Expert: Wendy Wuitschick - 4/27/2008

Question
Hello, my fiance and I have been together for 13 years and are planning on getting married this summer Aug 24, its a Sunday afternoon wedding(ceremony at 2).  The problem is that we are very shy people and we were only wanting to have a small ceremony(parents, brothers, sisters, with their spouses and children, and our god parents as we are both really close to them).  Now, I would like to have a reception but being a Sunday wedding:

Should we:

1. have a dinner, after the ceremony at a local fine dinning with a slide show of the wedding? and do we pay for our guests meals?
2.  not have anything at all? would this offend some?
3.  Wait a week and hold a formal reception, with slide show of the wedding? (and if we do this, do I send invitations, saying we got married? or just verbally invite some)
4.  and how do you write, no gifts, if wanting to monetary would be more helpful.  

We just don't want to offend anyone, but being shy I don't think I could walk down the isle infront of everyone, and we both have huge families.

Thank you

Answer
Hi Lucille:

Sorry for the delay in answering, but my e-mail has been on the fritz!

You and your fiance should handle your wedding in any way that feels comfortable for you.  That being said, if you want to show a slide show of the wedding during dinner you will need to wait awhile so the photographer can get the photos to you.  That is unless you are doing them yourself and have the capability to show them within a or two week.  

As for the invitations, if it will be a very informal affair you can use an online service such as Evite to send your invitations.  It is a very cost effective way to get the word out and they have many themes to choose from.  Even wedding related ones.  Just go to www.evite.com to see their selection.  Now as far as stating "No Gifts Please" on the invitations, that is fine, but asking for money in lieu of gifts is not acceptable.  If you really would rather have money then be sure your parents are aware of this so that they can pass the word along to anyone that may ask about gift giving.

I hope this helps.  Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me again.

Warm regards,
Wendy Wuitschick, CWP