For those having out of towners…

i was an ootowner and they didnt do anything for us! i would have been happy with a little pizza party or bbq! i was offended. (i know i know it's not required...but come on we spent so much on airfare and hotels etc).

i really like the idea of having a bbq or pizza party. my friend had it at the community center of her condo complex. it was affordable and great!

There was no way we could invite all of our OOT guests to the rehearsal, over 80% of the guests were OOT! It really would have been another reception. We really didn't have the money to host something special for the OOT guests and no one seemed to mind. One side of my family had rented a huge house for a week and they hosted a big BBQ on the day after the wedding. They encouraged DH and me to invite any of our friends who were still in town. That seemed to serve as an OOT BBQ.

Don't feel like you're required to do something special for your OOT guests. Ideally, they're in town for your wedding, and that's all. I've been to many weddings as an OOT guest and I've never been invited to a separate OOT guest function. Well, maybe had one and I just wasn't invited... ;-)

hmm if 80% is OOT then i understand that having them at the RD would not be feasible. if its a smaller percentage, then try to include them in that or at least a morning after brunch at someones house. i know as an ootowner, i would have totally appreciated that. it just gives you something to do with other wedding guests when normally they would have spent the time with you.

Our wedding was on a Sunday, rehearsal was on Thursday.  My OOTs were mainly my family.  A few OOTs were invited to the rehearsal dinner only because they were here early for other things (it was only 2 guests).  However, I did plan a no-host dinner the Saturday night before to spend with all of our OOTs and we had a blast.  It worked out perfect.  We even ended up with extra cash from it!  Don't ask me how but after everybody put in what they thought they owed there was about $70 too much. :)  No one would take any money back.  DH and I were happy.

The morning after the wedding we hosted a brunch in one of the suites at the hotel.  They went well too.

Also, my mom went to a wedding as an OOT and was not invited to the rehearsal dinner but they did all meet up at a bar afterward.  She liked that idea and was not offended at all. 

since our rehearsal is friday night and most OOT are coming in that night, i don't think we're inviting them unless they're super close or godmothers/godfathers, etc.  we are going the route of having a brunch/opening gift celebration the day after the wedding.  i don't think anyone will be offended at not being at the RD since about 35% of the wedding is OOT.

Our wedding is on a Sunday and our rehearsal is on Friday afteroon, so the Saturday before the wedding we're having a very casual buffet and drinks at a local brewery for out of towners and the wedding party.  My mom's has a big family (7 siblings) spread out across the country, so really she just wants to see them all before the wedding. 

wow Erin!  I didn't know ruby hill had wedding on sundays!  (i'm having mine there too)

Yay ruby hill - it's so pretty there!   Yup, they have some Sunday weddings....Kevin and I wanted to get married in September and by the time we contacted them last October all the Saturdays were booked - so Sunday it is!

MissQ---> did you guys find an apprpriate place for your rd - one that wasnt too far from fremont??