BBQ at a Park -- What do you think?

ksndrcn

I'm new here so first, hello and congratulations to all the brides.

We're having our ceremony and a dinner at an art gallery on Sunday night, but it will mostly be for our immediate family and a few friends.

The following Saturday, we're thinking of having a low-key BBQ reception for all the rest of the family.  I wish I could include everyone at the gallery but extended family etc. is just way too big.  Does this sound like a bad idea?  We had our engagement pics at Freestone Park so we were thinking of having the BBQ there. Have any of you been to a wedding or party there before?  I don't want it to be tacky or like a birthday party, but I think having something casual could be really fun.   It'll be in the Spring so maybe the weather will cooperate with us.

Thanks for reading!

alschmid

Sounds like a nice idea to me

I don't really know much about Freestone Park though - although I am running a race around there in another week. 

One thing you might need to check with Gilbert about is how far in advance you can reserve the park pavillions etc for - can probably find the information online.

ksndrcn

I already reserved a space there just in case... I think it was around 40 bucks for several hours.  We have the option of cancelling without losing money.  I was talking to my mom today and she didn't seem to like the idea very much; I think she thought it didn't really sound much like a wedding reception.  But I guess what really matters is what my fiance and I want and can afford.

Good luck with your race, alschmid.

nycegrrl99

I actually attended a wedding and reception there last spring. They had the ceremony in the ampetheatre area beside the lake and the reception in the large paviliion. It was draped in tulle and covered in twinkle lights...it felt like a really large gazebo. The grounds are beautiful! The bride and groom got everyone tickets for the carnival rides and the little train...way more fun than a photo booth! There was a Dj & dancing too. I thought it was a fantasitc party! (and very wedding reception-ish rather than birthday party-ish)

ksndrcn

Thanks for your post, nycegrrl99.  That's good to know.  I like the idea of giving out tickets to the rides and train... were there a lot of kids there? Were the adults able to enjoy the rides too?
 
Twinkle lights by the lake must have been beautiful... I thought about having it in the ampitheatre area at first but then we ended up reserving a hilltop in some trees next to the lake. It has two picnic tables there and a grill so we'd have to bring in some tables and chairs.  We were thinking of doing a day-time picnic theme in red and maybe yellow, but now I can't decide.  I sort of like the idea of glowing lights and luminarias along a path. 

What time of day did they have theirs?  How was the weather there in Spring?

I booked it for 2 - 6pm at the end of March, but I can change that.

Thanks for all the advice and feedback!

drcrittenden

I had a rehearsal party in the park for my wedding this past Thursday afternoon. We had it at Fountain Park in Fountain Hills, and it was absolutely gorgeous. We bought some pizza and wings, soda, and some beer, and hung out for a few hours. Everyone was really relaxed, and I felt like people had more fun at my wedding because they were able to really mingle the day before. I have been to fancy rehearsal dinners, and it was truly not as fun. Besides, after the rehearsal I was feeling really nervous and anxious, so it was so nice to not have to entertain people right afterwards. Good luck!!