Receptions after a destination wedding?

[chickflick]

We''re getting married on a cruise ship in August and while it''s not technically a destination wedding since the ship will be in Galveston (1.5 hours away) we are limited to only fifty guests. My SIL and several friends have all asked if they could do something like a shower, but I was thinking that instead perhaps we could have a casual reception after the wedding and invite some of the people that we can''t invite to the wedding. It will probably be VERY casual, like in a gazebo in a park, but most of my friends have small children and I want it to be very family and kid-friendly.

So my question is, how long after the wedding should you have such an event? We''re getting married on August 6th so I''d like to wait until it''s a little cooler, which in Houston is October at least. Would the first week or so of October be too long to wait? And would it just be more of a wedding "celebration" than a reception?

I absolutely hate asking people to do things for me, but since these friends have offered (and since I helped with showers etc. for all of them!) is it OK if I ask one person to bring soft drinks, others to bring a dish each, and have it a bit potluck style - not asking guests to bring anything, just those that have offered to do something?

I know this isn''t everyone''s cup of tea but honestly, just a good ol'' family picnic would make us happier than a reception in the finest hotel.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[Selkie]

We are doing the same thing. Ours isn''t really a destination wedding, but it will be on the opposite side of the country from where we and half of our friends live. It will also be small, about 50 people. So we''ve decided to have an informal reception here in SoCal as well, for those whom we are unable to invite to the Mass. wedding. The wedding is July 28, 2007, and we will probably have the second reception at least a month after that. This way, we''ll have time to relax between the honeymoon, and to plan the party. We''ll either order a bunch of pizza, or do it potluck style, like you are considering. I don''t think there''s any problem with waiting for 2 months, and having been in Houston once in the summer, early October sounds great. I don''t think we are going to call it a reception, we''ll just word our invites with something like "Come help us celebrate our recent marriage," and make it obvious that it''s casual and we aren''t expecting gifts.

 

[amyg]

I think both of those sound great!!!! And I definitely think you should take people up on their offers to help!!! I have called in every favor owed to me during my wedding planning...I know I don''t offer to help unless I really mean it, so they will probably reallly enjoy being able to do something ofr you!!