Potluck day after picnic...tacky?

You're not only not inviting them to the wedding, but now you're essentially telling them to host your day after picnic by bringing food. Not a good idea.

Short answer: no

Now for the long answer:

Do not expect people who were not invited to your wedding to feed you as well as others at a wedding-related event. That's the equivalent of dangling a treat in front of a dog while they are running on a treadmill. They do all the work, but they will never get the full glory of that special treat that was so close but never attainable. Your guests are adults and I'm assuming that since they all operate businesses, they are successful adults. With that being said, they do not need you to dictate whether their businesses should remain open or not on your wedding date. It is not a national holiday where everyone is mandated to take the day off. If you want to hold a special event after the wedding that is still related to the wedding, do a brunch. That is very popular and widely accepted. You just have to pay for it in order for you not to get any side-eye.

I hope that this helps with some advice for you OP. Best of luck with the planning!

Just stop.

I was in the catering biz when I did my wedding. We closed the biz and my staff were all invited.

I just did a wedding for a couple who owns several restaurants and they had their wedding IN one of their restaurants and closed it. The staff, as far as I could tell, worked, partied, and were semi guests. It was great.

Don't do this, okay? Have your wedding on a Monday when everyone you want to come can. It's cheaper too.

No for all the above reasons. And you don't assume that people will gift you anything, so dictating that they bring food to a celebration to ease the burden of buying a gift is presumptuous and wrong. Potlucks are only appropriate for times when a group of people is coming together but there isn't one specific host (think family gatherings, Bunco club, or a church group gathering) It is not proper hosting for a celebration of your marriage!

I need someone from the "Fuck No" claims department to answer the phone!!!!

This is totally a troll, right? Everyone you know has their own businesses but would need to shut them down to attend? Do they all own shaved ice carts?

^^Bahaha!!

They have to shut down Saturday night but NONE of them would have to shut down for the picnic Sunday? No one opens on Sunday's now?

Forget the idea.

So they all have to work late into the night Saturday and then make sure they've had enough time to get a dish ready for your pot luck wedding??

So you're planning a consolation potluck party to celebrate an even that these people were excluded from. And although you say they are struggling they will need to bring a dish capable of serving a crowd?

No.

No just no

I think im the only one who thinks this is a nice idea. I remember when i was young and working hourly jobs and barely scraping by. If i knew someone who invited me to this who wasnt immediate family or a best friend, i would A: be excited to go to a potluck picnic with a bunch of friends because that sounds like fun, and B: be grateful for the potluck aspect because i would STILL go out and buy a gift even if i couldnt afford it (which in fact is something i did many times), but since they said bring food thats way cheaper. Ww is a formal wedding site but there are so many people who dont care about wedding ettiquette or traditions. Yeah it is tacky, but tacky is actually not nearly the worst thing you can be. Also, if you do decide to have this picnic, remember that no one from wedding wire will be there, but instead it will be people you actually know....you know what theyre like and if they would appreciate an event like youre suggesting or not.

White knight much?

@Kathryn, my wedding will be far from formal and I still think potlucks are terrible.

Yeah it is tacky, but tacky is not nearly the worst thing you can be. ...when you're planning an event that you will invite people to, it might be.

Imagine you're this friend. First you don't get invited to the wedding. Then you're asked to help cater the picnic the next day for the newlyweds, so you have to shut down you restaurant (?) and act like you enjoy this party that you're not getting paid to work. Congrats! Your consolation prize for not being invited, is being given the honor of providing the food the next day.

Katherine?

You're the only one.

HAHA

Having a pot luck the day after the wedding-yes I think that would be fun. But don't use it as a reason to not invite people. I've been to wedding where they have a pot luck/BBQ/picnic the next day just as a way to get a few people together for a little post party, and it's fun. But not as an alternative to come to your wedding. If you do a wedding alternative for people who can't make it, make sure you host it, not have people bring food.

That's just my opinion... I know it can be hard when so many people are against your idea. Ultimately it's your decision obviously but I think it's a little tacky