Pre wedding reception

Quel38

My fiancé and I are getting married on the beach in October of 2014. We are having family members and a few close friends at the wedding.  About 15 people total.  As we are telling people our plans they are disappointed that we are not having a reception party here at home after the wedding.  I would love to have a summer/beach themed party after the wedding but I do not live in the climate to have a summer/beach themed party in October.  Would it be ok to have a summer/beach reception before the wedding instead of after?  I could then have the party in our area in late August.     

bethsmiles

My friend had a pre-wedding reception. It was weird, almost nobody came, and it didn't feel like we were celebrating their marriage because they weren't married.

Just ditch the theme and have an awesome party after you are married.

ShesSoCold

I don't know the actual etiquette on this, but I'd side-eye it a little and think it was odd. Even if it's not your intention, it would probably come across gift-grabby. 

Part of having a small wedding is that you have to forgo the big parties. 

manateehugger

This sounds so odd. You want to celebrate an event before it even happens? The oddness is not worth a "theme" in my opinion. Just have a lovely at home reception in October. 

zizibet

You really can't do this. Having it before the wedding makes it a pre-wedding party. The only people you should invite to any pre-wedding event are those invited to the wedding.
     Just have a party when you can and save the theme for next summer.

AddieCake

Ditto PPs. Just have a party to celebrate later. 

Xstatic3333

Agree with PPs about having a NWR party after. Also, I live in MA but have thrown many a tropical drink party in Jan. and Feb. Just sayin'.

allispain

Quel38 said:

My fiancé and I are getting married on the beach in October of 2014. We are having family members and a few close friends at the wedding.  About 15 people total.  As we are telling people our plans they are disappointed that we are not having a reception party here at home after the wedding.  I would love to have a summer/beach themed party after the wedding but I do not live in the climate to have a summer/beach themed party in October.  Would it be ok to have a summer/beach reception before the wedding instead of after?  I could then have the party in our area in late August.     

This seems very bizarre to me - I would feel weird celebrating someone's marriage before it even took place. I would probably think it was a bit AWish and gift grabby.

That being said - why does a celebration of your wedding have to take place during the summer with a beach theme? Is it just because you're getting married on a beach? I think you should have it after your wedding and just make it about the two of you and the fact that you are married. No need for themes - "wedding celebration" is already a theme. 

doeydo

I agree with PPs.  Go have your private ceremony and, if you want, have a party to celebrate your marriage afterwards.

misssunshine17

You can't celebrate your marriage if you're not married yet. 

Jen4948

If it's that important to you to have a private ceremony, then forget about the beach theme and throw the reception afterwards, not before.

harper0813

Just have a cookout or party at your house afterward. Not a reception. Just a party. It would be weird to have one beforehand...