This is refering to events that are specifically called receptions, not fake weddings or wedding showers.  A lot of people have them to include those who were unable to attend their destination wedding, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's correct (see: cash bar).  So, what say you, e-hellions?

Ah, okay.

I think it really depends on how it's done, though in general I do not see a problem with it.  

As with many things, I think it mainly hinges on a) whether the guests are made to feel that gifts are expected and b) whether the guests know that they are not attending the actual wedding.  

If one is getting married at a destination, then hosting a celebration after returning home, there should be absolutely no hint of an expectation that those invited only to the celebration should bring gifts.  The registry should be kaput by that point, since the couple is already married (if they had one to begin with).  

When my mother and stepfather were married, they decided to move the date up and do it small and cheap for financial reasons.  So we all packed up and went to Las Vegas (not a long trip as we lived in SoCal) to see them married, and the groom's family came from Arizona.  They had a small but tasteful ceremony at a chapel (no, there was no Elvis) and about the only thing that went majorly wrong was that the best man was arrested on his way there.  Afterwards members of both families gathered in a hotel suite for some cake.  That evening, the same group (family and attendants) went out for a really nice dinner.  

Since the HC had many, many friends back at home with whom they wished to celebrate, they rented out their favorite bar and had a party.  No big dresses or fancy clothes - they just provided some good food, and plenty of people came out to wish them well.  It was in no way a gift-grab.

I'm at a loss to understand why the concept itself could be an etiquette violation. As with everything else about weddings, there's certainly a way to do it wrong, but there's nothing wrong with having a reception after a wedding, which is essentially all this is.

I have been told on this forum that it is poor etiquette.  The overwhelming opinion of EHell seemed to differ, but I wanted to know for sure.  It may have been some detail of the way I presented the idea in my previous post that caused the etiquette snafu.    

I know someone that had a "reception" a few months after their destination wedding.  They wore their wedding outfits (white dress for her, tux or nice suit for him).  They also had "bridesmaids" and "groomsmen."  I thought this was weird because the wedding party had not attended the actual wedding.  But they bought matching outfits to wear to the "reception."

That's kind of odd.  It's like they actually wanted the wedding to be at home, but then...it wasn't, so they had to pretend?

It is my understanding that gifts are never to be expected, whether you are married in Italy or Indiana.

I don't understand why it would be considered rude to treat to dinner those who accompany you, and then to have a larger celebration of your marriage when you return for both those who came and those who did not.  [Edit] Or are you saying that it is okay, so long as the second reception is for everybody, as opposed to a second best party for the second best guests?

Also, is it rude to send an invitation to a party/celebration at home before the marriage?  Or would that be, in effect, announcing it before the fact, which isn't okay?