When it comes to Wedding Planning (Destination Wedding or not), it can seem almost impossible to make everyone happy. Certainly when I chose to have a destination wedding, there were people who would have preferred that I didn’t. When I was considering having a local wedding, there were people who were also unhappy that I wanted a “cake and champagne” reception to save money instead of paying for a full dinner. And of course, there was an endless amount of people who I should invite but I knew I didn’t have the budget for.
This post was originally published in 2017 but has been updated in 2023.
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Basically what I am trying to say is, I know the pressure brides and grooms feel to make everyone happy. Trust me, I feel you! And as much as I would like to say that you won’t have anyone object to a destination wedding, I don’t want to lie to you. You may ruffle some feathers. But I just want to say, very clearly, that you are inviting them to participate in your wedding.
You are working for the next 6-18 months to make sure that they have a good time at your wedding, should they choose to attend. And then, are going to be chasing down RSVP’s and resisting the urge to cancel the whole thing and head to Mexico with only your new wife/husband. You are choosing a resort or destination that you feel the majority of your guests will love. I know that you are doing your best to throw and amazing wedding you love, but I know your guests are never off of your mind in any decision you make, and that itself tells me that you don’t need to feel any wedding guilt.
That being said, there are a few things to make it easier for your guests to RSVP YES! I know some of you are choosing a wedding abroad to cut down your guest list. That is OKAY too! Just do the opposite of what I am suggesting below.
I will leave you with one more thought that is a bit controversial. First, let me add a disclaimer that I don’t think it is right to pressure your guests to attend. That’s not my intention. It is merely an invitation that they can choose to say yes or no too. If you WANT to throw an ‘at home reception’, you can let your guests know that ahead of time. That is great! Good for You! Don’t feel pressured to host this event though!
In general, letting your guests know that you will be throwing an At Home Reception will decrease the amount of guest’s who will attend your Destination Wedding significantly. Whether that is what you want or not. If you are not sure if you will be throwing an at home reception when you get back, don’t offer it as an option to your guests unless you are okay with them thinking they will just stay home and wait for the party. Just my thoughts!
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October 27, 2023
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