Invitations vs save the dates on a destination wedding

A reception is a thank you to guests for attending your wedding. This is ESPECIALLY necessary for a DW where people are spending a lot of time and money to be there with you.

If you aren't going to host a wedding reception, then you shouldn't send out any invitations. Just send a postcard wedding announcement after the wedding.

I would recommend accommodating your guests as a group with a hotel block in this case. You should send formal invitations with booking deadlines and RSVPs. In order to make your guests feel welcome, a group rate would be beneficial.

Otherwise - Elope and send announcements after.

Lol goskell I highly doubt someone who isn't even having a reception for their guests will be blocking a hotel for them.

If you aren't hosting a reception you probably don't need to send out invitations.

@ LindseyO - I am only offering some advice, based on what information is presented.

Our wedding is not normal... Nothing is. We were trying to run away and had 30+ people say "were coming too" nothing I can do about it...we ar They are coming and we're gonna party together but we don't have plans to pay for anything and didn't know we had to. (Ps this forum is hard for me to navigate because so many people post between my responce

If you are asking people to fly to another state, pay for a hotel room, and give you a gift, the least you can do is offer a meal with free food and booze.

People generally understand that they have to make their own arrangements for destination weddings.

If you truly want to elope (that's the word for "running away to get married") do it and don't tell people until you get back.

Well now you know that it would be in extremely poor taste to not host these people.

That being said, you don't have to invite a single person to your wedding. But the second you send them an invite, you have to be prepared to host them.

Either you elope by yourselves or you host these people. There is no in between. If they witness your ceremony, you should treat them to food and booze afterwards. If you don't want to do that, you simply say no we are eloping.

Amanda - if your intention was to elope, then you tell your friends NO, you cannot come. It's not that hard.

And they would need to know the date/time, etc. If you don't want them there, then don't tell them the details.

Ok I've got a clue thank you all for your points

What they said.

If you are inviting people, you MUST host them. If you prefer not to host people, then clearly and firmly tell anyone who says they want to come that you are sorry but it will be a private wedding. Those are your only two options: host your guests or have no guests.

I think from here you guys can either stand your ground on eloping - not invite any of them to the ceremony and don't host a reception (and do not send anything close to resembling a save the date or invitation to them), or you can invite them to witness the ceremony and host (pay for) at least a meal for them following the ceremony.

If they've completely invited themselves without either of your ever extending an invitation or asking them to come to your wedding, then it's not your fault they invited themselves! But no matter what I think you guys need to clear up expectations with your guests.

Another Vegas bride here! I've been to a Vegas wedding where the couple planned nothing and made us all pay for our own dinner after-they didn't even tell us what day the wedding was, just that they'd be there Tuesday-Friday and getting married somewhere in between. Because of that fiasco, my wedding venue is set, we did electronic save the dates and booked a private buffet room to feed and booze up everyone after. We aren't having a formal reception but we are working with a promoter to get everyone into the club on property to dance and a have a few more drinks on us. It doesn't have to be crazy expensive. By if you're inviting people you need to host SOMETHING. Vegas ain't cheap so if they care enough to make the trek you can show them a little appreciation