Wedding When to announce AHR?

[FoxyBride]

We are getting married in Vegas in May 09 because that''s where we live and we both think it would be very cool, however, we are both from the Midwest and I''m sure a good percentage of our families won''t be able to come so we are having a AHR in my hometown for those who can''t make it. My question is, when do we tell everyone this? My FI is afraid that people will use that as an excuse not to come to the actual wedding since "Oh we can just go to the AHR." I for one, think that''s very questionable logic to say the least and am pretty sure those people wouldn''t have come either way. However, I want to be sure we don''t do it to early just in case there are a few people who think like that.

What do you guys think?

 

[marchswallowbird]

I think you should not try to predict/assume/second-guess how other people will act, and just be upfront and straightforward about all of your plans. Why play games? For those who honestly cannot make your wedding, it will be nice for them to know they will not miss out completely because you will be having another reception.

 

[musey]

Actually, we sent our hometown reception invitations close to the same time as our wedding invitations, largely so that people could say, "Oh we can just go to the hometown reception."

We didn''t want to make people think that the only time they''d have to celebrate with us would be out here, which would require a significant amount of money for plane flights and hotel reservations. If we were planning to have a hometown reception anyway, that wouldn''t be fair.

The people who want to be at the actual wedding will be there regardless. You may have a few people go to the hometown reception instead, for financial or scheduling reasons... but isn''t that a good thing, and sort of the point? To save them the financial hardship of traveling?

 

[FoxyBride]

Thanks for the advice ladies. Part of the reason we chose a DW in Vegas in that the FI has TONS of friends. Literally. I always call him a "local celebrity" because while he''s not a celeb, I swear he knows everyone on the planet. He''s in a fraternity and he''s one of those people that if we just go out to dinner, or even just to WalMart, he can barely get in the door before people are shaking his hand. His friends are known to treat weddings like any other party and will pop in unannounced to "kick it." Imagine trying to keep a head count like that. Fortunately they won''t be able to do that with Vegas.

Any family that has financial trouble coming and that is close to me, I am paying for their ticket to make sure they are there.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Foxy, when you''re having a DW, it''s pretty safe to assume that many people wont attend due to various personal reasons, which may not apply if you were hosting a wedding at home. So announcing that you''re having an AHR will at least let them know they wont missing your big event all together. If I were you, I would include a two RSVP card in your wedding invite...one for LV and one for your AHR.