Wedding date also grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary
Very sticky, complicated family situation. My niece wants a tiny wedding on the day of her grandparents (my parents) 50th wedding anniversary. She does not want to invite her father (my brother). I will be giving the wedding, and had planned to have a party for my parents. I would like to make the estrangement of the family as discreet as possible.
My current thinking is to have a tiny wedding with a tiny wedding dinner (without her father) and than a BIG wedding/anniversary reception of finger foods, cake, and coffee service with her father.)
The bride and groom are underage so they cannot drink alcohol. The grandparents and most of their friends do not drink alcohol. The grandparents and their friends are in their 80s - so they will have no interest in dancing or staying out late or eating a substantial amount of food. They will mostly be interested in talking and catching up. I am expecting a big turn-out as I started planning my parents event (in secret) over a year ago. I am thinking my niece and her new husband will stay only for the first hour or so - and then it will be mostly about my parents for another 2 hours or so.
I am trying to come up with wording that will be clear that this is not a meal or a drinking event or will go long into the night - and include both significant events.
My parents friends coming from long distances will also be part of a smaller luncheon the next day hosted by me.
So this is what I am thinking of sending:
Please join our family at an evening celebration honoring
the wedding of X & X and the 50th wedding anniversary of X & X
on September 24, 2010 at 7:30 PM location
Any better ideas???? Thank you for any suggestions.
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
Post #2 of 2
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Re: Wedding date also grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary
[In reply to]
Dear Susan,
These two events shouldn't be combined. Guests may be confused as well, thinking that they are invited to a wedding reception that is combined with an anniversary party only to give two gifts--one for the young couple and one for the anniversary couple (even though neither are gift giving events, per se). Even though it is not a mandatory gift giving situation, many do give gifts for the reception and a bench mark anniversary. It would be best not to combine the parties and just keep this one an anniversary party.
It would also be best to host this large anniversary party earlier in the day when guests would not expect a meal. As good hosts we always serve what our guests would expect to be served at that time of day no matter their age.
Wedding date also grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary
