AHR question from a newbie

[ChristieAnn]

I am having our AHR 4.5 wks after our wedding on Aug 5, 2011, at a photographers studio that use to be an old brew house. We are having appetizers and cocktails, cupcakes and music. We are going to play a slideshow of our pictures on an infinity wall (basically a huge white wall). From 6:30-10ish... on a Saturday. A friday is totally OK! I have a friend who is having an actual at home wedding on a friday to cut costs...

[hutchets]

We are having our AHR at 7pm and plan on having BBQ along with a few other things.  With this being my second marriage, I didn't care if we had an AHR or not but my fiance has never been married and definitely wanted a "party" to celebrate with those who cannot go to Jamaica with us, which is around 120 or so.  It's definitely not going to be formal but I want a nice beach theme and don't want it to be tacky.

[christinebauer]

I think in this economy people understand about saving some money.  A friday night reception is better than a Sunday one.  Snacks or small bites is fine as long as people aren't starving and there shold be a good variety and alcohol.  I actually enjoy weddings like that more since you get to socialize more.  At the formal dinner people are forced to sit next people they sometimes don't know so they focus on the dinner instead.  If people are having a great time I think how much food they ate will not be something they think about.

[clgriffi7]

To keep things cheaper and less formal we are having a Friday night AHR from 8-12pm.  On the invite we will say that beer, wine, and snacks will be provided - that way guests will know they need to get dinner before they arrive.  For attire I will say something like cute enough for pictures but comfortable enough to dance.

 

We are having the party at a local reception hall which we are renting for $700 on a Friday night instead of $2400 for a Saturday.  At this point we are trying to decide whether we will hire a DJ and pay for a photobooth....  Those decisions will determine if this is a $3000 party or a $5000 party.  (So the Saturday would have cost ~$3000 more as DJs and photobooth rentals are also cheaper on Fridays.)

 

One thing to note - a non-formal AHR (anything without a plated meal) will likely confuse some guests as to whether they should get you a wedding gift or not.  And those that do will get one will likley be inclined to spend a less money on the gift than a traditional reception.  Not that I care about the gifts, but when I went to an AHR last year I was confused about how much to spend...

[vlynnw]

It's not tacky at all.  I wanted to save on the AHR since it's really just for those not coming to Mexico.  What we are doing is Saturday afternoon from 2-5 we're having cocktails and hor'dourves.  We're not re-doing anything from the wedding, but we will have a cake.  We plan on it being time for us to mingle with those that couldn't come to the wedding.  We're going to show a slide show of our wedding pics and our venue has an outdoor patio that we will have our ceremony video playing.  All of our decor will mostly be our wedding pictures themselves.