Hello! My fiancé and I are planning a destination weeding in Barbados. I am from Brazil and he is American but his family is from Barbados. We also have a lot of friends here in NY that are probably not going to attend our wedding in Barbados. So, we are thinking about having a Pre-Wedding Party in NY especially because we will have to get married here prior to traveling to Barbados. Do we need to call this party a ceremony? My family is very important to me so I don’t want this party to be a “big thing” and have it all focused in our Barbados wedding. What is the appropriate kind of party we can have in NY and its etiquette? Thank you!
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on Jul 14, 2009, 1:49 PM)
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
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Re: Pre-Wedding Party for Destination Wedding
[In reply to]
Dear Agaud,
This is awkward because all prewedding parties need to be hosted very carefully because some are gift giving events. To host a prewedding party such as this, could appear to be a reception, which isn't proper. And, some could consider it a shower, which wouldn't be polite.
When a person must marry here for legal reasons before the "wedding" in another country, that "wedding" should be simply signing a piece of paper--no ceremony, no party. Guests to the wedding in another country should know that it isn't a real wedding, so they have the choice of attending or not. Plus, it isn't a gift giving event at that point.
It would be more appropriate to have just one ceremony and two receptions. If that is possible, that would be wonderful. But, the receptions should be held after the wedding
Pre-Wedding Party for Destination Wedding
