Wedding Customs & Traditions Forum

help planning

My fiance's entire family as well as some of my family is in Greece.  We met here I was born here most of my family and friends are here.  Bottom line, we have a lot of people here and a lot of people there.  We decided to have a wedding there since we will be living here.  I want to do this for him and his family since we do not get to see them as often as we would like.  Also, I think for those who will be able to make the trip that it will be a great memory and experience.
I still need to host something for the people here who will not be able to make the trip.  I was thinking of having a shower before the wedding, which is something that my mother and I would have to plan since I am not having a bridal party.  I know that majority of the guests and their families will not be able to make the wedding in Greece.  Is this bad form?  Should we not do a shower and just have a party when we return from Greece?  I am going to send out save the dates and was planning on sending invitations to everyone and see who comes and when we come back send wedding announcements and invitation to a party after but how would I word that?  I'm lost...if anyone has any suggestions...I can use some fair guidance.       

Re: help planning

  • As long as everyone is invited to the wedding, that is fine. Everyone invited to pre-wedding parties needs to be invited to the wedding (even if you know they can't come, you still send the formal invite).

    However you can't host the shower (But if someone else will host it for you, that is fine) My only suggestion is maybe do an engagement party (instead of or in addition to the shower) here and then the wedding over there. Someone else would also need to host the engagement party.

    Planning Bio
    Married 9/15/11

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    *This is Not Legal Advice*
  • You cannot host your own shower and you cannot ask someone to throw it for you.  A shower is a gift that someone chooses to give you.  

    I would recommend an "at home reception" or a party after the wedding for the guests that were invited but did not make the trip to Greece.  This is pretty common when people do destination weddings and many of the guests decline.  I would word the announcement/invitation like:  "So and so have the honor of annoucincing that Bride and Groom were united in marriage on January 1, 2012 in Athens, Greece.  Please join us to welcome them home and celebrate their marriage on January 2, blah blah.."  

    But really, I think I'd be more inclined to put the US party details on an insert card with the wedding invitation.  
  • Your mother could host the shower for you, given your situation. 

    If most of your family/friends will come to Greece for the actual wedding, I wouldn't worry about having a second US reception. That's always an option though. 
  • I would have the wedding and reception there, and once you come back you can have a fancier party for everyone who couldnt attend.  You can wear a cute little white dress and decorate how you want. 
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