Post-Honeymoon celebration invitation info question

About the party:

It is semi formal (I AM wearing my gown again because when I said I wasn't I was met with great disappointment from my elderly neighbors and friends)

The food is served buffet style.

We don't want gifts, because we are established in our home, We genuinely just want to celebrate with friends and family. A wishing well will be there in case people insist on giving us money. (That keeps happening.)

I think you have all the info you need for the invitation. However, I would shy away from calling it a reception. Some people might get confused and actually expect a second ceremony. For clarity, I would call it a "celebration" or "party to celebrate" your recent marriage.

These kinds of celebrations are pretty common. We're having one in FH's hometown because FMIL cannot bear the idea that all of his extended family and church friends can't attend our wedding in my hometown. However, FMIL graciously offered to host so I'm letting her do all the planning!!

@Sunni

Thank you. I agree on calling it a celebration. And now the invite does simply say "Let's Celebrate the marriage of" We are also referencing it as "Welcoming home the newlyweds" We are going to share our vacation photos and have a pre entrance slideshow of the ceremony pictures and video.

First of all, change your wording. It's not a reception. A reception is what follows a ceremony to thank your guests for coming to the ceremony. Second, you should have a reception for people who come to watch the ceremony. Third, you can display a photo of you and your husband on your wedding day so they get a photo of you in your gown instead of wearing it.

No. No wishing well. People will give you money without it and you won't look rude.

@Elizabeth

There is a one hour cocktail hour reception on board for our attending guests as well as our sailing guests joining us for dinner for the duration of the cruise. I wanted to do a photo but was met with a lot of disappointment by all my female neighbors so I relented.

@Stephanie

The wishing well is my mother's doing. I keep trying to talk her out of it, so fingers crossed.

Oh gosh please convince your mother that the wishing well is a terrible idea. If people want to gift money they will put it in a card and put it in a cardbox, no need for an intensely rude well for deposits. I agree with everyone on the wording, celebration of the marriage is great. Why do your neighbors seem to have so much control over your decisions?

@Jeanne

My mother is very pushy and stubborn. I'm trying. I told her people will either come to us directly with gifts or in a card, but she's very set on "her way or no way" Even though she's only paying for the ceremony and buying/helping me cook the food for the party.

As far as my neighbors having influence... I only have my parents and an aunt that lives across the country. My father is a professional firefighter and volunteered here at home for a long time too, and I volunteered as a firefighter/EMT for years as well. I only recently gave it up to pursue my own goals. My mother is in the volunteer auxiliary. The neighbors are my family to me because my own is so small.

What @Jeanne said. Why are other people, in general, in control of your actions? You didn't want a celebration at home, but everyone else wanted one so you're doing it. You didn't want to wear your wedding dress, but they want you to, so you're doing it. You don't want a wishing well, but your mom does so you're doing it.

I'm confused why you're giving people so much power over what you do.

@Elizabeth

Because all of my family is now down to just my parents and Aunt and half sister who doesn't really socialize with anyone. I DID have biologcal family (two sets of grandparents, two uncles, and an aunt, and about 5 close cousins), but they've all died at this point. I cherish the people I have left, and I want them to be happy, and feel included. Seeing their disappointment at feeling not included, hurt me terribly. I want them to know that I love them and I very much want them to feel included after the many years of being involved in my life.

A wishing well will not make people feel included. I understand wearing the dress and having the party for the reasons you've listed above.

As a general statement to dispel anymore confusion and inquiries as to my motives for having this celebration. I did not plan on having a celebration after the honeymoon. Of course I WANTED to. I felt it was tacky, as I originally said. "I'd never thought of that being a thing, I figured inviting people that didn't come to my ceremony to a reception *celebration* would be tacky"

My friends and neighbors feeling included is important to me, and I'll get to throw a party like I always love to do anyway. They basically gave me the green light to do something I would have been uncomfortable doing otherwise. I'm glad it will make them happy. That makes me happy.

When you say wishing well do you mean a card box?

@Sqwiggy

Personally yes, but my mother is pushing for something more literal and I agree with my commenters that it is tacky.

@lorith just out of curiosity how did this work in your opinion. I too am considering getting married in a destination ceremony and then just having a celebration of marriage event. Do you have any advice or take aways that you may suggest?