"For a dessert reception, kick off your event around 8 p.m. so that guests have plenty of time to have dinner and primp beforehand," says Lehman. I too don't like attention drawn to myself more than I have to, I cannot dance to save my life, I didn't want to do the bouquet toss/garter thing, I dread going to wedding receptions myself because they last forever, I HATE all DJs I come across and think they're some of the most annonying people I've ever met, and I find it impossible to go into debt over one day - especially when the FI and I are trying to get a new house soon for us and our 6 year old son. We just wanted to have a more intimate, informal wedding. If you're planning an event without a plated lunch or dinner, it can be easy to forget that having adequate seating is essential to making sure your guests are comfortable. Tons of people have receptions everyday where dancing is not done. I think that you should do whatever will make you and your Fiance happy. Just because you're having an alternative style wedding doesn't mean you have to forgo any traditional elements if they're important to you. You can have a reception and NOT have dancing and all of that. As far as "secretly" getting married, how would that go over with your parents? Incorporate Whatever Traditional Wedding Elements You Want, 3. Commenting is the best way to get involved. Any other ideas, I dont know what my options are???? Just a … "Typically, an event that begins around 11 a.m. or noon, works for everyone's schedule." you can do whatever suits you and your partner. You could also hire a cheap videographer, maybe, to show to people who don't come (aunts and uncles) if they ask to see it. You don't need a reception - but that also means that you're not going to invite people to the ceremony either. In Response to
Is it terrible that I don't want a reception?: You don't have to have a reception, but depending on your wedding it is considerate to provide the guests with sort of "gathering" (i.e. You always make accomodations for family when you get married. Get Our Wedding Planner App On Your Mobile Device. Then just take everyone out to dinner afterwards. PS: I will state that it helps that my wedding is either at 1:30 or 2 (I was told 2 by the Deacon but Church office says 1:30...go figure haha, but I've 599 days to find out details!) Receptions are a way to thank your guests for spending the day with you, for being a part of your wedding. Jump in the fray! Not only will this approach save you money, it can also allow you to get really creative—the sky's the limit. I was thinking maybe your traditional wedding followed by a "Dinner" at a nice restaurant, then taking a limo downtown staying at the Ritz Carlton for the night and immediatly getting on a plane the next day to Hawaii for our honeymoon. I also, quite clearly, have no desire to spend the money on a wedding. Call me weird, I just dont feel comfortable with all the attention on me and my fiance and I do not, do not dance! Why not do a small JOP ceremony, invite iimmediate family, then go out for dinner afterwards? Thanks for sticking with us for a full year. So I've recently become engaged so I'm starting to think about the whole wedding thing and I DO NOT want a reception. If you have anyone outside of your parents and siblings, you need to offer some type of reception. It's not a required thing. "Never assume that guests can determine an event's format based solely on the event location and timing," says Lehman. Have you considered a destination wedding? I agree that I would have to have something small. If you're having an evening wedding without dinner, you want to make sure to give your guests time to eat before heading to the wedding. The only alcohol will be champagne. There's nothing wrong with having a wedding without dinner. You could rent a cute little chapel. So you have to take into account all that receptions are "supposed to be for," and then choose if you still do not want it. It doesn't mean you have to have drinking and dancing and special dances, those are just things some people do.