You are hosting a wonderful destination wedding and everything is going as you dreamed. The guests have confirmed and they are all ready to travel to attend your wedding on the destination you and your fiancé(e) have chosen, no matter where that is. And it’s usually at this point that I pose one simple question to my couples: did you remember to thank your dear guests for embarking in this adventure with you? What about considering a welcome reception for your family and friends?
On this blog post you will find 5 ideas not only to welcome your guests at the destination but also to retribute their effort, in great style. A welcome reception is also the perfect way for the guests to break the initial ice. This way, it will be easier for them to fit in and they will definitely feel more comfortable with the other guests on the wedding day.
A welcome cocktail the evening before the wedding
An evening cocktail is not as formal as a dinner and not as informal as a brunch. It is possible that your guests will want to go dressed up for the occasion, and I suppose this is the idea. A bar of cocktails is always a nice way to start the evening and I usually suggest adding a jazz band or a singer to create a great ambiance.
A pre-wedding cocktail with drinks – Braedon Photography
An informal brunch with local products
You are thinking of something less formal and would prefer to reserve the evening before the wedding to have a good night of sleep. In this case a brunch the day before the wedding is ideal for you. It’s true that a lot of couples associate a brunch as an after-the-wedding reunion. I usually suggest that the wedding reception should be the last event of the destination wedding as guests are usually pretty tired the day before and chances are that not all of them will attend the brunch. For that reason, I would recommend a brunch the day before the wedding and not after. I think this is a very informal gathering which is perfect to get to know each other in a very relaxed way.
An informal brunch
A sophisticated rehearsal dinner
For some couples a rehearsal dinner is the right thing to do. It’s true that this is pretty cultural and it seems to be the norm for American couples but not necessarily for other nationalities. If you would like to give a special dinner only for a few members of your family and very close friends, the rehearsal dinner is the right welcome event for you. Usually as this celebration is pretty small and only for some special guests it is more appropriate to offer a more sophisticated seated dinner.
Rehearsal dinner
A day on a boat
In case your destination wedding is by the sea, how about a relaxing day on a boat or yacht? There’s nothing like a special day like this to spend with the most important friends and family. I usually suggest a boat trip with a very special stop for lunch in a local restaurant with authentic cuisine.
A day on a boat with your guests
How about a “chicnic” ?
If your destination wedding is in the countryside or in a vineyard, how about a more sophisticated picnic, also called “chicnic”? Think of a wooden table in the middle of a green landscape, with a gazebo with flowers and a breathtaking view. This is definitely the type of event your guests will remember for years to come!
Chicnic
The welcome event, for me, is as important as the wedding reception itself. I’m always very thoughtful of the guests especially when they come from afar to participate in a destination wedding. Bearing this in mind, how are you planning to welcome your guests?
I hope you have enjoyed my tips and I’m always happy to see you in my social media. You can follow my instagram and also sign up for my newsletter so you will never miss a post.