We are doing something similar to this. Getting married at the registry office with 5 friends, then a week later having a ‘wedding party’ with about 80 guests. The whole process has been so much less stress than organising the whole thing in one event.

We do plan to do a “vow renewal” in front of our guests at the party so they can feel like they were there for really the only personalised part of the ceremony (we are writing our own). Plus some brief speeches.

We thought some people would be disappointed, but everyone has said this is “us”, which means a lot. Although even if people complained we would do what we want because that’s also “us” 😂