Two receptions? Help please!!

I think a tea length dress would be just fine and it's so awesome that you want to include everyone and do something special for your guest that weren't able to make its!! Best wishes!

Nancy

We're doing this for my family out of town (500 miles). we're wearing our full attire, if anything the reception with my family will be much more formal and more of a party

I am having two receptions. One in the USA and the next in Trinidad, where I am from. For Trinidad we plan to show highlights of my ceremony in OKC and then start with our dance and a few speech.. Sit down dinner, then dance our night away with my family and friends.And am wearing my dress again to take some lovely pics with my family. .

As long as you don't have two showers, two bach. parties it sounds fine to me etiquette wise. I don't think it's against etiquette to wear your dress twice but if YOU don't want to and the other reception is more laid back, wear a tea length. As long as you properly host both receptions (catered food, open bar) I don't see the issue.

Are you having a videographer? If you could show a highlight video people could see the dress, first dance, cake cutting exc without you having to do it all again at the second reception. I think you could wear just a nice dress or you could wear your wedding dress but it depends how formal your dress is.

Our wedding and reception is in Ohio, but once we get home to Alaska we are planning a reception up there too. I think FH is leaning towards a laid back BBQ type "reception" probably in a park by the lake.

Depending on if we plan on activities (volleyball...ect.) or just a dinner I will probably wear a dressy-ish white outfit with simple accessories.

In your case, I think a white dress would be lovely, doesn't even have to be a "formal" gown!

@AlmostMrs E, there's nothing wrong with having two showers.

We are having an engagement party a few months before the wedding in my FH's hometown for all those who won't be able to make the trip to where our wedding will be with my family.

Going to the chapel, seriously? You don't think that's a BIT gift grabby?

@almostmrse To my understanding it's fine as long as the same people aren't invited to both

To me it just seems tacky. I would have one shower in a location halfway between both families and call it a day. If the other family is STATES away I still don't think I would do a second shower.

My aunts in my home state are already excited to plan a shower for me, and my FH's aunt has already told me she's throwing me a shower at her home for all the aunts and cousins here. There's nothing wrong with two showers unless you plan them yourself which you shouldn't be doing anyways. If people want to throw you a party, let them! It's part of the tradition.

Thanks y'all! We actually aren't having an open bar because almost his entire town is southern baptist and NOBODY drinks at weddings there haha. My wedding dress will be very formal so I think I may go with the tea length

So, we did this. We had our wedding/reception in Utah and had an “open house” type of event for everyone back home (California). We did it during the day (it was on a Saturday from 1-3) and we had some heavy apps, salads, pastas, etc. We also had a big dessert bar. We had good music playing in the background, but no dancing really. We didn’t really do anything super “wedding-y” for it. I wore a white midi dress. We had a photo album from the reception out, our guest book so others could sign it, and some other pictures of us just around. People chatted, ate, came and went. It was super casual. We DID have it catered and I would 1000% recommend that you do that. Because, well duh.

ETA: I had two showers. Two people threw them for me. I didn't feel bad at all. They were in different states, no overlap, etc.

I'm so glad it's worked out for others!

@MNbride We are having a videographer but I don't believe we will have any footage back in time