How many are having a reception Dinner Back Home??

[uhleesa]

Hi everyone!

  How many of you are having a reception dinner back home for guests who can't attend the destination wedding?

 

The reason I ask is because I was out to dinner with my fiance and his co-workers. One woman implied that it would be simply rude to not have a celebratory dinner for guests who can't attend, like co-workers, colleagues, friends, etc. Would it be bad manners not to have one? I am considering having a dinner for my mom's side of the family when we get back because most won't be able to attend. However, part of the reason we wanted to do destination was because we wanted a private ceremony and reception with the people in our lives who actually truly care about us.

 

So, what do you ladies think? Reception dinner back home or not? Polite or impolite?

[Sax Lady]

There is a whole forum on this called AHR. Check it out and it should have all the information your looking for about having one or not having one.

[a&p_lenz]

We had a reception back at home, simply because a lot of family could not make the wedding (esp my grandparents).  We tried to keep it simple though and not too expensive!

[Michelle-2]

We are going to have something small when we get back.  I still don't know exactly where or what we are doing.  Check out the AHR thread.

[Kendall]

We aren't going to have anything back home.  We invited all of our family and close friends - we told them all that there is no pressure to go, but we'd love to have them there with us.  We have about 25 going at this point.  This is both of our second wedding and we wanted to make it as simple as possible - we have concerns that throwing a party or reception back home would take the "simple-ness" away from what our intent was by going away and letting all the work up to the resort.   If this was our first weddings, I would probably want a reception back home as well, though.

[josietoms]

Loads of info on this in the AHR - we are having an evening reception but not a full sit down meal.

 

My nan wont be able to come due to her health as we are travelling from London  and we will go our for a meal with her on our own - but everyone else will just be invited to an evening style reception we are holding.

 

The idea of the DW was to keep it simple and with those closet to us x

[jszy10]

Some people just don't understand why people have DWs...and they never have to.  I AM having an AHR, but that is because I really do want to celebrate with everyone, I just didn't want a big "wedding".  I wanted to go away and enjoy a few days celebrating with my closest family and friends.  I have even been told it is strange that I'm not leaving my wedding open to "whoever is willingl to come", but  we are only inviting certain people.  My FI and I both have friends that would come, but we just want to keep it very intimate.  I don't think you should feel guilty at all if you don't have or want to have an AHR...you do what makes the two of you happy! Let them enjoy the pictures when you come back!  If there are certain people that want to celebrate, maybe go out to dinner somewhere with them and share your pictures?

[alundy]

I am not going to have an AHR - the whole idea of the DW for me is a) to save $$ and to skip the stress/time in planning an AHR and just do something that we will enjoy. My philosophy is that if you can make it, great, if not, no worries! I don't think it's the least bit impolite to skip the AHR. We might just have a very informal BBQ party or something when we get back. Nothing catered, or at a hall, or anything like that.

[MrsHemmings]

ok, will the lady be paying yhe bill.  I won't be having a dinner back home because evyone who really, really matters will be there to share my special moment.

 

It's a personal choice, not a requirement.

[jenngene2011]

We decided to also NOT do AHR.  From the beginning we decided we didn't want to do a 200+ wedding and if we did one at home that is what it would be.  We wanted something more personal and intimate which is why we went with DW instead.  But that is why we did there are many brides that want to do an At home reception it is purely a personal choice and you should do what you want to do not what other people think you should do.