Your Guide to Plan an After Destination Wedding Reception

Some engaged couples often find themselves caught between two desires—getting married in an exotic locale and celebrating their marriage with every single person they love. But sadly, not everyone can make it to a destination wedding. Enter: the after destination wedding reception. Throwing a ceremony-less party with all the hallmarks of a reception allows you to celebrate at a later date with more people after the destination wedding of your dreams. Intrigued? We talked to two experts with experience planning an at-home reception after a destination wedding to get the lowdown on everything you need to know, from the best timing to costs and planning tips.

After Destination Wedding Reception Planning Tips: Definition | When to Host | Cost | How to Plan

What Is an After Destination Wedding Reception?

Whether you want to tie the knot in a faraway destination as part of a micro-wedding, to create a new memory with your partner, or to enjoy fun vacation vibes on such a special day, it's likely that you'll have to trim down your guest list. But hosting an after destination wedding reception—defined as a reception-only gathering back home and not to be confused with a sequel wedding—will allow you to celebrate with a larger group of loved ones, explains Sarah Blessinger, owner of Kindred Weddings and Events in Los Angeles. As she puts it, "This allows you to have the best of both worlds!"

It's "a wonderful way to extend the celebration and include friends and family who may not have been able to attend the wedding itself," says Makayla Mowe of NYC-based Emily Coyne Events, which specializes in destination weddings. She explains that it allows couples to share the joy of their wedding day with those who couldn't travel, such as older relatives. "It also gives the couple a chance to relive their wedding highlights and share stories or photos from the destination, making it a beautiful way to blend both experiences into a comprehensive celebration," she adds.

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When to Have a Post-Destination Wedding Reception

So, how long after a destination wedding should you host a reception? It really all depends. Some couples prefer to keep the events close together to keep the wedding energy going and create a connection between their destination wedding and their larger reception gathering, Blessinger says, who has helped couples plan post-destination wedding receptions at restaurants. Others prefer to have a break between the events so they can decompress and relax.

She recommends considering the logistics of both events to avoid making a rushed decision. "If a couple is hosting a destination wedding with family only and then wants to host their at-home reception the day they get back, I typically recommend taking a couple of days to adjust," she says. "You'll want to give yourself time to rest, shake off any jet lag, and allow for a transition period as you lean back into hosting an important event. However, if you wait too long—over six months, for example—you may lose some of the excitement and joy that you felt on your wedding day."

Think about your schedule, the season, and the overall vibe you want to create, Mowe says. "Whether it's a relaxed gathering or a formal event, the best timing is when it feels right for you and allows for a seamless, stress-free experience," she adds.

How Much Does an After Destination Wedding Reception Cost?

Of course, two events mean you really have to be meticulous with your wedding budget. The average destination wedding cost is $35,600, not including the cost of having a reception after a destination wedding. Blessinger says you should still prepare to invest as you would in a full wedding day. How much you spend will vary depending on your priorities, logistics, and needs, but she typically sees clients invest $25,000 to $40,000 in their at-home wedding reception.

"For example, a reception at a restaurant might require a full or partial buyout, florals, DJ, cake or dessert, and potentially a photographer if you'd like the event captured," she explains. "This type of gathering can still supply an elegant and romantic wedding vibe without the traditional wedding ceremony. If you're hoping for a more casual or relaxed vibe, you could opt to buy out a brewery as a more cost-effective investment."

How to Plan an After Destination Wedding Reception

Now comes the time to bring your post-destination reception fantasies to life. We know that planning two different wedding events sounds like a lot of work—one is already stressful enough! From figuring out logistics to executing ideas for your reception after a destination wedding, Mowe and Blessinger outline all the key steps you should take.

1. Use Your Time Wisely

"Your time and energy are resources you will also spend during wedding planning, and they're both resources you cannot make more of," Blessinger says. In a nutshell: Don't rush into things. She advises taking your time to think critically about your typical needs when you travel and judiciously adding margin to your plans to help avoid unwanted overwhelm, social fatigue and unmet expectations.

2. Explore the Vibe

When looking at venues, really consider what kind of vibe you want at your post-destination reception. Do you want something chic and luxurious, like a hotel ballroom? Or do you want a more casual reception after a destination wedding, which you could host in a bar or backyard?

"The venue you choose is going to lay the foundation for your gathering, and you want the ambiance to be the first thing your guests experience," Blessinger says. "You want it to feel different than your destination wedding, but to still create strong memories that you will be talking about for years."

3. Budget Appropriately

"Decide where you want to splurge and where to save, focusing spending on aspects that enhance guest experience like good food and entertainment, while perhaps scaling back on less impactful areas," Mowe advises.

If you need to split your entire budget between your destination wedding and your at-home reception, Blessinger recommends working with a wedding planner to help you make confident, wise financial decisions. "An at-home reception after a destination wedding is still a part of your wedding experience and deserves to have lots of intention behind your decisions," she says.

4. Send Out Invitations

Yes, you will need to send out invites more than once if you're hosting two separate events. Luckily, there are plenty of designs for save-the-dates and invitations for a reception after a destination wedding to choose from. Our tip: Look for something that feels in line with the vibe that you are looking for while venue-hunting to help set the tone for guests. Of course, these wedding invitations won't need to include ceremony details. These invitation wording ideas will help you figure out what to write.

5. Incorporate Details

Now that you have all the preliminary logistics squared away, it's time to finesse the details. Talk to your venue to see if they have a preferred list of vendors, then figure out who you still need to book. While you won't need some vendors, like an officiant, you'll want to consider who you need for a reception, such as a caterer and DJ. Search through The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find some options.

Meanwhile, you can start planning your wedding decor. Mowe suggests incorporating details from your destination wedding. "To keep both celebrations cohesive, incorporate special nods and elements from your destination wedding into your at-home reception, such as color palette, theme and attire," she says.

For example, if you get married on a beach in the Caribbean, think about creating a signature tropical drink or centerpieces that use palm fronds or bougainvillea. If you're still planning your actual ceremony, there are plenty of destination wedding trends for inspiration.

But most of all, enjoy the planning process. As Mowe puts it, "This reception offers a unique chance to live in the moment and appreciate having a second opportunity to celebrate your wedding."