Formal Wedding but Casual Reception??

Honestly, I have no idea how to make this work. But, I think bringing a change of clothes would be too cumbersome and likely a logistical nightmare. Where would they all change? Where would they store their change of clothes/bags? eta: words

It's not strane at all. I am Catholic,and getting married in Catholic church. We have reception in winery (vintage style). So,I think you are good,not nessesary to change their clothes,only shoes to something comfy since you will have a dance party. Just do whatever you are comfortably with.

I'm with BD-- I think you have to go all causal or all fancy. Trying to do both will just be awkward.

So I'm not Catholic, but FH is and he wears jeans to Mass every week. I'd imagine the same would be acceptable for a wedding? As a guest, I'd be super annoyed about wearing a nice dress to a one hour ceremony (where I'd be sitting down the majority of the time), only to change out of my dress into something more casual. Just seems like too much work.

I wouldn't have guests change clothes that's inconvenient.

I'm doing makeup for a bridal party in Sept where bride has a pretty expensive ($4k) and formal gown for their ceremony on beach. But immediately after ceremony, their reception will be a beach party and all guests will be encouraged to change into their bathing suits. Definitely never heard of anything like this and VERY curious to see how it goes off

I think it's possible---but I wouldn't have people change clothes. It's really hard for me to give examples since you're really early on in the process. Some ideas

1. Bridesmaids wear shorter dresses, so it's not so formal for the reception.

2. Incorporate more rustic like elements like sunflowers.

3. You can play up the theme more so at the reception vs the church. Like you don't need to put burlap and mason jars in the church but feel free at the venue.

Sorry Jessica but jeans for Catholic wedding it's not acceptable.

@Future Mrs. I just did some research and it looks like that varies from parish to parish.

I don't think they would need to change their clothes. Have them dress semi-formal and you'll be good.

That's kind of obnoxious (not trying to be rude, honestly, really tired and at loss for better wording). As a guest I would not want to be asked to dress up, then be told to dress down. One or the other, or meet in between.

@Jessica, weekly mass is different than a wedding. Jeans would not be acceptable for a Catholic ceremony under any circumstance.

Here's how it works: your guest receives an invitation. Your ceremony is at a Catholic Basilica -- and from what I've been able to figure out, via google, that means your Catholic Church ceremony has some special dispensations from the Pope. It wouldn't matter to me what that meant -- what would hit me between the eyes is that you would even suggest via invitation, that a change of clothes is suggested. Umm, no...that's not happening.

If you are hosting a kick your shoes off, country reception on a plantation (sorry, that word is still distasteful, as far as I'm concerned), don't make it any more complicated than it has to be.

There is no polite way to suggest that your wedding guests switch from Vatican Catholic Formalwear to Plantation Reception Casualwear -- unless you just leave it all alone and print the names and addresses of both venues on the invitation. Maybe your guests will figure it out.

Really, just leave it alone. Your guests will google, read, and pick an outfit -- or the whole thing will go right over their heads and they'll just wear what they wear to any wedding..

Is your reception outdoors? I would think most women will wear a nice dress, men will wear suits, and I don't see why that wouldn't be fine for the reception as well. Definitely do not have them dress down for the basilica.

@Amanda yes,I agree with you. Catholic ceremonies are very formal and come in jeans it's not way it works.

@Centerpiece, I didn't even register that word when I first read it, but agree with the strong negative reaction it elicits. OP, is it really called a plantation?

@Amanda Well it's not like the church has set guidelines on this. I see now that it would generally be seen as impolite to wear jeans to a Catholic wedding, but I could come up with 100 different extenuating circumstances where it would still be reasonable. The world wouldn't end and a wedding would still take place.

Regardless, khakis would be acceptable at both a Catholic wedding and a more casual reception.

Let me clarify because the satiation is a little more complicated then I explained. I'm already married. My husbands in the military and when we came home from deployment we wanted to get married. So we go married in a courthouse. But all my family, as am I, are catholic (and im talking super religious, my dad has ten siblings, catholic). Not getting married in the Church was not going to fly with family. My mom even told me she wont acknowledge my marriage until we are married in a church (which before everyone freaks out, I knew she would feel that way before I got married and I'm not upset that she does), hence the formal basilica wedding. Which, in all honestly, I've always imagined me having a wedding in a church.

But I'm also a super laid back southern girl and I want to have a super fun reception. A country theme is WAY more our style. And I'm super in love with the reception venue I've chosen (and yes @beachdreams it is called a plantation). I kind of already knew asking my guests to change would be too much, but I was curious to see if anyone has done that. The only reason I even brought it up was because my husband has already told me that he's going to change out of his dress blues after our first dance.

So I can't choose between having either a formal or casual wedding. I'm stuck trying to figure out how to do both. I guess what I'm going to have to do is say that it will be a simi-causal and hope that being most of my guests will be my side of the family anyway they will know how to dress. Is it okay to say that heels are not recommended? Maybe not on the invite but on the wedding website?

Can you try and make the reception less casual?

I get that you can still have it be kind of rustic and country, and still at your plantation venue, but you can get the casual elements to be a bit more formal. That way your guests won't have to change.

Suggest semi formal attire. Dress shirt and pants. Don't go overboard with the cowboy boots, burlap and lace theme at the reception and you will be fine.

First dont tell guest to change. Let them know where the wedding will be and let them make the decision. Maybe even add a little note on you website.

I dont understand how the word "plantation" is distaste full... just because it is related to slaves does not make a plantation a bad thing. The definition of plantation has nothing to do with slaves.

Edit: just in case people forgot people had slaves in there homes in the north too...