Camping out after reception?

Kornari

Hello all,

I am currently planning an outdoor wedding in the country, with the ceremony to be held on the prairie behind the high school FI and I graduated from (and where we began dating) and the reception to be held about 10 miles away at my grandparents' farm. I know that around half of my guests will be family who live fairly close, but many will also be coming from out of town and will need a place to stay. We grew up out in the middle of nowhere, and the closest town is a good half-hour drive, and we are planning a sunset wedding in the spring so the ceremony would start around 6:30 and the reception around 8:00 on a Saturday night.

My grandparents have a lot of land and I was wondering, would it be tacky to tell my out-of-town guests that they are free to bring a tent and camp out following the reception if they don't want to drive that far to a hotel? I know that not everyone will be willing to take that option, and of course we will look into the hotels in town for those that would rather not "rough it". I just didn't know if this would be tacky to suggest that my guests camp out at the reception?

Jen4948

Kornari said:

Hello all,

I am currently planning an outdoor wedding in the country, with the ceremony to be held on the prairie behind the high school FI and I graduated from (and where we began dating) and the reception to be held about 10 miles away at my grandparents' farm. I know that around half of my guests will be family who live fairly close, but many will also be coming from out of town and will need a place to stay. We grew up out in the middle of nowhere, and the closest town is a good half-hour drive, and we are planning a sunset wedding in the spring so the ceremony would start around 6:30 and the reception around 8:00 on a Saturday night.

My grandparents have a lot of land and I was wondering, would it be tacky to tell my out-of-town guests that they are free to bring a tent and camp out following the reception if they don't want to drive that far to a hotel? I know that not everyone will be willing to take that option, and of course we will look into the hotels in town for those that would rather not "rough it". I just didn't know if this would be tacky to suggest that my guests camp out at the reception?

Well, as a confirmed city slicker, and someone who has had bad camping experiences in the past, camping out is the last thing I want to do after a wedding reception-even one out on the plains.  I definitely wouldn't want to rough it, and my elderly relatives with back problems and arthritis certainly wouldn't either.

So if you do this, I would emphasize that it's optional and not suggest in any way that you have a preference between camping out and hotels by giving it more space in your invitation (insert), on your website, or any other communications with your guests.  Give all the options about the same about of coverage.

doeydo

Is your wedding really casual?

kmmssg

What would these people do for a bathroom?  Or lighting?  (yeah, I've camped but I'm usually setting that stuff up quite early in the day).  I doubt  your grandparents would want a bunch of hungover guests using their bathroom.  I'm not crazy about the idea.  Are there cab services available?

STARMOON44

I think it's fine to list as an option. For example:

A block of rooms has been reserved at Hotel in Town.
You are welcome to camp at the farm.

But only if you have proper facilities- they'll need bathrooms and showers.

But- I think you should scrap the sunset idea and move it all earlier. Ceremony at 4, reception immediately to follow. You can always dash out for a couple sunset pics, but "pretty" is a bad reason to inconvenience your guests.

Abbyjensen

I like the idea of camping so people don't have to worry about cabs or driving back to the hotel. As a (budget conscious) guest, I would use this option. However, I'm not sure how the best way to communicate this information is, and, as other posters said, there needs to be a restroom for the guests to use. 

itzMS

Not to mention, people have many different definitions of "camping". How do you know that guests won't be showing up with RVs, Fifth wheels, and Pop-up trailers and expecting your grandparents to run electric for them to plug into?

Do your grandparents really want people on their property overnight? Honestly?

I'd suggest just not offering this option.

Dreamergirl8812

Kornari Where will the bride and groom be sleeping?