[luv2teech7]

Though I have a feeling I already know your answer, I'm confused after reading through your forums. (Or perhaps just disappointed that your answer won't be what I want it to be!)

My fiancee and I are having a very small (no wedding party) wedding in Florida with immediate family only. We're having only 16 people, 5 are children. We will have a reception in MA for people we would have invited if we had a wedding at home. I have been planning on wearing an informal, small train or no train dress to both, but after looking through your postings, I'm afraid I should not wear it to the at-home reception. Let me just say this---my parents are rather traditional. This is my first wedding, by my fiancee's second. My father is hoping that we will do all that would normally have been done if I were willing to get married at home. After reading through your site, I realize we shouldn't do a first dance or cake cutting. Can I wear my wedding dress at the at-home reception if it's not a formal gown, or do I have to wear something entirely different? Also, what should my fiancee and our families wear?

[Wedding Queen and MOG]

I don't think there's an issue here. Both you and the groom can wear your wedding clothes to the reception. I think that your confusion lies in the formaility of the event and, since you haven't told us much about the reception, such as time of day, it akes it more difficult to suggest appropriate attire.

[luv2teech7]

So sorry not to include those details. The reception starts at 7 PM, though it will be rather informal in terms of the venue and decor. I'm a rather plain person and not at all into this wedding planning thing! I'm giving my MIL the job of doing the favors because she wants to do traditional Italian stuff. My mom will take care of flowers. Other than that, I have a DJ and MC. It will be about 160-175 people, predominantly good friends and family. We're both very adamant that we not have any people my fiance and I have never met....it will be a seated dinner with a cake, though I don't want to do an official cutting of the cake. My Dad wants to do the traditional first dance. We won't be doing a garter or bouquet toss. I have no bridal party or even MOH and Best Man. Because this is his 2nd wedding and coincides with my 40th birthday, we're just not big into the stuff the younger crowd tend to do....

[Etiquette Now]

As long as your reception is fairly close to the date of your wedding, it might not appear too odd for you to wear your wedding attire. This is a gray area of etiquette and event planning. We just have to consider what our guests would expect and what they just might find odd since the reception isn't immediately following the wedding. So, just use your best judgment here.