Destination wedding - what to do after ceremony??

Kate, a reception is meant to thank your guests for witnessing your ceremony, and is held immediately following. What you're having back home is a celebration of your marriage. You still need to host something for the people traveling TO ICELAND to see you get married.

I'm sure the 20 people who are traveling to Iceland for your ceremony will take comfort in knowing there is a reception....2 weeks later.

@Kate receptions should ALWAYS be held after the ceremony. What you have 2 weeks later is called a celebration of marriage. This is proper etiquette. A reception is to thank the guests who came to watch you exchange vows, that's why it's so important that one be held. The celebration in Massachusetts is just for fun; that isn't required. The reception after the ceremony for those who came is required if you want to follow proper etiquette.

That's why I'm asking for advice!!!! I'm not saying I'm not going to do it!!!!

There's no reason to yell?

But we're giving you our opinion and you're getting upset. An hour in a foreign country is too far to drive for a reception. Read the boards. Even for local brides, an hour is too long a drive. Add to that a foreign land and it's just not cool. You need to either find a reception site closer to the ceremony location OR move your ceremony location closer to a reception site. And honestly, since people are traveling out of the country, you should try to provide transportation to the reception site if they have to drive. I understand this may not be financially doable, but I really wouldn't like having to drive myself in a country I'm not familiar with.

By saying "I AM having a reception in Massachusetts two weeks later!" you were implying that THAT is your reception, so we were just making sure you're actually planning to have an actual reception immediately following your ceremony. For people who are traveling. To Iceland.

Hi Kate, welcome to WW! Make sure to upload a picture for your avatar (instead of the default icons) so that we can get to know you and tell you apart from all the other posters. You can do this on a desktop computer under My Settings and Profile and Privacy Settings.

There are a lot of great suggestions on this thread in answer to your post:

-Keep looking for and calling restaurants that can accommodate 20 people

-Find a hotel that can accommodate your guests for dinner

-Call around and find anyone that caters

-Find out what the local wedding reception traditions are

-Move you ceremony site closer to a viable reception location

-Have catered food delivered to the guesthouse where you are staying

-Ask your wedding planner

-Think about getting married in Reykjavik where there are more options

Lots of great suggestions to help you!