Formal AHR??

[jennaba3]

Hi everyone..

 

I know there are alot of threads about formal AHRs but they seem to be from a year or two ago. I wanted to get a fresh idea on what everyone thought of formal AHRs??

 

Im from the UK and we are travelling to Mexico for our DW (which is an 11 hour flight from here) 37 have booked and im over the moon with that as its such a long journey (and costly!!)

 

So because the bulk of the people coming are mostly friends, we want to hold a formal AHR for family and other close friends that couldnt come..

 

We were thinking a sit down meal in the day with family that couldnt come and everyone who could come.. Approx 80 people and then a night party for everyone else with a buffet.. We will also be having welcome drinks and wine on the tables..

 

Also I wont be having a cake in Mexico as I feel it will get wasted as we will be having dessert in our reception.. So I would prefer to spend the money on one for our home party..

 

How does everyone feel about formal AHRs? Im wondering how to get introduced as we will already be married and dont just wanna show up in my dress and walk in casually?? (we will all be in wedding attire).. Also are you having a first dance at home?

 

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated xxx

[Peach]

We originally wanted to do a casual AHR but now it sounds like it will be more formal too, since so many family members on my side (who are all about tradition) will not be coming to the DW.

How long after your DW are you having your AHR? We are doing ours about a month or so after our actual wedding day. We are going to have the entrance (all in wedding attired, but it will be fairly casual) and our MC (my brother) is going to just introduce us as Mr. and Mrs....

We will redo our 'first' dance to the same song, and we will have the parents dances too. Our wedding package includes a cake, so we will have one at the DW but we will also have one at ahr. We will play some typical reception games, have a buffet-style dinner, watch a slideshow of FI and us from childhood to engagement, then watch our wedding video. After, we will leave wedding pictures rotating silently. We will have a dance (iPod for music). It will be decorated, all DIY and photos (some old wedding photos from other family members, others our own wedding). 

We are debating doing our sand ceremony at home too. I know I want to do one but I am nervous about taking it all down there. I thought it might be a nice touch at the AHR. 

 

I do not think there is anything wrong at all with AHR. It will be really nice for your family members who did not get to see you get married.

[jennaba3]

Thank you.. I feel much better about having one now.. When my parents said it would be nice to do one for family that couldnt come I thought it might be a bit OTT.. But now I hear other brides are having formal AHRs, I feel better We have booked out AHR for 4 weeks and 2 days after we return.. Gives me just enough time to get back in my dress after 10 days all inclusive! lol.. I think we will have it arranged for us to be announced in.. Looks better than just turning up lol.. Im also going to have pictures from our DW showing on a slideshow.. When is your DW? Mine is 6th Sept 2012 xxx

[Peach]

We are quite a ways away yet... July 2013.

So our AHR will be mid-late August that year.

[meBonidie2be]

hey ladies...

 

Just thought i would chime in and keep this thread going. My formal AHR will be three days after we get home for almost 200 ppl. Why did i do this to myself? Thanksgiving was a big part of it and the weather in Pittburgh, but uhhhhggggg. I wish i had more in between.

 

I was really curious to hear about how others are being introduced at AHR. We have four flower girls because I wanted to include our nieces (big mistake). Any suggestions on other ways to include them besides just walking in? I'm lost!

 

IYO should they have a dif song to walk in to then my FI and I?  

[iGotsGills]

We did an AHR, but we made it more of a party than another wedding reception (we figured we did the whole shebang while we were away, and so we would celebrate it but not replicate it).  We also had 200 people, and we did a Sunday afternoon cruise on a yacht with cocktails and a lot of food.  We had toasts, and that was it.  We didn't even have assigned seating, except for limited mobility guests and the wedding party.  All of the wedding party was identified by corsages and boutonnieres, and that was pretty much the extent of it.  I didn't even wear my wedding dress; I wore a short ivory dress instead (I guess it could be classified as a "short wedding dress").

 

And everyone was happy!

 

[meBonidie2be]

That sounds like soooo much fun!!!

[pfeiffla]

Good luck ladies with your AHR's, they sound fun!