When to have at-home reception?

[mel55]

I am getting married in July am planning on having a reception at home for everyone who can't come to the wedding. I wanted to have it 3 weeks after we got back, but we are unable to do it that particular weekend. Do you think I should do it 2 weeks after or 4 weeks after? I feel like 4 weeks is too long after.. but 2 weeks is too short?

Suggestions?

[WebLady]

We had a little party 2 weeks after we got back from our honeymoon.

I don't see why you couldn't do it 4 weeks later if that is what worked best for you. If course typically a "reception" is right after, so this would be more of a wedding celebration party ;)

[Kfancii]

I think you can have it anytime! We eloped in May, and then had a big picnic reception in July. We invited 100 folks and had over 80 show up for hamburgers & hot dogs in the park. It was perfect!

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

Well, we got married in January and our AHR is July 11th! So I say whenever is convenient for you!! :) We were married in Mexico and live in Colorado, so we decided to wait till' the Summer! :)

[TA Lindsay]

I had my reception two weeks after we got home from Jamaica.

[2dBride]

We're having our reception three days after our wedding. We're having the wedding on the Tuesday, driving home on the Wednesday, spending Thursday and Friday getting ready, then having the reception Friday night. I'm not sure why you would consider two weeks "too soon."

[lilmsjess]

Well, we got married in January and our AHR is July 11th! So I say whenever is convenient for you!! :) We were married in Mexico and live in Colorado, so we decided to wait till' the Summer! :)

i keep seeing you talk about this "AHR", but what is it?!

OP, i think it's whenever you can do it. like brandi(weblady) says, it's more a celebration, than a reception...like 2dbride said, theirs is 3 days later. some have it the day after. like, they don't want the ceremony, so they go to the JP/CH on friday, and have a reception on saturday? not just that, and i'm sure it doesnt apply to you, but some cultures, do week long parties:yesnod: so i really don't think there's such a thing as too soon...however, i have read other places, where there is such a thing as too far out(ie, over a year!)...

[2dBride]

AHR=at home reception. In our case, we're getting married in MA (because our home state doesn't recognize same-sex marriages). However, we really want to celebrate with our friends back home in DC, so we're having a reception three days later in DC.

[SunCelebrations]

Some say even one and three months after the wedding is acceptable.

Personally, I married in April of this year and our parents hosted hometown receptions for us in June and August, respectively.

All to say, no rush! Enjoy your honeymoon, move-in together, etc. Celebrate with your friends and family back home on your own time.

Especially if waiting allows your vendors to deliver your professional photos and wedding video. Your guests would love to see them!

[Smurfette]

Just adding my comments: We're having an at home reception the day
before we leave for our Vegas wedding. We're calling it our "Just Married"
reception since we would have gone to Vegas the week before to get our
marriage license. The home reception is for friends and collegues only b/c
they aren't invited to our wedding. But I plan to make it just as fun.

I hope they go for it - I don't know any other way except to elope. :)

[elegantwedding]

My friend is from Vermont and her husband is from London and they were married at our place and after one month they had an at home reception at London...Well, according to her, its just the same feeling as to their wedding day.

[wed01]

I think you might want to wait a couple of months because you will still be in honeymoon mode.

[FedererPhoto]

I've had couples do it 2 days later (married Thursday, AHR Saturday) .... I've also had couples wait months.

I would say the most common is the weekend after returning from the HM ... but there doesn't appear to be a "you must do it this way" with AHR timelines the way there is with many more traditional wedding schedules.

[TRIPSAHOY!]

I just went to our friends Destination Wedding in Cabo and they had the AHR 2 weeks after they returned. Now they can be in Newlywed mode knowing that all the details are done and over with and they were able to celebrate with those of us who could go to Mexico as well as those who couldn't and still have time to breathe in between. I think when you give too much time in between the actually wedding and the AHR it may get more stressful.