Small Ceremony, Large Reception

Re: Small Ceremony, Large Reception

• sister2groom

  

  November 2010

  I don't like reception with ceremony invites, I think they're rude, especially if you're inviting some friends (as opposed to restricting the ceremony to just immediate family).

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• GeauxTigers17 member

  

  November 2010

  I disagree with the previous posters. While very rude to invite someone to the ceremony, but not the reception, the opposite is not true. However, you do have the invitation situation backwards.

  
  

  In your situation, make the "fancy" invitation the reception invitation. The wording is similar to a typical invitation:

  
  

  Mr. and Mrs. John Smith 

  request the pleasure of your company 

  at the wedding reception of their daughter

  Penelope Grace

  and (note the "and" - it's not "to" for a reception invitation)

  Mr. George Frank Carpenter

  on Saturday, the ninth of June

  at six o'clock

  The Hilton Hotel

  
  

  Then, add small cards as an insert only to the ceremony invitees requesting their presence at the church. 

  
  

  For the record, I would be very put off by receiving a small card when the real invitations were "fancy and such," but wouldn't at all be bothered by being excluded from the ceremony in typical situations. The manner in which you describe sending "fancy" invites to the ceremony invitees only sorta smacks of "B list" for the reception invitees. 

  

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• jesst32 member

  

  November 2010

  I was planning on doing the same invites (just different wording or something) but my SIL said she'd just send a postcard or something. I thought that was a huge slap in the face. Thanks for your advice!

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• jesst32 member

  

  November 2010

  And by close friends I mostly mean SO of the WP.

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• NOLAbridealmost member

  

  November 2010

  I agree 100% with Geaux Tigers.  Maybe it's a Louisiana thing, but no one I know would mind getting invited to the reception only. It's just like getting invited to a great party.  Sure it might upset your grandma or something, but many distant family members and friends who aren't in the inner-circle won't care. 

  
  Fatty Blog

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• NOLAbridealmost member

  

  November 2010

  Sorry, I forgot to answer the OP question.  Do the formal invites for everyone whether invited to just the reception or both reception and ceremony.

  
  Fatty Blog

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• gailpete member

  

  November 2010

  Also, the RSVP is for the reception only.  People don't need to RSVP for the ceremony.

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• banana468 member

  

  November 2010

  While you CAN invite people to the reception only and not the ceremony, be prepared for some hurt feelings.
  
  That said, if you keep the ceremony truly intimate (like under 20 people) then you can get away with this.  You'd send invitations to the reception and then insert cards would be sent to those you're including in the ceremony.
  

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• KrystalsKitsch member

  

  November 2010

  I just made two invitations. 15 for ceremony/reception and the rest were just for the reception. We are keeping our ceremony small (it's on a beach so while it's public there just won't be enough space, chairs, etc.!) and then the reception space can hold more people. RSVP cards in both and that was that.

  

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• jesst32 member

  

  December 2010

  Thank-you ladies for all of your advice. Small and intimate to me means my family and they alone are close to 75 people. Yes I have a very LARGE family. Thanks for the advice!

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