RD Question? Advice... Please help...

FH and I thought up with an idea for RD. We are spending way to much money on this wedding and we are paying for all of it ourselves, including the RD so this is what we came up with:

(tell me what you think and be honest ok)

Factor # 1 We have a 20 person wedding party(including FH & I and the 2Rb's and 2fg's) and must invite all of them plus their out of town dates and both sets of parents to the RD. Total # of invited guests 33.

Our Wedding is on a friday so the RD will be held on Thursday night. Many of the members of our bridal party are coming from out of town so they will be arriving sometime on thursday morning so we thought of have a BBQ at our house at 4:00 on Thursday before the rehearsal at the church as opposed to after and then inviting everyone back for coffee and cake afterwards.

What do you think? It that cheesy? Honestly, we just can't afford to pay for a 33 person dinner in addition to our wedding. (We priced a few places, they are well over 1000 dollars for that many people and that does not even include alcohol :() A BBQ is our best bet but if we wait till after the CR(which is at 6:30) it will be to late and already dark out - plus too many bugs. Help...

My FIL's are having a BBQ for us also and they did the same for her 1st son who got married almost 11 years ago. I like the idea because it's much more relaxed and considering the amount of stress, nervousness and worrying I'll be doing, it's the best option - besides, you can wear whatever you want and not feel out of place

Thanks Girls, you are making me feel better about it already.

it sounds wonderful! can I come?

I love the idea of a BBQ. I really wanted to have one for our RD, but my parents' house is 40 minutes or so from the church.....

I think a BBQ is a great idea! It's more casual and relaxed - which is what you need the night before the wedding!!!

Thanks girls - you are the best - I think we are gonna go for it!!!