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Just Said Yes February 2019

Destination Wedding- who to invite?

Linday, on February 19, 2018 at 11:48 PM Posted in Planning 0 8
We have been having a hard time deciding about how to get married. Our guest list has swelled to like 90 people (I wanted just close family a friends for an intimate wedding, but my Fiance has a lot of extended family and friends of the family that "have" to be invited). We are having difficulties agreeing on type of venue and the guest list amount.

My fiance's parents are helping us pay for it and his Dad just offered to take us to Hawaii and even offset the cost somewhat for my immediate family to fly out (parents and siblings) and we get married there. I want to do that and then have a "reception" or party back home where everyone is invited to celebrate our marriage. Is anyone else doing something like that? Who else are you inviting to your destination wedding? My fiance and his Dad both talked about still inviting extended family members and other people. My whole point of doing the desination wedding was to avoid having anyone besides our family be present for the ceremony (I have some social anxiety and want it to be special with just our families). My fiance is onboard and doesn't mind just having the family present, but he is worried some extended family might be offended not to receive an invite to the ceremony. He thinks we can invite other people, but don't have to worry because they won't show up to Hawaii. I'm worried that we do that some people might actually come and then it will be our immediate family and some random extended family of my fiance's. Is anyone else keeping their destination wedding small with just immediate family? Are you inviting others that you know will come? Or are you inviting people with the thought they won't be able to make it? I feel like it's not rude to just tell anyone who is offended that no one but immediate family is invited, but there will be a separate reception back home for everyone.

8 Comments

Latest activity by Linday, on February 21, 2018 at 9:29 PM
  • F
    Expert May 2019
    FutureMrs.S ·
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    I have run into a similar situation while planning a destination wedding from the get-go. My FH and I are sticking to a list of parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents and first cousins (along with the bridal party). We are having a big party after we get back while putting invitations out for that starting that we will be married on XX date in a small private ceremony and would love to have you celebrate on other date. The price may not deter many people since there is a growing trend for destination weddings and them being family vacations.

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  • L
    Just Said Yes February 2019
    Linday ·
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    Thanks for the idea telling people about the private ceremony in an invitation to the "back home' reception! Yeah I am worried about people who my fiance invites "just to be nice"/but doesn't expect to come will indeed come because they will see it as an opportunity for a vacation as well. Thanks!
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  • C
    Devoted November 2023
    Crystal ·
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    For me it would be my parents, siblings, my kids. His parents and siblings. All together like 20 people max.
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  • Getting Maui’d
    Dedicated July 2018
    Getting Maui’d ·
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    I invited my closest friends and immediate family to Hawaii. I invited 70ish people but only will have probably 25-30 with 7 being kids. The hardest part has been figuring out if people area actually coming or not to better estimate my costs. I have two friends on my side coming and my family. None of My FH friends have booked anything or said for sure they are coming. The wedding is July 1.
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  • Getting Maui’d
    Dedicated July 2018
    Getting Maui’d ·
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    I am also having a celebration back home, very casual, just a big party. I think I’m inviting 160 to that.
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  • F
    Expert May 2019
    FutureMrs.S ·
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    People should understand if they ask the awful question "where's my invite?" I luckily haven't had many of those yet but definitely know that my FH and I are going to be telling everyone it is a super small occasion and are limited on numbers with the resort (our resort has actually set a maximum number for our wedding package) and those spots were filled with family and bridal party.

    It might be worth having a conversation about that with your FH if there are any number limitations because extras to attend do add up quickly.
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  • Tracy
    Super January 2019
    Tracy ·
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    We live in South Florida, my fiancee is from the panhandle, and my family is split up among DC area and Atlanta (with a lot of extended family in the Northeast). We live far away from everyone as it is, so we decided to have a destination wedding in Key Largo. Our guest list is about 160, but we are expecting between 80-120 (that's a huge fluctuation for planning purposes, so I am using 120 for the caterer, etc...so that I budget for the max).

    Hawaii is another story. I'd think that if someone made that investment to attend your wedding, it would be a delight to have them there. That's some commitment which people won't take lightly!

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  • L
    Just Said Yes February 2019
    Linday ·
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    I live in Florida too! Dunedin, it's near Clearwater! 160 guest list?!?? Wow , I could not handle having that many people watch me recite my vows lol (but I have some social anxiety). Thank you for the different perspective about anyone who showed up to our wedding in Hawaii! That we would feel honored to have anyone who would spend the money and time to come all the way to Hawaii for our wedding Smiley smile . I hope your wedding is everything you wanted it to be!! Smiley heart
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