Help with party after elopement please!

If you just wnat to have it in your garden and have it more as a "garden party", do that, you can still get outside caterers in. When I started looking you can get BBQ chefs that will come and cook it all, I know this may not be in your area, but just so you have an idea of what I am on about

https://bbq4u.com/BBQ.html

Again, if you want it at home, stick your ipod on, or even the radio, get a few buckets fill it with some booze, ice and water and let everyone help themselves.

You can make it as big or small as you want. I'm sure there was something else I was going to put, but I can't remember what it was ? (ha, joys of sneaking on here when I'm in work and someone then asks me to do something).

If, you think it'll be too stressfull having it at home, speak to some local places and see if they can sort it all for you and take some of the stress out it for you.

Hope some of that helped ?

I think that's a great idea, a party at home (I'd go with the 60 rather than the 120 based on what you'd said you and OH want) get caterers in, budget for a cleaning company to come the next day, you could even hire in a mobile cocktail bar or something .. bouncy castle if there's kids, camp dire at night, live music?

BUT ... We're having a garden do and have gone abroad for the weather, couldn't bare the thought of organising an outdoor wedding here and getting rained on... so there's that!

We went to a wedding recently which was in a village hall which had a massive field out back, they had planned the whole thing outdoors (lawn games etc) but it chucked it down so then they had the hall to fall back on. Still a lovely wedding, very twee!

If you don't like hosting parties then I would say don't have it at home. That is a lot of people and even with outside caterers there would still be a lot of work prepping and organising - eg do you have enough chairs? Crockery/cutlery? What happens if it rains? Plus I think there is something about having people in your home that makes you feel even more 'on show' so it can make things more stressful. And you can't leave!

If we were doing this I think we would find a nice pub with a conservatory/dining room/garden and have a buffet or picnic style lunch or BBQ.

Ah awsf! I feel your pain! We're in a similar position, marrying abroad and planning a family get together when we return.

Arranging the wedding has been sooo simple, stress-free, and more importantly fun! The after-party is turning into a nightmare! Everyone has a different opinion and no-one's afraid to tell us when they don't like something! It's exactly what we were trying to avoid by going abroad!!

No advice, but I feel your pain!

We're gonna be doing the same thing but I've decided not to arrange the party until after we get married - partly for reasons of money, but also just cos I just wanna deal with one thing at a time. I have had a browse online at venues but that's it really. I did look at a vintage style cafe that could be hired out for an afternoon tea type event, so that would be another option for a daytime do.

All good points. We are not big fans of being hosts so we are having our wedding party at a venue and they are providing food. For us having it at home would have been a lot of hassle and would have impacted on our enjoyment and relaxation.

I am getting married abroad, booked an evening reception in a hotel for when we come home and having a buffet, sweetie cart. I wouldn't have one at home though, I have slight OCD though and I couldn't cope with the mess! It's so exciting to wear your dress twice and you will know when you have found the right venue as you won't have to think twice about it x

My mouse is being RUBBISH, which is really frustrating me, as it keeps zooming in an out on the screen.

this could have been written by me.... when my mouse is behaving itself, I'm going to read through this properly.

We are planning a hog roast in my parents garden but are worried about weather etc. if its rubbish the house isn't big enough to fit 120 people in... Dilemma's dilemma's

X!

Ok- with my former wedding journo hat on and drawing on experience of a chum, here's my two cents:

OH doesn't want evening, you're not keen on hosting. i reckon find a pub or hall somewhere with outside space. if it's a hall, allocate clearer-uppers, if it's in a pub, theoretically this will be done for you.

as for timings- host from 2/3pm until 8pm. it's a decent amount of time to celebrate but it doesn't end too late for your OH. plus you can book yourselves into a snazzy hotel and actually have enough time to enjoy it there! order champers and strawberries to the room and unwind together in the tub

Hire caterers and do a BBQ- i hate BBQ food personally, but aside from myself i know very few people who don't like it, then boom there's your food done and caterers should clear the mess away from that.

OH doesn't want a disco but will you get away with an mp3 as background music?

now to the part where i mentioned my friends- they married in a village hall (humanist ceremony following the legal bit) and they held a summer fete in the ground of the hall!!! bouncy castle, coconut shy- that kinda thing. they only had 4 children there but EVERYONE got involved! if you have just a couple of things to entertain people, they won't miss having a boogie at all. in fact they'll likely enjoy it all the more!

make it CLEAR that this event finishes at 8pm and have a big exit. have people shower you with confetti as you rush together to a waiting exec car to take you to your swanky hotel

as for lacking formalities- do a mini welcome speech just to thank people for coming and then cut a cake or if you're not having cake get hubster (as he will be by then hehe) to flip the first burger on the bbq- something to let people know the day has truly begun.

and instead of a 1st dance, a 1st bounce perhaps? could make for some excellent piccies for guests to take haha

best of luck my lovely xxx