Date moved up 8 months! Now I've got some decisions to make!

MariOthon

Hello all,

We were planning on getting married next September (this will be the second marriage for both of us). We've been living together for a year already and were going to wait a while to pay off some bills first and start fresh.
Now, however the plan is to get married by the end of this year to take advantage of any tax benefits and save him tons of money by adding him to my medical insurance.
So now I have lots of decisions to make pretty quickly. We are planning on a very private ceremony just the two of us probably on Dec. 18th.
We plan on throwing a party for our friends and family in January. We already found a place offering a great deal on the room rental because of the off-peak month, but now I'm wondering what else we need.
People won't be expecting place cards, and printed napkins, and stuff like that, will they? We will have a cake, and a band, and appetizers and the bar package. I know it's really up to us to do what WE want, but what will everyone expect?

AbbeyS2011

Your guests will expect to celebrate your marriage with you!  Since you are planning your reception a month after your ceremony, I would keep it casual and fun.  Have some good music, food and drink, and party til your purple!!! 

Honey, dont waste your time on fancy napkins, place cards and other wedding industry crap that will be stored away in your attic for years to come until you dust off the box and toss in on the garage sale table. 

MariOthon

That's what I was thinking but thought I would check.

I think maybe just some candles on the tables and we should be fine.

Thanks!

right1thistime

Centerpieces - even candles, are really overrated.  Most people want to have a great food, enjoy the company of those at the table, not feel cramped and to have fun. 

Put your money into food, drink, music and ambiance (the space, not the chair covers).  Invite the people who will whoop it up with you.  Mix and enjoy!

By the way, getting married did NOT save us money in taxes.  ~Donna

Muffin'sMom

Excellent food and drinks, good music, friends celebrating...that's the ticket.  Having a cake and champagne for a toast would be great.  It would give you the wedding celebration vibe. For me... I'd do tablecovers and candles.  There is nothing prettier than candlelight in the winter!  The other stuff is just money you could spend on something else...

Sue-n-Kevin

We will have a cake, and a band, and appetizers and the bar package. I know it's really up to us to do what WE want, but what will everyone expect?

They will expect to have a great time watching you and your fiance get married.

If you are asking what you can add to that, make the food top-notch, maybe invest in some pretty candles as the prior poster said, then enjoy the day/night!