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Reception $ Etiquette

newjuhl
New User

Post #1 of 2 (3271 views)

Reception $ Etiquette

Thanks for your highly informative site. I'm glad to have discovered it in my desperate seach for reception etiquette. We will be having an immediate family ceremony and reception for our (both) 2nd marriage. We are planning simple and elegant on a budget.

Our intention for the "reception" is quality time for our families to get to know another. We would like to reserve a charming restaurant and allow each person to order as they wish off the menu. Would it be socially appropriate, since we are requesting no gifts, to have each person pay for the meal of their choosing? Or if we provided appetizers and cake and they wanted a meal they could order? And if this is socially correct - how and where would we indicate this preference. Crazy

the_admin
Remarriage Forum Moderator / Moderator

Post #2 of 2 (3259 views)

Re: [newjuhl] Reception $ Etiquette [In reply to]

Dear newjuhl:

No, it is never polite to invite a guest to an event and then ask them to pay.

Please note that it is also impolite to request on an invitation that no gifts be given since this would imply that the host expected a gift, which is impolite. If you do not wish to receive gifts then make that known to your family and have them spread the word. If someone were to ask you your gift preference of course you could then tell them that their prescence is the present!

If you are on a budget and cannot afford to pay for a sit down meal for this many people please consider planning an event within your budget...maybe a champagne and cake reception or a short cocktail hour.

I hope this helps you...good luck!
I Do - Take Two Moderator

(This post was edited by the_admin on Oct 25, 2004, 4:39 PM)