Tips for In Town Receptions After Your Destination Wedding

So, you're having a destination wedding. You're leaving your hometown far behind, hopping a plane to The Bahamas and soaking up some sun on your big day.

You're freed of the awkward task of how to break the news to not-so-close friends and not-so-favorite family members that they're not invited to the wedding. You can simply say, "Oh, we're having a destination wedding, so it's basically just the wedding party and our parents! Sorry!"

You're good to go, right? Maybe. There's one problem: The Reception.

Most people who have a destination wedding do keep the numbers small, and many friends or family members can't attend due to financial obligations. The typical solution is to hold a reception after you return from the destination – to appease those who couldn’t make it, or who didn't want to make it.

I'm getting married in August, and though Chicago is nice that time of the year, my husband, bridal party, family and few friends are flying to Capri, Italy, an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea just off the Gulf of Naples. We're having a Chicago reception when we come back, and we're having a tough time with some of the details.

If you're unsure of how to go about the task of planning your reception, check out this quick starter guide to get a few ideas to help get your plans off the ground!

• Type of Reception? Choosing the type of reception you want to have can be hard to do. Do you want to do a brunch? An evening? Do you want to have it a church? Rent out a restaurant? Have it at home? Choose a type of reception based on both of your family's likes and preferences. If your families enjoy gathering around a home cooked meal, a backyard reception is probably a good idea. If your families like to be out and about, a flashy nighttime spot in town might be more fun. If your families are different, choose something that's middle of the road to please everyone, like a late afternoon garden reception.

• Before or After the Honeymoon? Most couples that choose to have a destination wedding also choose to honeymoon in the same spot, or go somewhere close. If you're planning to honeymoon close to your wedding location, it makes more sense to have the reception after you return. If you aren't honeymooning, or if you're honeymooning much later than your wedding, it's probably a better idea to have the reception once you arrive home from the wedding.

• Who to Invite? Ah, the tricky part. Your destination wedding gave you a great excuse to keep the invite list short, but the reception is hard to mask. Receptions for destination weddings are kind of expected to be pretty big, since a lot of people missed out on the wedding. If you had a small wedding, you'll probably have to do a big reception. Invite your extended families, and invite friends that you've kept in contact with. You don't have to invite estranged friends or family, however, unless you both want to. Keep in mind that people you invite might have to come out of town and stay in local Chicago hotels, so plan the reception and send the invites sooner rather than later to give plenty of time to make arrangements.

• How Much to Spend? Destination weddings aren't cheap. If you're thinking you'll have to spend a lot of money on a reception, think again. You don't have to rent out a five-star restaurant, swanky hotel or pricey cocktail bar. You can get creative and decorate your own yard, local garden or park or community center. Be sure to budget for your reception while you're planning your wedding, so you won't have to come up with more money later.

• What to Wear? Since your guests won't be coming directly from a wedding, they probably won't be sure what to wear. With the invitation, include a dress code suggestion based on the type of reception. If you're having it outdoors, casual attire is probably better, but something dressier would be better for a nice restaurant or hotel.

Most of all, be sure to do your reception justice. Plan early, give yourself time, make a realistic budget and don't shortchange yourself or your guests. Happy planning!