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Savvy June 2020

Small ceremony and later reception etiquette (covid-19 postponements)

Christina, on March 26, 2020 at 9:17 PM Posted in Planning 2 7
Hi all! I know we’re all stressed about the virus situation and the affect it’s having on our weddings. We have a backup plan for our June 6th wedding. I really hope we still get to have the wedding we’ve planned for. Unfortunately, my fiancé’s brother and his family in New York are pretty certain things aren’t going to clear up in time and they obviously wouldn’t be comfortable coming with things staying as bad (or getting worse) as they already are. I don’t blame them, especially since they will be traveling with three young kids.


Anyway, whether or not we have our full wedding depends upon whether they can and if the vendors will still come. We’re giving it until mid-April to decide what to do. If we can’t have our wedding, we plan to have a small ceremony with immediate other family and friends on our original date, then a ceremony either in the fall (hopefully) or 1 year after for a vow renewal.
My question is...what is the etiquette of wearing your dress?! I want to wear my dress at our small ceremony because that’s when we’re getting married and the ceremony/actual marriage is more important to me than the party. However, I also want to get to show it off for as long as I can (ha). I love my dress and just want to wear it all day! 😆
Also, I’m only going to pay to have my hair and makeup done once, and again, I’d rather use that for the ceremony itself.
My thinking is I’ll just get a pretty, simpler dress for the reception/vow renewal and get all prettied up for the ceremony, even if that means I’m only showing it off for a little while and to a handful of people.
I know this is a first-world concern but really, I just love my dress so much and you only get to do this once. Lol.
What do you all think? What are your plans for those who are doing a small ceremony and later reception?

7 Comments

Latest activity by Christina, on April 4, 2020 at 12:52 PM
  • T
    Super April 2021
    Tiger Bride ·
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    Normally I'm not a fan of delayed receptions (as in, elope now, ceremony later) but given the circumstances, I think you're entitled to do whatever you want! You've been through enough! Wear the dress twice if you want. I know I'm going to want to keep mine on forever!
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  • L
    Super October 2020
    Leslie ·
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    I’d wear the dress as much as possible. But do what your most comfortable with.

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  • Mandi
    Master October 2020
    Mandi ·
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    We are having a "document signing" elopement.


    We will be having a wedding ceremony and reception in October.
    Ive decided not to wear my wedding dress til October.
    • Reply
  • Glacier
    Dedicated June 2020
    Glacier ·
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    You are my wedding planning twin! I’m getting married on June 27th. What you are planning to do is just about identical to our plan b as well! I’m wearing my wedding dress on the 27th and a pretty, simple dress for the celebration (whenever that maybe).
    • Reply
  • Laura
    Champion June 2010
    Laura ·
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    Hi Christina! If you want to wear your wedding dress to both, you absolutely should! Wear it proudly and don't give it another thought! Smiley heart

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  • M
    Just Said Yes June 2020
    Mary ·
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    Hi! We are date twins AND back up plan twins. I am having the same thoughts as you. Only I feel kind of silly getting all dolled up for the ceremony (there will only be about 10-12 people there). I want to wear my dress to the ceremony but I feel the same as you! I’ve kept it an absolute secret, only my mom and sister have seen it, and I was looking forward to showing it off! I know that’s not the most important thing ever, but it was important to me. My thought is I’ll wear it to the ceremony and then just wait and see how I feel about wearing it to the delayed reception.


    My concern with postponing the reception is that life will get in the way. You know? My FH and I will be moving 1,000 miles away directly following the wedding so any delayed reception would have to involve us traveling back to town.
    Whew... all this uncertainty 😅
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  • C
    Savvy June 2020
    Christina ·
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    I say wear your dress to both! I think I’m going to. Given the circumstances, it’s not that strange since we’re not getting to have the wedding we planned for. My fiancé put it well last night: if we got to have our big wedding and then still had a vow renewal, and I wore the dress to both in that situation, it might be weird. But people will understand with everything going on. And other brides have made the point that people will WANT to see us in our dresses, especially the ladies!


    You can always wait and see what you want to do for the postponed reception since you will be moving. We’ve picked a date next June and already moved all our vendors. I’m trying to decide if I should let guests know the new date, or wait to announce it closer to the event. It’s set in stone, but waiting until closer, just like with a normal wedding, might be better.
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