i like this idea!

I think it definitely depends on your crowd! If they’re the right kind of people this could be a blast. My social limit for something where I’d be surrounded by people constantly is usually no more than two days before I get cranky lol. It certainly wouldn’t work for my FH and me, and we likely wouldn’t be looking forward to attending a wedding like this as much as we would be with a more traditional set up, but if you want it then go for it!

I wouldn’t spend an entire weekend celebrating someone’s marriage unless it was one of my siblings or my closest friends. In that case, I would probably attend and not be super thrilled about it. I’m sure this is fine for a specific crowd, but I can’t imagine most people can give up three days to celebrate someone else’s marriage.

Something the evening before the wedding, I’d be game. The day after the wedding I’d want to sleep in and head home. Not interested in socializing (even at my own wedding).


Maybe just something fun the night before?

Everyone has to travel. So traveling for a 2-4hr party isn't likely to happen either. We think our group would be game. That's the fun of weddings and celebrations - they are all different and unique!

That sounds kinda fun! Though I think it may be harder to get people to go to all the events if it’s local as opposed to a destination. We did a semi-destination wedding with multiple events leading up to the big day. We had our Welcome Dinner at a local brewery and had a brewery tour for our wedding party beforehand. Then the next day we had guys go golfing and girls go brunch and wine tasting— this was open to all guests and optional. After golf and wine tasting, we had everyone head back to our place for an afternoon pool party and bbq that went on until 11ish. We kept all these events optional in case guests wanted to do their own thing and sightsee.


Saturday was our wedding where we shuttled most of our guests (those who reserved a spot) to our ceremony/reception site. Afterwards, we brought everyone back to the resort we (and most guests) were staying at and held an afterparty at the restaurant/lounge there.
We were going to do brunch the next day, but felt it was way too much. The closet introvert in me wanted some time to myself. Lol. However, we saw a ton of guests brunching together at the restaurant that morning.
It was so much fun! We have so many people still tell us how it was one of the most fun weekends ever and best wedding they went to. Our guests ages ranged from 2-85 years old, but mostly ours (early 30s) and our parents’ age (55-65).

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Ours is local to us, but a destination to all. Like you, I'd make most things optional. But, they would be a blast. I think even our parents would enjoy them but could turn in early if they wanted to - that would be fine. I just wanted to make it about spending time with our loved ones and not just the renewal. My engagement has been so long - it's been almost 2 years already. By 2021 it will be 3. So, it's going to be more of a meet the spouse with some wedding stuff tacked on, rather than "come to our wedding." We're getting married in August just our sons and the two of us. We'd still like everyone to see us dress up and such... but really, I've had 3 wedding dates now and we just want everyone to meet. I hope that makes sense.

I'm having a destination wedding to Florida, so we're making several events during the weekend so that we can hang out with the guests more than just our wedding reception. We're posting the events to our wedding website so that guests can come congratulate us again or do something fun in a new place, or they can do whatever on their own. For Friday, our events include picnic at the beach (family friendly, all are welcome), rehearsal dinner (limited to 40 people) paid by us, drinks afterwards instead of bachelor/bachelorette parties where everyone will pay for themselves. Saturday is the wedding, then Sunday is brunch hosted by us. Monday is a trip to Disney World where everyone pays their own entry. We'll see how many guests participate in it, but we hope that visitors will enjoy the wedding as a vacation and we hope to spend quality time with people who we haven't seen in a while who traveled long distances for our special day.

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PLEASE keep in mind: I've been to adult jungle gym/obstacle course type things three times, all with different size groups (from 4 people to 40 people) and it was all unrelated and all different locations, and EACH TIME someone got hurt! My mom simply stepped on something wrong and legit broke her ankle. I don't know if I was just the unlucky charm but I wouldn't risk any sort of activity like this the day before my wedding, nor would I want my guests tired in general. They seem super fun but can make you literally sore the next day, it's a workout! Also keep in mind that not everyone is physically comfortable in a harness, or that kind of attention. I would never invite guests to a physical event they may be uncomfortable with and risk them not coming to the wedding at all (people might feel even though you say its optional, that they have to go to everything or don't come at all, even if that's not the case)

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There are no harnesses and such - still I'd move it to Sunday because that is an amazing point! Thank you!!!

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I think it's for the best - super don't mean to be stomping on your ideas or anything, even after my moms accident its still something my fam would be up to doing any other weekend and obviously you know your crowd !! It's so fun to do things nontraditional, FH and I aren't doing things very by the book either! Best of luck with your wedding and weekend!

I love the idea but I would minimize it a lil.

Friday- would be bridal party/parents/siblings only.

Sat- all invited.

Sunday- all invited for picnic in park- (little sandwiches/fruits/veggie/cheese plate/assorted desserts wine if permitted)

I think it just depends on who your guests are and what they are into as well. I like the idea of having an extended party, but I personally think it's a lot to request of someone to dedicate an entire weekend to one's celebration.

We're having a destination wedding in a location central/tropical enough to allow our guests to either spend time with us or to go site seeing on their own. We don't want them to feel obligated to anything.