Welcome Party Etiquette

We're having a destination wedding and doing the same thing the night before in the hotel bar. It's on our website, but I think as long as you don't say "hosted by" people won't assume you're paying for it. I can grab you our specific wording if you'd like!

Thanks @Mrs. LMac - I should have mentioned that our guest list is around 150 and as I did mention, most are out of town! I will check in with some local bars about doing something like a cocktail hour and see what we can swing.

@Mary - would love to hear your wording!

We are having a bonfire on the beach for a lot of the guests. We will be doing smores and serving coffee and hot chocolate.

Most of my guest list is out of town. There is no way we can afford the wedding, a rehearsal dinner, and a welcome party. We will be letting people know on our wedding website or through a "schedule of events" handed out in small welcome bags that we will be hanging out at a certain bar/restaurant for the night and to come meet us there.

It's not really a welcome party unless you are hosting. You certainly don't have to, and I'm sure many of your guests have been to many weddings that they had to travel with the first event being the wedding. Pass by word of mouth if you want to have a meet up that you aren't hosting. Anything on the website makes it too easy for guests to misinterpret as something you are hosting. You can certainly do a short cocktail hour at a nonmeal time if there is the budget for it and that could go on the website if you are hosting.

All of my out of town guests will be invited to the rehearsal dinner. Then I think we'll probably go to a bar afterwards and anyone else who wants to is welcome to come