home reception after destination wedding

We're doing this - having a catered BBQ at a gorgeous state park a month after the wedding (Wedding is July 3, the BBQ is Aug 1)

My suggestion (and learning from my crazy) is to keep it simple. It is super easy for it to become a second wedding. Our budget for the BBQ is more than the DW.

Etiquette wise - and something I'd totally argue with now that I'm getting my RSVP's back - You are supposed to invite everyone to both. If you want them at the at home-reception? They should get an invite to the DW. If I could go back six months and tell myself anything it would be to make them two completely separate events and send separate invites - for the Reception I would basically term it as an elopement and say please celebrate the marriage of rather than... well. A reception.

I don't have a ton of regrets nor am I overly emotional yet, but it's really expensive the way we're doing it (even being at a state park, our catering bill is just over $4k for 120 people)

Good luck!

We are thinking of doing something similar. We will prob keep it simple and maybe just host a summer cookout and forgo gifts.

I have a bunch of friends who did something similar. One couple just went to the courthouse on a whim, and then about 6 months later had a big celebration. It was just a big party, open bar, dinner, dancing. She had a fancy dress, but it wasn't even white. Another couple went off to Jamaica and had a reception a few months later when they got back. The reception was really nice. What I thought was strange was that they re-did the ceremony, and it felt really weird like it was just a performance. If it were me, I'd split the difference. No ceremony, just a nice dinner/dancing party to celebrate with friends. But I'd definitely wear the dress

We're doing this! FH & I live in Spain (where he's from) and I'm from the US, where the wedding will be. Same as you, a lot of people won't be able to come, so we're having a second celebration here a month later.

We're keeping it simple, although it'll still be a formal event (weddings in Spain are formal, period). We're doing a cocktail style party instead of a sit down dinner, with lots of apps and drinks, and of course dancing. I'm wearing a gown, but NOT a bridal gown (pic). It's just a big party to celebrate.

We had ours a couple months later (we got married in November, but did the AHR in January after the holidays). We had a cocktail reception at an upscale bar. They don't open until 5pm so they gave us the entire venue at no charge. We paid consumption for the bar, and had an appetizer buffet. For 120 people I think we spent about $3500 in Toronto.

I agree; keep it simple and casual. Make them two separate events.

@Christine I've had my eye on that dress - LOVE it!

I'm debating this as well, because we're anticipating a lot of my fiancé's family won't be able to make it to my destination wedding. Looking forward to hearing all your thoughts on how to do it.

My cousin did the same (not the Bahama's but FL and we all live in IN) she had a big reception at a fairgrounds and rented out a big building and all of our family came), it was a lot of fun, she had a DJ and everything, and my dad made her cakes she had one tiered cake, and one sheet cake both were yummy ;P so it was basically just like a normal wedding reception with cake and punch....I don't remember if she had meal food there or not....

ETA: she had the reception after she and hubby came back from honeymoon

Sandpiper- I've been eyeballing it since BHLDN got it! I'm just waiting til next month to purchase :-)

I agree with Celia about keeping it simple. Making ours a cocktail party was our way of keeping it simple vs. the sit down formal reception FMIL really wanted (it'll be mostly FILs friends at this second reception and they're throwing it for us).

I'm doing the same. I'm getting married in Orlando (intimite wedding with just me, my fiancé and my 2 stepchildren). When we get back to the Netherlands, we'll have a 'reception' with our family and friends to celebrate our wedding.