Wedding Bells, Reception Plans and The In Laws

I had great fun planning my wedding today! (OK, not really, just doing some research on costs for my friend Jeremy, but nevertheless...) It was so exhilarating looking at all the gorgeous wedding gowns, decadent cakes, and breathtaking rings! Just so wonderful! Jeremy almost had a heart attack when he found out the engagement ring i liked would cost over $3000 hehe, not to mention the cost of the wedding band, and i haven't even researched the gowns and caterers and reception center, the band, and OH! We mustn't forget the chocolate fountain- now that's important! Its amazing how things can add up.
Weddings can be so magical... at least that's the way Hollywood likes to portray it. I have personally only ever witnessed one wedding, a coincidence that occurred while playing at a park as a little girl. After seeing some cool weddings in movies and being to beautiful gardens, I've decided that i would like to have my wedding reception outside, during the spring, gentle sun shining, soft wind blowing, creek trickling, birds chirping, family smiling at a beautiful garden somewhere. Quite the expectation list- huh?
It's interesting how weddings seem to be all about the bride. Makes me wonder where the tradition comes from? And although i consider myself a traditional person, i would like my wedding (well, reception) to have a slightly different focus. I've learned from my parents that marriage isn't only between the bride and groom, but really between the two families. It's inevitable that once married, both the husband and wife's families' will have to associate with each other, sometimes this is a wonderful thing, and sometimes this causes problems. But either way, you can't escape the fact. I roll my eyes every time i hear complaints about 'the in-laws' on TV or in real-life and how the complainer can't stand them. I want to tell them: "come on! you should have known what marriage means more family for you! Get used to it!" It is for this reason that i want my wedding reception to be about the families. Wouldn't it be so cool to fly everyone to Hawaii where for a couple of days before the wedding for the two families get to know each other? The babies, toddlers, children, adults, teenagers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc,. get to bond, play games, have fun and learn to like each other. Maybe I'm just a big dreamer, but wouldn't it be a happy thing for not only the bride an groom to love each other, but for the families to enjoy being related too?