We received a wedding invitation (vow renewal really) with a significant gap between the 1pm wedding and 5 pm cocktail hour beginning the reception.
How would you spend the time in between? Would you have two outfits for the wedding?
It’s an out of town wedding for us (10 hours by car; we will probably fly). I understand our hotel is not really near the church or the country club. Location is western Michigan on a holiday weekend.
It seems awkward. What are your thoughts?
I’d be tempted to do two outfits. A 1 p.m wedding and a 5 p.m. reception start don’t seem the same level of fancy. Is there a dance and full dinner?
@Mom22039 I’ve decided this must be a midwestern thing. Maybe not, but I’ve been to plenty weddings that have a gap in between so it seems normal to me.
And it’s normal in catholic weddings for the ceremony to be early with an evening reception. Because of Saturday night mass.
I always wear the same outfit for both. I’ve never changed. It’s a little tricky when out of town but we have done a variety of things. Gone back to the hotel is one. Usually we meet up with other people we know, go to a bar, hang out and have a drink. If we are hungry, we get a snack. Depending on where in western Michigan the wedding is, you could go to a spot you’ve never been and visit it.
Some times there is a gathering for the out of town guests, either planned or unplanned.
We did this for a family wedding. I wore one dress, not a fancy one, to the ceremony. Spent the afternoon with friends. Changed into my wedding very nice dress and went to the evening reception.
I can relate to Bar or Bat Mitzvahs. Service in the morning, party much later. So, at least 2 outfits. In Chicago, many of us took the River cruise . In Fl, we hung out at the pool. In Tampa, some of us went to the Dali museum, others to a place with rides. My point is, it’s good to,plan ahead for options
Thanks all, it’s a holiday weekend. There will be four of us. We don’t think we will know anyone else there (other than the bride’s family).
It is a dinner and dancing reception.
Just remembered I bought a dress for this wedding for the original date last year. I think I have to get it altered!
Where in western Michigan? I think we have a few Michiganders if you want any suggestions of what to do in the area
For D1’s wedding, we had the ceremony early afternoon, followed by a light cocktail (wine, champagne, beer, very light food) while we took pictures. We then bused everyone back to the reception place where we had the regular cocktail and dinner.
We didn’t want to have a gap between the ceremony and reception. We lucked out with the first cocktail because it was on a large balcony overlooking Cornell’s campus and the weather was beautiful.
It is harder not to have a gap when the ceremony is at a religious place because you are at their mercy as to when you could have the ceremony.
I just came back from my niece’s wedding last week (125 indoor wedding). It was a lovely event. What she could have done better was to schedule people for picture taking. They had large families from both sides. They managed to take large group family pictures and everyone went away for cocktails. They didn’t get pictures of smaller groups, like with aunts and uncles, cousins, close friends. I saw my brother in law running around trying to grab people for pictures.
For D1’s wedding, she had a schedule for everyone who were supposed to be in the pictures and they were all informed when they had to be around for the pictures (D1 said if you weren’t around then you were not going to be in the pictures). She also gave the schedule to her wedding planner and brides maids. Looking bak, we had pictures done very quickly without a lot of stress.
It’s been a couple of years since one of my kids got married. What are the current online sources for good but reasonable priced invitations?
DS and DIL used Minted for their invitations, save the dates and change the dates. I’m really traditional so had a hard time at first appreciating the current style of invitations, but have to admit they turned out very nice. I don’t know what they paid, but do know that invitations were not where they wanted to spend much of their budget. Unfortunately their first set of invitations were all stuffed and ready for the post office when they had to move the date 7 months out and reprint everything.
We used Reaves Engraving located in NC. Did it all by mail. Not as many options but very reasonable and will do regular printing or engraving or letter press. Especially good if you want very traditional styles although you can send in original artwork or calligraphy. They will send you a free sample pack with a variety of styles and paper.
My son and DIL had theirs done by someone on Etsy – just the .pdf , which they then had printed at a Kinkos. I realize this might not be everyone’s idea of appropriate, but they didn’t want to spend a bunch on paper goods that just get tossed. Invitations were beautiful.
I did my niece’s at Walgreens. Low budget, did it on 50% off days. Ready in 2 hours. She loved them!
I actually used the same invite for both the postponed wedding and the upcoming August date. She said it was her favorite, with her favorite picture, so I just changed the date.
We used a local vendor for both the invitations and the (machine) calligraphy – trying to support small businesses in the area that were hurt by the pandemic. The invitations were very traditional and they did a lovely job.
We used Shutterfly. When I got married you got engraved invitations and used Crane paper, but those days are gone. Who cares.
It was a small wedding and we were able to find a very attractive design for the invitations and inserts. I ordered some extras, i.e. lining for the envelopes. The Invitations were lovely and we were pleased. We had an invitation and an insert with details. No RSVP card because RSVPs were electronic (wedding website) or by phone. The RSVP website URL was included on the details card.
Trying to hint to son and FDIL that the $$ they are planning to spend on a large wedding would be better spent on a down payment on a house. But not my money…so
Same here, @TatinG . Son married in a small outdoor ceremony last October. We( and other immediate family) saw the wedding only via zoom. They are following through with a bigger ceremony next May, at a very expensive property for about 120 people. We are still planning to give them some money , that will more than cover the rehearsal dinner cost, but they will be paying for a lot of it themselves.
I had hinted earlier that we were just glad to have at least seen them marry on zoom and maybe they could just do a party with family and friends down the line . But they want the whole traditional ceremony and reception. “But not my money…” either and I’m certainly glad of that!
Friends’ S is getting married this year (postponed from last year). Haven’t met the bride. Friend is co-hosting a bridal shower and I’ve been invited. The registry does not have too many items at all, nothing specific to just the bride. I was thinking of a gift card - any suggestions as to what stores might work best? Or any other suggestions for a bridal shower gift?