based on everyone's suggestions.
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  • Kari
    Master May 2020
    Kari ·
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    Welcome dinners and day after brunches that are scheduled and advertised in advance are the responsibility of the host. It would be inappropriate to add the event to your wedding website and then expect people to pay their own way.

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