Married abroad then party at home. I'm clueless, chuck your suggestions at me.

[RagingHormone]

I think it's just going to be an average party, nothing too up market. I'd like balloons and pictures of the wedding up around the place.

What else?

What do I need to arrange? I've never done a party before?

I need help with all the ideas and lots of ideas to make it extra special and memorable.

is this for people who will have been to your wedding abroad or people who haven;t? (don't know what your plans are wrt that)

Only about 20 people can make it to our wedding abroad (we didn't want to ask people to go as it's a dear do so anyone who wants to come and can afford it is doing) so we're putting a party on for everyone when we get home. Should be inviting about 150 people.

Is it appropriate for us to wear our wedding gear again? Including bridesmaids etc?

I'd say wear your wedding gear again. People Women do like to see what the dress was like and compliment you on it. Likewise with the bridesmaids, but you may want to check if they will feel ok with that. My SIL also got married abroad then did the party back home. She'd hired a venue though, and in a side room had the wedding video playing on a projector. They also had a wedding cake at the party and cut the cake and her hubbie made a little speech too.

But it's whatever you feel comfortable with and how much you want to put into it.

we got married at Gretna green with close family and friends. We had a big party back home the following weekend. I wore my dress again (may as well get the money's worth!) but dh just wore a suit of his own, not the fancy one. video clips from your wedding could be good if you had a screen. We had massive buffet and large wedding cake - it made more sense to have the cake for our hundred plus guests than the 16 who did the whole thing with us. We had dancing and a pub quiz and it was such a fantastic party. All the family younguns (about 50 of us) went out clubbing afterwards and had such a great time

Ooo sounds good! I'm going to do the projector thing then, I think it's a great idea! I hadn't thought of that.

My mum's going to make us a wedding cake as she's a pro and wont get chance for the actual wedding. So that'll be nice.

What else could we do to make it a wedding party and not just a party IYSWIM?

Lots of pictures on the wall, and or wedding albums that people can sit and look at (we did that our ours).

Remember to do the wedding dance with everybody watching you.

You could have favours for guests as that's a wedding thing.Or put disposable cameras on tables so you have a record of the party - remeber to remind people to hand them back though!
I think toasts and /or speeches will make it seem like a wedding party and remind everyone why they're there.

We also arranged transport (bus) to bring the guests to and from the party.

Aww yeah we will. I'm getting excited just thinking about it. We have a song as well so we can have that as our first dance.

What about food? Pie and peas or buffet?

What invitations can I get?

Do you think I should have wedding favours at my actual wedding?

I got married at JFK airport then had party when we got home.
I had white balloons and decorations on table, buffet, a book for everyone to pass round and write their comments in and i made a brief speech.
I wore my dress again - luckily i could get into it i was 5 months pregnant! (grin)

Good God, I was a beached whale at 5 months!

What decorations did you have on the table? How many people did you invite?

I would say no need for wedding favours.

We did a buffet. You do need to be prepared for answering a lot of the same questions (how did it go, any last minute disasters, did anyone cry etc.etc.).

(Also remember to bring lots of boxes or Ikea bags or the like to carry presents back home).

Your older relatives will love it if they get a proper "wedding invitation" and not just an invitation for an after the wedding party.

If you have a wedding bouquet, then try to imitate some flower decorations on the table to look like your bouquet.

and sorry I misread the wedding favours for being at the reception not the actual wedding. I think I would do them for the actual wedding.

Good idea about the bouquet flowers. My favourite flowers ever are white roses so I'll have them. I don't know if I'll manage to get them abroad but I hope so!

We invited about 100 - i got some invitations printed saying bascically we ran off and got married but come to our party - i didnt send them till we were at the airport leaving for New York. The invitations had plane disappearing on front of it.

I bought loads of helium white balloons and we had white confetti type decorations on the table - i bought all these form a card shop.

I didnt bother with flowers - it would have added to the expense.

The wedding dress hid the obvious bump so quite pleased.

Where are you getting married - i went into New York the day before and ordered a bouquet from the flower district and they delivered to the hotel

I'm getting married in Paphos. I found a site where they deliver wedding favours and things to your hotel, but I can't remember the web site address. I need to find a good florist in Paphos I guess. Do they have white roses in July?