Is it ever appropriate to host an "open house" type of reception? My daughter is looking at having a reception at a park with a lodge and pavillion that can be rented. The problem is, it only holds about 60 people. Both sides of the family alone are large so that limits us. My question is, can you invite people to this kind of a reception? And if so, should they NOT be invited to the wedding? I am assuming etiquette suggests a FAMILY ONLY wedding and then it would be OK to invite others to this kind of a reception. Your ideas please?
You are in luck. Yes, to all of the above (almost). As long as your reception is informal, it could be just about any type of party. The guests do not have to be guests of the wedding. This is just a party to celebrate the couple's marriage.
The wedding doesn't have to be family only. The couple may want a few of their friends to be with them. This is not a problem.
The reception is not considered a gift giving event, but some may bring gifts anyway. So, it is best to have a safe place for them.
Re: [Et.byRebecca] Open House Reception
[In reply to]
Thank you Rebecca, however, I am a little confused
This "open house" would be right after (or shortly after) the wedding (on the same day) - not, let's say an open house after a destination or Las Vegas wedding. This would be the only reception. She also wants to have a DJ, but again, this type of reception would give the guests a chance to come and go as they please. However, we realize that it would be informal (given the location). Your advice again please? Thanks!
This is not a problem. Guests can come and go all day. The guests who attended the wedding would just be the first ones to arrive. The fact that she wants a DJ doesn't make this any more formal.
Just make sure that there is a steady stream of food. :) Rebecca Black, Etiquette Now
bdbmom
Post #5 of 13
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Re: [Et.byRebecca] Open House Reception
[In reply to]
Rebecca - your advice is great! I am so glad that I happened upon this website! If I could bother you once again for 2 questions Since we are in the very preliminary planning stages we are exploring all options!
We are trying to get away from the usual big sit down formal dinner idea -- my daughter and her finace are more casual people -- thus the question about the open house reception. My questions: (1) if we were to do this, (open house reception) would there be a more appropriate time slot (i.e., early afternoon vs. evening) or does the time matter?
Second question...again exploring options. What about just an appetizer/drink/dancing reception. Again, just a little more "casual" than the big sit down thing. If we were to do that, again, would there be a better time? If we went this way, we were thinking about 7:30 (or so) to 10:30 or 11 p.m. Thanks for all of your help!! Again, this site is great!
Typically the earlier in the day the more informal. This is not always the case, but is a 'rule of thumb'--not withstanding Catholic weddings that are usually formal :)
If you are not providing a meal, it is best to begin this (this is an open house with people coming and going) early. If you had the wedding around 1 pm and began the reception directly after (you could list 2 on the reception invitations), then no one would be expecting a meal. You could party all day. Of course this doesn't seem like a 'dancing' time of day.
If you began the reception after 7, you wouldn't have as much of a come and go atmosphere and may have too many guests at one time. There is nothing wrong with this though. Just make sure that your guests know that this is informal. I'm sure you don't want them showing up in tuxes. Rebecca Black, Etiquette Now
bdbmom
Post #7 of 13
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Re: [Et.byRebecca] Open House Reception
[In reply to]
Thanks Rebecca:
I guess I didn't make my second question more clear.
Option #1 would be an "open house" reception and I agree with you, it would be best to do this as an afternoon thing.
Option #2 that we are exploring would be just appetizer/drinks/dancing, HOWEVER, this would not be an "open house" reception, just the reception. I have been to a couple with just appetizers, etc. but wanted to know if this is appropriate. Again, should this be an afternoon thing or would this be OK to do at night? If we went this way, it would not be at the lodge/pavillion that I previusly mentioned, but at a restaurant/banquet facility. Just thinking of options at this point. Thanks
Both options are fine. The evening appetizer/drinks/dancing reception is completely acceptable. You definitely would want to do this after 7 so your guests don't expect a meal.
MY daughter is having a cocktail reception. The wedding is at 7:30PM and the invitation states cocktail reception following in the parish hall. I just did invitations for a friends second marriage and she is also having a cocktail reception for 400 people 9pm to 1am. She is getting married in a private ceremony early with just family. Here is the wording that I used for her invitations.
Thank you for the advice! You are lucky to be able to host a cocktail reception in your parish hall (unless you are meaning non-alcoholic.) Best of luck to your daughter in her upcoming marriage. That is my anniversary date (Sept. 17) and it will be 28 years this year!
We are Irish catholic and the groom is Guatemalan catholic. Needless to say big drinkers. That is why we are having the reception in the parish hall because they let you bring your own liquor. We are having allot of booze. frozen margarita, beer, wine and champagne.
Hello again. I previously saw your response to "dolphin110699" which answered the question that I was going to ask you regarding what you are serving at your daughter's cocktail reception. We, too, are exploring that option for my daughter. She does not want the big sit down thing and we thought that this would be a nice alternative. I see, however, that it may not be cheaper (of course it depends on where you live and how many are invited.) My question is: How are you going to handle the food at the reception? Is there going to be a "formal line" for the food - like what is traditionally done at a banquet hall? Or are you going to be more informal and keep the food out for xxxx amount of hours and let people wander around and eat? If so, is someone going to announce this? Hope this makes sense. Thanks for your input. Again, we are exploring lots of options at this point so it is good to see what other have done or are planning.
We are having six different stations around the room so people help themselves. The cake is going to be cut after the father/daughter dance so the people who aren't real party animals can go home. We are having the food put out as soon as the ceremony ends and for the following 3 hours. The DJ will announce that are welcome to help themself to some dinner as the wedding party have their pictures taken.
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on Jul 22, 2005, 6:33 AM)
Open House Reception
Since we are in the very preliminary planning stages we are exploring all options! 
