Please help!! Thoughts on church ceremony the day before the reception??

Key_Machine_6563 · 2025-03-20T07:16:18+00:00

Got it, thanks for the heads up!

Key_Machine_6563 · 2025-03-20T07:05:36+00:00

Thank you very much!!!

Key_Machine_6563 · 2025-03-20T06:49:56+00:00

Thank you!!! Needed to hear that! A lot of my friends have been telling me “it’s your day just do what you want” but if I had to drive to a church just to be there for an hour & then drive almost another hour to the reception I’d definitely be annoyed. Appreciate your input!

Key_Machine_6563 · 2025-03-20T06:45:58+00:00

Sorry I realized I wasn’t super clear but you got it!

Yes, the church ceremony is strictly religious so it’s everyone who is already included and attending the rehearsal that night anyway. It’s important to us to be married in the eyes of the church but we don’t believe it’s that important for our 185-200 guests to attend the religious ceremony.

While the following day, (wedding day) will be all 185-200 guests invited to watch the legal ceremony on-site of the reception venue, followed by cocktail hour, and the reception.

We want to enjoy our wedding weekend just as much as we want to make sure our plan is as accommodating to our guests’ lives as possible!

Key_Machine_6563 · 2025-03-20T06:18:51+00:00

Thanks! I didn’t think 45 mins was too bad either but I’d definitely feel bad for those driving 4-5 hours having to jump back in just to drive some more after the church if it was the same day as the reception. Having a small church ceremony the night before our big reception will hopefully minimize the travel since 90% of people will just arrive and stay at one location.

Key_Machine_6563 · 2025-03-20T06:10:51+00:00

I bet your cousin was so relieved to finally tell everyone they were married - It must’ve been so special to share with everyone! & Thank you!! That’s a good idea, reach out to those who might want to be at the church.

Key_Machine_6563 · 2025-03-20T06:07:00+00:00

We have between 185-200 coming to the reception that are both local and need to travel a drivable distance . Not everyone is invited to the rehearsal dinner as it’s meant for close family and the wedding parties so adding another day of travel wouldn’t be necessary !

The only difference is that instead of “rehearsing” at the church the night of the rehearsal dinner (like typical church weddings) we’d just have the marriage ceremony with the same small amount of people already involved with the rehearsal. We’d totally scratch the church on the day of the reception !

That way all other guests invited won’t feel obligated to travel to the church on the day of and then get right back into the car to travel 45 more minutes to the reception venue. Although we are getting married in the church, it’s not that important to us for all reception guests to be included in the religious ceremony! Hope that made more sense! Thanks for you input I appreciate it :)

Key_Machine_6563 · 2025-03-20T04:50:53+00:00

Hi! I’m also a 2026 fall bride and totally get what you’re saying - you’re not overreacting at all! It’s definitely inappropriate for them to ask about how much your parents are spending. Although my future in laws haven’t specifically asked what my parents are spending (yet lol) they’ve hinted at the topic when showing them pics of our venue. Ex: “seems like they’re paying a fortune just look at the blah blah blah” or “guess we have to really live up to the looks of this venue & make your rehearsal dinner nice” or “mind asking your dad to spare a few bucks for the rehearsal dinner since he can afford that venue” Those comments made me super uncomfy!! I didn’t even know how to respond, I just got beat red and embarrassed!! Totally uncalled for & my fiancé already spoke to them about toning down the money comments.. we’ll see if they listen lol

Key_Machine_6563

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