OK, so I would love some opinions on this subject. I am having an intimate wedding where the ceremony and reception to follow (after pictures) is at the same venue that holds 56 people seated and can hold 75 standing. The guest list is currently 39 people and includes parents, grandparents, step sibings and 6 close friends. Now I have a large family of aunts and uncles that are hurt that they will not see us get married and inviting these relatives increases our guest list over the maximum capacity to 65 which is 9 people too many. Is it polite to send them a ceremony only invite and state that it is a small intimate wedding with a limited venue capacity? Some people will have to stand at the back for the ceremony as my grandparents will need to sit. Also, now, if I send out my invites early with an early rsvp date, and my numbers confirmed for both the ceremony and reception and ceremony only invites are under the 56 seated capacity, can I then call my family members ( aunts and incles ) that are willing to attend my ceremony only for the reception to follow as i can now accomidate them? Also, another factor is that my parents are paying for the wedding, they have accepted that I will have a small intimate ceremony and havent said much other than "what ever makes you happy" but I know that if i made this effort that they will really appreciate it.