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Hi. My soon to be husband and I have talked about our wedding ceremony since I am from New York and he is from Portland. We’re juggling the idea of two weddings in order to include family members that cannot afford to fly or don’t have the time to fly to the opposite side of the states to celebrate with us. Do you know of anyone that has had this type of situation? Any advice is appreciated!
Juyon
I have heard of people having their wedding ceremony and reception in one location (usually near the bride’s family or wherever the couple is living) and then a second reception in another town.
Yeah, we are doing something similar to what rincon07 describes. Our actual wedding ceremony, followed by a regular reception, upstate, and then a separate Chinese wedding banquet about a month later in NYC. We wanted to have the wedding upstate, but we also wanted to have a banquet (which would be impossible up there in the middle of nowhere) & it also seemed likely that at least some of our friends and family wouldn’t be able to come upstate for the ceremony anyway, so we are having the 2nd reception a month later. We won’t be having any sort of faux-ceremony at the reception, though, but I have heard of couples doing that (just make sure your officiant knows and is okay with that if you want to have a fake ceremony)
We’re doing the same thing. The wedding and reception will be in Alabama, and then we’ll have a follow-up reception out in California (where FI lives) after the honeymoon.
The wedding (i.e. time of beginning of marriage) should probably only happen once, but definately have 2 receptions if you’ve got the time.
Hi there 
I’m a Destination Wedding bride and this topic gets discussed a lot in the DW bride circles due to family struggles.
In my very personal opinion, having an additional reception is OK, but having an additional wedding is a little “iffy” and borderlining on bizarre.
We are in a similar situation, which is why we opted to have a DW. Instead of one or the other having to travel, we felt it was a safer bet to have everyone travel and make a vacation out of it. Then, we went out of our way to find something inexpensive & convinient for our friends and family (we ended up choosing a cruise and are getting married on the beach in port).
Hope this helps
We had a civil ceremony and reception in June where we live in PA - which is where all of my husbands family lives. We planned everything on short notice so only my dad was able to attend along with all of his family (18 total!). We had a “blessing” ceremony and 2nd reception in Mississippi this past weekend where the 70 members of my family could attend. I am thrilled that my marriage is now blessed by God and my family was able to witness it. It worked out well for everyone!
We’re thinking of doing 2 receptions too, but it’d be in the same city. Coincidentally, I’m from Portland if you need any help with venues here!
Hi,
I’m from NYC and my bf is from Seattle. We both live in Philly now. His parents proposed that we should have two weddings to make everyone happy; however, my parents suggest a “big” engagement party and have the wedding in Seattle to save time and money. We’ll have our wedding in Seattle, WA.
My aunt and uncle had that same problem. Bother were from different states. They ended up getting married in the bride’s home state and then having a second reception in the groom’s home state for everyone who couldn’t fly out for the wedding. They didn’t do two weddings. Just two receptions. It turned out fine, and I got to wear my jr.BM dress twice!
we’re both from ny and we’re planning a destination wedding. but since there are people our parents want to invite who most likely won’t be able to make it (church friends and co-workers), we’re having a reception at home when we come back.
I am getting married in my home state of Kentucky and having a reception with my FH’s family in LA. We’re going to have a party with friends where we live SF, but it’s going to be pretty laid back and small. I just didn’t feel comfortable asking all of his family to come that far, but I wanted them to feel included and important.
We’re having a family wedding and dinner in my hometown, and then throwing a big reception for friends where we live currently.
In Poland, my cousin had a civil ceremony and reception where they and their friends live, and then had a religious ceremony and a reception in the bride’s hometown.
I am from Puyallup, WA (hour from Seattle) and FI’s families are in Florida and California. If we could have afforded two weddings, by all means, he would have loved having a wedding in California. As it is, my parents are footing the bill and his family has vowed to make the trek–and are excited about an “excuse” to visit WA.
I am doing the same thing Miss Blueberry is!
I’m from HI and my fi is from NYC. We will be having a traditional wedding + luau style reception in Hawaii first, then we will have a tea ceremony + chinese reception in NYC about a month after.
I am having two weddings & one reception. A temple wedding w/ cake and a non-denominational w/ bridal party & dinner reception to follow. Both are 45 minutes for eachother. My problem is there are certain people I only want to invite to one but to only the other. And another couple dozen, I can’t invite at all. Its all so confusing!
I have the same problem, I want to have my wedding in my home town and do a reception for my fiance’s family and our friends here in town where we live but do I invite people to both locations? Some of my friends and family live here but would definitely fly back east for the wedding. It’s a strange situation. And is it that much more expensive?
I am having the same problem. My fiance is from Memphis. I am from Arizona. But together we live in Memphis. The only month we can have the wedding is November. In November it is cold in Memphis, and finding venues that are inside are impossible. And we cant have it in a church. So I would like the wedding in AZ. But… My fiances’ grandfather is ill and cant travel anywhere other then Memphis. Can I have a little courthouse ceremony in July which his grandfather can attend, then a larger one in AZ in November? Is this weird? Any other ideas?
Thanks!
Im having two weddings because I live in Michigan (just moved here) and my family and friends lives cali and they cant afford to fly here so my aunt afforded us her backyard to us for the seconded wedding. I just wanted a simple, fun and cheap (lol) wedding. Our first wedding is really for his family and friends. but Im having the hardiest time trying to find a place for my lil reception afterwards I would have reception there but I want music and dancing and cant do that there since its a resident neighborhood plus my uncle is a Rev..
I was married on the beach with my honey in a quickie little ceremony that I did not put much thought or money into. My family and most of my friends were unable to attend since we live in Hawaii. I would really love to have a second ceremony for us and the family. I want to wear a nice pretty dress and have it be our special day. This can’t be tacky can it?
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