Asking guests to travel for a no party wedding?

Sounds good. I had something similar for mine a few years ago and it was enjoyable although the registry office and restaurant were just a walk away. Lots of people don’t like dancing. Having a big fancy wedding doesn’t mean it will be more fun, if anything those weddings I’ve found the most boring with lots of waiting between events.

We got married in a registry office with a reception in a nice school hall, Christs Hospital near Horsham. People came from abroad and we didn't have an evening do as I can't abide them. The ceremony is the important bit. I was 21 at the time so not a boring old fart.

It’s only an hour - it takes me an hour to get to the shops, I’d be perfectly happy to travel for an hour for a wedding even if there wasn’t a reception.

The meal with socialising is the party. It sounds nice. Many weddings go on too long and are too complicated.

If you make it clear on the invite what is happening then it's great.
It sounds a but like my wedding. We had young children as did our friends. It worked well.

I think the wedding sounds great. A ceremony followed by a meal was the norm 50 years ago. If there isn't an extra "party"afterwards then surely everyone can get home the same day if it's only an hour or so travel. I've noticed that often with the extra party a lot of the guests have got wedding fatigue by then anyway and leave early.

This sounds like a nice simple wedding and I have been to a few of those for close friends. They are very focused on the couple and the people around them and they feel much more intimate, you are really able to celebrate the occasion with everyone focused on the bride and groom and the friends around them rather than using it as a big party to drink and dance. Getting drunk is not a requirement for fun weddings…somebody commented about the wedding being flat due to people not being able to drink when driving. You really don’t need those kinds of people at your wedding. Get your family and good friends around you and enjoy the moment.

Sounds nice to me. Meal and drinks to socialise, I assume people could stay longer having drinks at the bar or have drinks in their room if they want a later night?

Socialising doesn't have to involve DJs and music, this sounds like a good way to actually catch up with people properly and hear them without a racket in the background.

So, it's old school...the wedding and the wedding breakfast?

Sounds fine to me but then I'm not keen on parties.

This is what weddings used to be. And what mine was on the late 70s. Evening do's are a relatively recent thing. It used to be church or registry office, followed straight away by the reception (which was just a meal and speeches) then everyone would wave the bride and groom off at the end, and then go home. No evening thing. No-one is owed a party and dancing.

And yes, an hour is nothing.

Our wedding was like this "family style". Lots of family, few friends.
We got married, had a few photos, had a posh hotel buffet lunch, had an hour or so social chat and everyone went off to do their own thing. I think a few got together and went for fast food in the evening.

(25 years ago). There was another wedding at the hotel, they had a party after, cemented the fact it wasn't our thing. Turned out to be a colleague's sister... colleague came through and joined us after the meal as theirs was a bit loud.

I think it’s all fine. The driving to venue is a bit annoying, but that used to be pretty standard before the modern all in one wedding venue as a business model appeared on the scene. I can remember doing that lots in the 80s as a child. My own parents had a reception venue (my grandparents back garden) that was about that distance from the church.

I think just a meal and socialising is totally fine as long as it’s fun and lively. And without the party bit at the end and with all the driving around, I think you do need to make sure guests are well catered for (drinks and food provided). I personally would appreciate the lack of pressure to stay to the end of a very long loud tiring night. I’d very happily hop in the car and drive home after finishing up at a sensible hour.

How ‘basic’ is the reception part? If it’s just a booking at a pub with no frills or speeches that would feel a bit quiet.
A private booking somewhere with at least a bit of a speech is better. Otherwise it sounds lovely. I don’t mean spending loads of money on table decorations and favours. Just making the meal a bit more of an event than a few shared tables amongst other people.
I would also assume the meal would be covered by the couple.

Sounds like a lovely wedding and a gorgeous celebration afterwards. Absolutely no need to have dancing

Sounds perfect wedding! I'd go if it was someone I cared about. A meal and catch up ... perfect

It's totally fine, sounds lovely in fact. It's up to the guests whether they stay overnight.

If you're the bride and this is what you're planning, go for it.

An hour roughly of travelling is nothing, it's fine, plus you are offering hospitality in the form of dinner. The party bit really isn't a big thing for many guests, I think most people would appreciate an earlier end time too so they don't need a hotel (if they choose to that's on them)

I think it’s absolutely fine. They don’t have to come. It is an invite after all. Some might actually be relieved.

Well I love dancing and weddings are one of the few occasions where I get to do so these days. There's nothing actually wrong with the standard wedding model which ends with a DJ/band for which there's a fair bit of disdain on this thread. I have had some of the best nights of my life at weddings. Having said that, it's not a problem NOT to have it, so long as I know in advance and plan accordingly. I wouldn't be into lots of travel and faffing between ceremony and revenue for any kind of wedding but might be less tolerant if its just a meal and dancelfloors, room size etc aren't a consideration.

I had this wedding in 2023. Very small. My parents travelled from overseas and a handful of friends travelled about 5 hours from the city I used to live in. We had an evening registry office ceremony and then straight to a local hotel (5 minutes walk through a castle grounds!) for a meal and drinks. No entertainment, no dancing. We did an open bar and we had a private function room so it was actually a really lovely catch up! If it’s people truly close to the couple I should imagine they won’t mind or may even view as a plus.

This! Sounds like a great wedding. Dancing is definitely not an essential component to a wedding. There is a reception, just not your preferred type.

we travelled further for a similar wedding - church wedding followed by reception in a pub. It was lovely - a nice intimate wedding.

Our wedding was like this. No need to stay overnight for almost all guests as they lived 90mins or less away.

Sounds good to me too.

I went to a wedding that was service plus meal. It started around 12 and finished about 6pm.

I'd happily go, I'd either drive and go home after or if I wanted a treat stay over and dh and I could have a nice romantic evening together .

I would say the service is the main event of a wedding followed by the meal. The party is not a necessity. I can't see why anyone would have issue with it. People would probably travel that distance for an evening do (say a 50th or anniversary) this is a longer event.