this is the code for the render ad
Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Wedding Invitations & Paper
Wedding Invitations & Paper
New Discussion

Does anyone have experience with an open invitation?

sarahlowrysarahlowry member
First Comment
in Wedding Invitations & Paper
My fiance is from a small town in Kentucky. His grandmother was upset that we were not going to put an ad in the newspaper for our wedding so that the entire town was invited. Today, we decided to change our ceremony venue to have an open invite; however, we are having an invite-only reception at the family farm. How do you word/arrange invitations to make an invite-only reception happen? I'm worried that it won't be clear that the reception is not open to everyone. I want the reception to be intimate and not have the whole town there.

Thanks!
Report Reply to Post

Re: Does anyone have experience with an open invitation?

  • CaliMel11CaliMel11 member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Honestly, if you're inviting everyone to see your ceremony you need to invite them all to the reception too. It's rude not to. the reception is a thank you to the guests for coming, and there is no way to word the invite correctly because it's rude. If it's small town, everyone is going to know that certain people were invited and others were not and it's just not a nice way of going about things. You either invite everyone to both things, or you don't. There is no in between.
    If you can't afford a sit down dinner then just have the reception be a cake and punch type one instead.
    Report Reply
  • SlothGoalsSlothGoals member
    1000 Comments 250 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    I think that you should have gotten some more information about this "open invitation" thing before changing your ceremony venue.

    I would ask FI's Grandmother if everyone who is coming to the ceremony is expected to be invited to the reception as well. To me this sounds similar to putting a wedding in a church bulletin; the difference being a church is a public space, so really anyone who wants to can show up but does not have to be invited to the reception.

    Bottom line: I wouldn't do an open invitation if everyone has to be invited to the reception. How would you even get firm numbers for that?
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic Anniversary 
    Report Reply
  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    If you do not expect to invite everyone who comes to the ceremony to the reception, then I would not issue an open invitation, and I'd have your FI convey that to his grandmother.

    If you want your reception to be invitation-only, then so should your ceremony be.  If it is at a house of worship, then members of the public who are not invited to the reception may show up and can't be refused entry, but they do not have to be welcomed at your reception.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards