Our wedding date has changed

Craig and I had originally planned to have a civil ceremony on the 10th of December of this year and have a wedding on the 10th of June, 2006.  Some time to save up a little money.  But things have changed and we'll be having the wedding on the 10th of June, 2005.  It'll be a Friday night wedding and will be in the UK.  My mom is still trying to convince me to have it here, but I just REALLY like the idea of getting married there.

So, no more moving in October I will be flying back with him though.  To book the church and everything.  But at least this way there will only be one wedding.  Any suggestions??  Most importantly how to convince my friends and family to fly over for the wedding??

So...anyone want to visit Southampton in June?  

I think you may be surprised at how many friends and family make the trip without convincing.

We are getting hitched on May 21, 2005 in my hometown of Cle Elum, WA...6,000 miles away.  As soon as Paul told his family, they began to ask about my small (pop: 1000) town...the nearest airport (Seattle) and lodging.  ALL of his siblings and thier partners and adult children are looking for tickets as we speak, and many of his friends and cousins/other relatives, are talking about making the trip.

To make it easier, we've promised to put people up with family and friends in my hometown...that makes a huge financial difference, and may help you to get more people over.  COming from WA state, the airfare is twice what it is to fly to the Eastcoast or even Chicago.  So, depending on where your family and friends live, it may be even easier to afford...

Good luck...and remember, as long as you and Craig are there, it will be just fine!!!

Thanks for the idea Frances and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

I'm from CA so I completely understand when you said, being from WA, the airfare is twice as much from the east coast.  Plus, even more expensive in June, July, and August.  So thats where the problem is.  Plus I'm not sure how much of his family would be willing to put people up.  Thats definitely something he and I will have to talk more about.

I've thought about putting notes in our wedding invitations with places for cheaper tickets.  It seems very informal, but I'd rather have that than people not able to come.  Maybe I should forget the notes and just tell everyone now.  Oh well, we'll see. 

Thanks again!

Kas, we sent out Save the Date cards about six months before our wedding.  They included hotel info and tourist-type stuff.  You could do the same thing...just include airline info as well!     

If you're getting married in June, December would be a perfect time for your Save the Dates...just stick them in your Christmas cards (if you send them out).

I think it's a great idea to include info. on finding cheap flights, etc. and Lolabola's right - they should go with the "save the date" cards. A friend of mine showed me what she mailed out and they were perfect - they hand made little booklets with info. on hotels, flights, etc.

My family hasn't been able to make plans to come out for mine and there was MUCH cajoling from my mom to do it there, but in the end we're going to have a very romantic, very private registry office wedding in Bath, have a party the following week and a fancier reception in California the next time Jamie and I can afford to go out there for a visit. The biggest hurdles were money (so pointing people toward places to find flights and offering them a sofa to sleep on would probably go a long way) and age (my parents are in their 70s and a 10 hour flight frightened them a bit as my dad is in poor health.) None of my friends are coming because they've all visited us within the past couple of months and can't afford to come again so soon - guess that's my fault for our relatively spur-of-the-moment plans, but visas wait for no one.   

But in the end I think Frances is right and my family was a bit of an exception - I have a feeling that you won't need to do much convincing!!

Good luck with all of your planning!  It's stressful but it's a lot of fun, too!

I like the idea of sending information in a save the date card.  One other thing, if people were to be staying in hotels, is that you may be able to negotiate a lower rate for multiple rooms...

Hi Kas!  How's it all going???

I think you're giving everyone enough notice of your wedding where they will have enought time to plan and have a better chance of getting cheap tickets.  Think about destination weddings in Hawaii or on other exotic islands. I mean, you count on less people coming but if you give them enough notice (which you are) then lots will definately come.   

Although, some of my family members have already made it clear that they would NOT be attending if I decided to have my wedding over here.  Don't you love that??? How everyone thinks you're going to plan your wedding to suit them?

Cheap flight info would be great to include.  Maybe no one will agree with this, but you could include a little something about the area (i.e. what people could do if they used the trip as their summer vacation).  My cousin had her wedding on Cape Cod last summer and most of the people that were attending stayed the previous week and just used it as their vacation.   If you set them up with their own stuff to do, you won't have to entertain them.     And who doesn't want to visit England??? (except my crabby old relatives!?!?!) 

we sent out Save the Date cards about six months before our wedding.  They included hotel info and tourist-type stuff.

What a great idea!  I didn't even think of doing that.  I think what I'll do is send out those and the little hand made booklets AnneG mentioned.  Let everyone know whats around there.  Yay!  I might actually get people to come now!  Thank you so much you guys! :\\\'(

One other thing, if people were to be staying in hotels, is that you may be able to negotiate a lower rate for multiple rooms...

Its funny that you mentioned this because I told Craig about this the other day.  I wasn't sure if it would work, or if hotels would be willing to do that.  But it doesn't hurt to try, right?  This is definitely on our list of things to do while I'm there.

If you set them up with their own stuff to do, you won't have to entertain them.

This was actually one of my biggest worries.  Kind of like....get people there and then...'Now what?'  I mean, who wants to go to the UK and only spend a few days?!?  I think its crazy, especially if you've never been there before.  So I will find out all the great places to visit, eat.  Spark everyones interest

Thanks again guys!  You have been so much help!  definitely made things a lot easier and A LOT less stressful.