Somewhat Destination Wedding

[asteu]

I am looking into getting married at Mt Rainier National Park (washington state). We live about 2.5 hrs away and all of our guests will most likely rent hotel rooms for the night. So I look at it as sort of a destination wedding without actually flying off to Mexico or anything.

Here's my issue. The venue, being a volcano and national park has limited space for any outdoor weddings. It's more pull off at a view point and have the ceremony there with our guests gathered around us. No chair set up or anything. So our thought was that we would only include a few friends and immediate family at the ceremony - followed by dinner at the hotel. Then have an open house style reception a couple weeks after returning from our honeymoon with a full wedding cake, appetizers, and drinks. We would invite all of our other friends and extended family to this reception.

Has anyone done something like this where the wedding is a bit closer to home? Was family upset at not being included at the ceremony? How did guests coming in from out of town take it?

Any advice would be helpful!

Thanks,
A

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

That sounds like fun!!! We did something very similar except we actually flew to Mexico. It was a small ceremony/reception with family and close friends, and then we are having a huge at home reception on July 11th! We're doing an entire Mexico theme and having food, cake, pics, etc. Anyway, to answer your questions, I really wouldn't worry about being "accomidating" for the guests. I know it sounds kind of bad, but you have to remember that this is YOUR wedding and you should do whatever YOU want. Your guests can revolve around you, don't revolve around them. Happy Planning! :)

[asteu]

Thanks! Have fun at your reception!

[gwenshack]

I think that sounds like a good idea. I doubt anyone would be offended, especially since they'll still be able to celebrate with you. You could show a video of your ceremony at the reception - I know a lot of people have done that in the past and it worked out well for them. Good luck! :)

[Dani]

We had a destination wedding to Lake Mead, I had family members that couldn't attend for various reasons, we were bummed, they were bummed, but it worked for us. Just remember, you can't make everyone happy.

[Kfancii]

My DH and I went to Gatlinburg, TN and got married ion the deck of our rented cabin there. We didn't have any family join us for the wedding, but then came back and had a big picnic reception in the park for all of our friends and family a couple months later. Everyone enjoyed the party alot and no one seemed upset that we didn't include them in the wedding.

[momentsthatmatter]

Quoted from above... " you have to remember that this is YOUR wedding and you should do whatever YOU want."
Best advice you can get!!!

[RosieAngel]

I did this! I got married in Southern California, and I live in Northern California. One of the things that makes any DW-ish wedding special is that only the people who really want to be there will make the effort to come! So the dynamic is always very fun and joyful! At my wedding, many of the guests who had never met each other before became such good friends that they're now staying in touch!

I never liked my alcoholic, dysfunctional extended family much, and I'm pretty sure that the feeling was mutual, so excluding them from the wedding worked out well for everyone, actually! A few people in my family mocked our untraditional plans and our relationship in general before the invites went out, but they never showed any actual interest in coming to the wedding, so I refused to let myself feel bad about it.

By the way, my mother-in-law lives in the Seattle area, and Mount Rainier looks so amazing! I think you're making a good choice. :)