I need serious help!!

WashMcCo2012

Ok, so my wedding is planned for June 23rd 2012.  We became engaged 2 years ago.  So early on I felt I had plenty of time!! yea right.  we have had so many ideas and changes in plans...now its getting closer and im not a bit prepared.  So in the past few days we have made a final decision.  We are planning a reception, and plan to marry during the reception.  Nothing formal but we want our friends and family there, and to know that they are coming to our wedding.  I need help with invitation wording for this type of event.  Is there anyone out there who has done something like this or been to a wedding like this that can give me some great advice?  Our budget is not large and we just want to have a casual bbq or dinner .  

WashMcCo2012

I wondered if that would work, however its going to be more casual then that even.  We wanted to have everyone arrive and not have a specific time for the actual exchange of vows.  You are right though, I should just send it as if the ceremony will take place then a reception to follow.  I just didn't know if there would be confusion once the guests arrived.

meganb1977

Even if you're trying to keep it casual...and you still can...if it's important for you that people should be there to see your ceremony, it might make things easier if you provide a time by which people need to arrive.  Depending how your venue will be setting everything up they may need you to go ahead and have your ceremony first so they can re-arrange the room for the reception.

In addition to CMGr's suggestion you could also word your invitations something like

Bride
and
Groom
invite you to share their happiness as they unite in marriage
Date
Time
Location
Reception immediately following

ceh789

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_i-need-serious-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:34afbe49-a2b0-49e9-bb00-7c01a1fe0218Post:d22fa589-cb5a-43c4-80fc-cd21bc0d4b76">Re: I need serious help!!</a>:
[QUOTE]I wondered if that would work, however its going to be more casual then that even.  <strong>We wanted to have everyone arrive and not have a specific time for the actual exchange of vows.</strong>  You are right though, I should just send it as if the ceremony will take place then a reception to follow.  I just didn't know if there would be confusion once the guests arrived.
Posted by WashMcCo2012[/QUOTE]
If you do that people will probably feel confused when they arrive about what they are supposed to do.  It will likely be more comfortable for the guests if they understand the agenda for the day - it doesn't have to be formal just:  arrive, ceremony, reception!  Until you exchange vows people are going to be wondering what's going on - thinking someone is late or something is wrong :)

Mrs.B6302007

You're going to have guests come late and cause everyone to wait or miss it altogether if you don't specify a ceremony start time.

Loopyseven

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_i-need-serious-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:34afbe49-a2b0-49e9-bb00-7c01a1fe0218Post:d22fa589-cb5a-43c4-80fc-cd21bc0d4b76">Re: I need serious help!!</a>:
[QUOTE]I wondered if that would work, however its going to be more casual then that even.  We wanted to have everyone arrive and not have a specific time for the actual exchange of vows.  You are right though, I should just send it as if the ceremony will take place then a reception to follow.  I just didn't know if there would be confusion once the guests arrived.
Posted by WashMcCo2012[/QUOTE]

<div>I'd be a little more specific in your plan than "at some point during the reception we'll exchange vows".  Who is going to officiate?  Are they going to get there at the beginning and at some point you'll tap them on the shoulder and be all "let's do this?"  Are you going to hold people hostage holding off on the vows so no one can leave until late cause you haven't exchanged them yet?  Friends of mine sent invitations saying 6:00 and didn't start the ceremony until 6:30 (on purpose)... everyone stood around with their thumb up their butt not knowing what to do with themselves for 30 minutes.  Pick a ceremony time.  Have cocktails and 'hors d'oeuvres beforehand if you want and then the ceremony, and then dinner, but pick a ceremony time.  </div>

WashMcCo2012

Great!!  You guys have all given me great advice.  I really was unsure of how I would pull off the idea that we have decided on.  With everyones input I'm sure I can figure out how to pull it together.  I do want a casual event, but you're right if I just decide in the moment when to exchange vows, people and myself could end up being confused or having a lot of awkward moments.

Thanks so much ladies!!!

ngkr

We are doing something similar, though a little more structured. In my parents' culture, it's traditional to have the cocktail hour before the ceremony, and we like the style of this. So we are having the invitation say:

Cocktail reception at 6 pm
Ceremony at 7 pm
Dinner and festivities to follow

If you're not having cocktails, or you want to convey a more casual spirit, you could substitute other wording for 'cocktail reception.'