Having two receptions

Yes I have been to a couple of these. My brother eloped with a small group and when they came back had a small reception at home so everyone that couldn't make it could celebrate with them. You could either do a dinner at a restaurant or rent out a venue to hold the reception party or even have it at someones home.

Frances,

Having two wedding receptions is very popular. However, the 2nd one is usually more casual and not as expensive as the main wedding and ceremony.

If you belong to a church, perhaps they have a party room and before the reception, the pastor could say a blessing. Or, you can have a nice backyard reception or hire a restaurant party room with catering.

I assume you will be paying for it, so you have to determine how much money you want to spend, how many guests and determine the style:

1) simple brunch? can be a nice hotel restaurant brunch or a restaurant with an outside seating area. Brunch or lunch is less expensive

2) Dinner is more expensive, but if you get a buffet, it will be cheaper.

3) Serve only beer and wine with a champagne toast. Leave off hard liquor, unless you have a lot of drinkers in your party.

4) You can also do a cocktail mixer event with finger foods, appetizers and drinks. Email with questions: ******************@*****.***

I couldn't even imagine having two receptions. Having one is bad enough.

But I'm guessing you are in charge of the second one.

My best friend did this. She had her dream destinatino wedding but her mom wanted her to have one her grandparents etc could attend.

They had full bar, family style dinner in a reception hall, they had a cake again and everything. We wore our bm dresses the bride wore her gown it was fun.

Happens frequently, especially with my destination weddings.

Hubby & I were guests at the local reception for the son of a friend. Son had gotten married out of state. At the local reception, he wore a tux and his bride wore her wedding gown.

My cousin did that. destination wedding in august, but had a second reception here at the end of november. It was a restaurant with a buffet, and they had a dj and dancing. but it wasn't as formal as a traditional wedding reception.

But i loved it. i was really bummed when i couldn't go to the actual wedding, so the reception here was a welcomed surprise

I am sort of doing that. We are getting married where my GH is from so our friends won't be able to attend. So we are having reception in my home town a few months later. I know several people how have done this. I would just say if it something you want that maybe you should pay or at least help with it. That is my suggestion. I am stressing over the budget with both our events. I am pretty sure my parents will help, but I feel guilty having them pay for a lot in CA since they are hosting our other event and flying my family out there. I hope that helps.

This is actually quite traditional. In the old days, the wedding was usually in the bride's home town. There was often a separate reception in honor of the newly married couple in the groom's home town (if different).

Thank all of you so much for your response. I have decided to have the other reception at one of our resturants here. It is very nice and you can rent it out for us only. They will cater all the food and I am going to serve Red wine and White wine. Plus we will serve beer too and have an open bar for those who want mixed drinks. It is like an old rustic resturant so we will have everyone come casual dress. The only other question I have is. Ok when I print the invitations up I thought about putting them in with the wedding invitaions but I'm afraid that if the people that live here see that there is going to be two receptions one here and one where the Bride is from they will just not go to the wedding thinking I'll just wait and go here since it is so far away! It really isn't that far it is only 5 hours away but with gas and then you would have to spend the night it all adds up. My son would be so upset if hardly anybody came from where we live. So what should I do?

Sorry couldn't write anymore so they changed there wedding date to October 5th and we wanted to have the reception here in our town the next week. Should I call it a reception or what? Thanks once again to all of you. Frances

Sorry couldn't write anymore so they changed there wedding date to October 5th and we wanted to have the reception here in our town the next week. Should I call it a reception or what? Thanks once again to all of you. Frances

Can you mail your reception invitations after the RSVP deadline for the first reception?

I'll be having a second reception in my hometown. It's going to be very casual, with cheaper sheet cake, pot-luck style food, and no DJ. I've compared it to a Graduation party to some people.

I can mail them out after the wedding invitations go out but they will still get there before the wedding since its just a week later. Thought about calling it something else besides a second reception but not sure what.