Announcements, parties, showers?

[JessicaABrown]

Hi there! I am new here, and new to wedding planning =) We were engaged last Friday and have decided on a destination wedding in most likely the Bahames in November 08.

Here are some things I am kind of confused by

Since I am having my wdding so far away and most likely nobody will be attending (We live in IN and all family is in NY) do I:
1) Still send engagement announcements?
2) Do I still get a bridal shower?
3) Do I still plan an engagement party?
4) Do we still get bachelor/bachelorette parties?
5) If not, do we just not get these things because people won't be attending the wedding?

Please help... I am dazed and confused right now

[smatty]

Hi Jessica,
Wondering if you ever got any answers/suggestions to your questions. We just got engaged and will be married in Feb '09 at the Occidental Grand Cozumel...it will be just immediate family and I'm trying to figure out how to announce/tell/invite people to the party we plan on having locally after the actual ceremony. What have you done? Thanks!

[Tigr]

I am in a similiar boat. I am trying to get married on a beach just me and him. My idea, not sure how appropriate it is, but I am planning after we are married to send out announcements of the marriage and invite to a reception in my local state. Most of family will not be able to attend since they live in different state. However his does and my co-workers and friends can attend. I am not planning on anything else mainly since he does not want a bachelor party. I figure we can make our own rules.