Reception only help

Also forgot to mention. do I still need a wedding dress??????? I purchased 2 already.

I agree with all PPs, do what you want! I will wish your father peace, and I am so sorry you're having to deal with all of this.

You could have a vow renewal in addition to your reception! I'm so sorry about your father

First, my heart goes out to you. If it is important for your dad to be there on your day I say have the day. Put on the dress, anyone who can be there can too. Maybe don't pay twice for hair and make-up if you were getting a professional, but have those memories and the pictures! You can still have a get together after, one that may be less taxing on your dad too. I think it is perfectly fine to have a wedding and then a ceremony of some sort later at the reception. We are doing something similar. We'll be legally married with just us and our sons in a more "traditional" style ceremony then will be handfasted before our guests followed by a reception. Good luck to you, I do hope it works out for all of you.

So sorry to hear about your dad!

We are doing a destination wedding with 28 people in Costa Rica, and then a reception with about 120 people back in town. None of our family can make it to Costa Rica, so at the reception we are planning to do our vows, a first dance, a speech from both fathers, a paint ceremony thing with FH's son, and have the son and his friend do a little dance number. We have four bridesmaids and groomsmen coming to Costa Rica, but none of the bridesmaids can make it to the reception (I recently moved from Florida to DC and didn't want to ask them to do two big trips) so the groomsmen will all wear their outfits again, and I'm going to wear my wedding dress again (I think - I might just do a more casual white dress for the reception).

If my bridesmaids were coming to the ceremony, I'd have them wear their bridesmaids dresses again.