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Victorian Bride
Master April 2023

Reception Dilemma! Opinions greatly appreciated! ❤

Victorian Bride, on October 28, 2021 at 10:01 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 1 23
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Ok, here is the scenario.
We are eloping and our actual wedding will be several months prior to our reception. Our closest guests are 3-6 hours away. The majority live more than 16 hours away or are out of the Country. Most will travel (plane, train, auto) and need to spend several days, or more. We have made an extensive THINGS TO DO LIST on our website in case anyone wishes to turn their trip into a vacation. New Orleans, Louisiana is not very far away (approximately 6 hours) as well as other prime areas for guests to visit.

Here is the main dilemma. We had thought to schedule a Sunday, Black Tie, optional, reception from 6pm- 11pm with a Welcome Party Saturday evening from 5pm until 8pm. Our preferred date is Sunday, October 30, 2022 with a Cinderella/ Masked Ball theme since right before Halloween. I'm, also, originally from South Louisiana and Masked Balls have been a large part of my life. Our venue is French Quarter themed and gorgeous. Guests will range in age from 20's-80's. So if you had to travel this scenario to our reception would you prefer(A) Sunday evening with Welcome Gathering on Saturday night or ( B) Friday evening and a Welcome Gathering on Thursday night. Thank you all so very much in advance!!
Reception Dilemma! Opinions greatly appreciated! ❤ 1



23 Comments

Latest activity by Victorian Bride, on November 13, 2021 at 3:25 PM
  • C
    Super July 2020
    Cool ·
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    I would much prefer to attend a Friday wedding over Monday. It’s the difference of keeping travel in one work week rather than being split between 2 weeks.
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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Thank you! And you'd not have an issue attending a Welcome Party on a Thursday evening?
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  • Cece
    Rockstar October 2023
    Cece ·
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    I would say for us neither option is ideal, as both require taking off work. Between the two options, we would be more likely to attend the Friday evening reception (assuming we could drive there), and would just skip the Thursday evening welcome dinner. I think for most people the ideal situation would be a Friday evening welcome dinner, and a Saturday evening reception.
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  • Cece
    Rockstar October 2023
    Cece ·
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    Also, if we had to fly for the event, we would probably prefer the Sunday evening reception, that way only one day of work would be missed (Monday). We would likely only do this for an extremely close family member or friend though.
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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Yes, our guests will need to take off work since everyone is relatively far away. Unfortunately, the Friday evening/Saturday option is not available. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it.
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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Most guests are very close friends or family. So you change your vote to Sunday? That is very helpful. Thanks Cece!!
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  • Cece
    Rockstar October 2023
    Cece ·
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    I guess my vote would be contingent then LOL It just would really depend on whether the venue was drivable for us, or if we were forced to fly. If it was drivable, we would definitely prefer a Friday. If we had to fly, then Sunday would work better. I think it is going to depend a lot on your guests’ circumstances (I.e., whether they have to drive/fly, what their work schedules are like, would they have to takeoff work, and if so how many days; how many days would they have to pay for a hotel room, etc.) If you are unable to do a Friday night welcome dinner and Saturday night reception, the best thing to do would probably be to poll your guests to see which day works best for the majority of them (or for the majority of your VIPs).

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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Great minds think alike as a dear friend suggested the same thing. Poll my VIP's. We want to be careful because we want our wedding announcement to be a huge surprise. So I must be careful on whom I poll. LOL!
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  • C
    Super July 2020
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    It would really depend on my closeness with the couple along with my available PTO. If I were able to fly in on Friday, I’d probably just do that. Would really depend. I definitely would rather travel back home on a Saturday/Sunday than a Monday I know that for sure.
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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Thank you. Great information.
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  • A
    Expert September 2022
    Allie ·
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    First of all, your plan sounds AMAZING and so much fun!!! I would actually prefer (A) Sunday evening with Welcome Gathering on Saturday night. That way, if I have the availability to hit up New Orleans on the way there, I can...or I can finish the work week, pack up my things, and fly in on Saturday. Then I would fly home on Monday, and I would only have to take off one day from work. Sure, it'd be a little rushed flying home on a Monday and going back to work Tuesday, but if I had Friday night to do my weekend chores and stuff, it wouldn't be a big deal. Wishing you the best of luck in your planning process and in your elopement and subsequent celebration!!!

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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Thank you, Allie! You are thinking like we are thinking. I'll wait and see if that is the minority, but what you wrote was our thought process. Most of our guests do not know each other, hence the Welcome Gathering on Saturday night (we live in a beautifu, quaint town where the movie A TIME TO KILL was filmed). No one is rushed to get ready for a formal affair on Sunday evening. Where we live is rich in cultural history. Memphis, TN is close ( 3 hrs) for the Peabody Hotel, Graceland and more, Nashville is 6 hrs away, Tupelo, Ms where Elvis was born, Louisiana and Mississippi are both rich in blues & jazz music, Vicksburg has a National Military Museum, Natchez is just very romantic, and what can I say about my home area of South Louisiana? Someone may choose to spend a week in New Orleans. I guess I'm prejudiced over the vacation opportunities down South. ha ha And we love our date of October 30th for a masked affair. Thanks, again! ❤
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  • Bird
    Super June 2021
    Bird ·
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    I think attractions that are 3-6 hours away will probably not be an option for some guests. That sounds like a lot of traveling to do after already traveling 3-6-16 hours to get to your wedding. I get the sentiment but I would try not to think about what guests might do to lengthen their stay in the area. Instead I would just focus on your wedding, if people decide to make a week or 2 long trip out of it that is out of your hands. I just don’t know how many would do that based on the distance of everything.
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    Can you also include activities to do within an hour of your wedding venue on to your wedding website?—- My vote would be arrive Saturday for welcome party, wedding Sunday evening.
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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Thank you so much for your reply. Yes, I have at least 25-40 things for people to do between 15 minutes and 1 hour away. I've really done tons of research and included most places of interest. Thankfully, we live in an area where there is much for visitors to do nearby.


    Thank you for your vote of arriving Saturday for the Welcome Gathering and our Sunday Wedding Reception. I appreciate your answer.
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  • Jacks
    Rockstar November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    I think polling your guests is a good idea, but I see it's going to be a surprise. I'd opt for Sunday, I think.

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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    So far, Sunday is the winning ticket. I've asked a few of my guests that sort of knew, but, yes, we want to surprise as many people as possible with our announcements. Anyway, the few people I asked had no issue with the Saturday/Sunday idea.
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  • J
    January 1895
    Jessa ·
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    I would prefer Friday / Saturday but would probably only attend Saturday.

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  • Pirate & 60s Bride
    Legend March 2017
    Pirate & 60s Bride ·
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    Hello Lovely Victorian Bride! This sounds fabulous. I would ask a few of your VIPs. Due to work, I would choose Friday (and skip the Thur welcome dinner). But if retired, the Sat/Sun combo sounds fun.
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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Hi Jessa! You mean the Thursday gathering w/ Friday Reception? Or did your mean the Saturday gathering and Sunday reception? Saturday night is not available for our reception. Thank you!! ❤
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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Thank you my voice of reason!! ❤ I always appreciate your fabulous advice. Time will tell. Everyone chiming in is helpful. xx
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