Ceremony and no reception

Are you eloping, or will there be guests? If you're having guests, you need to do at least a cake and punch reception or take them all out to dinner to thank them.

A ceremony for only you and FH or are you having guests? You can’t expect people to come to your ceremony then simply go home. At least a cocktail hour or small dinner

We are not doing a reception. This is my third and his second. Short ceremony and then hit some places with friends and family. I'm wanting to make reservations for the two of us to eat at a nice restaurant though. I don't want to pay for people to drink or eat or take home party favors. Sorry I'm not sorry.

If you have guests, you have to host some kind of reception. Otherwise, you're being super rude.

The reception is a thank you to your guests for attending. I agree with the PPs, at minimum you should host a cake and punch reception at a non-meal time. Personally, I probably would not attend just a ceremony unless it was for someone in my immediate or FH's immediate family.

View Quoted Comment If this is how you feel why are you inviting them? Why not elope? Let me guess, for the gifts?

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Why even invite guests then? Just elope.

There is no way I would go to just a ceremony, especially if it was more than a 15 minute drive for me.

I mean.. It’s okay if you’re eloping I guess. We have family coming from all over and I can’t imagine not feeding them or anything.

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No we aren't asking for gifts. Like I said, it's my third and his second. We aren't wanting for anything and I'm not going to break the bank for people to come out. No one is obligated. Lots of people are happy for us and want to celebrate with us. And that is great. I've already done the gigantic wedding with hundreds of guests, food to the hilt and paid for everyone to drink. This is the way we want it this time around. You wanted opinions. My future husband has anxiety about being in the spotlight and the ceremony will be just enough to keep him from having a panic attack. The rest is pretty social and nonobligatory.

I think it really depends on how many people. If it's just a few people then it's totally chill to just do a quick ceremony and hit up a bar or something for happy hour.

I think this only works with your CLOSEST people - probably like no more than 5 "guests" total. They should know up front though.

View Quoted Comment If you have guests, you have to feed them. If you don’t want to, do not have guests.

View Quoted Comment I 100% agree. Going out to eat on our own and excluding who you invited is rude and disrespectful

If you want to have just the ceremony and have guests then you all go out afterwards to celebrate. If you want to have just a dinner and special night together then I'm sorry but do it with just the 2 of you. If you have people come out for the ceremony, them being super excited for you, they're going to want to celebrate with you so atleast give them that. Any you wont break the bank going to a bar or bar/restaurant.

OP - it's really all about how you present it. Calling it a wedding/ceremony/reception really puts ideas into people's heads as to what it "should" be. I think the key here is to present as "hey, we're getting married. We're heading here after, join us if you can/want."

We did this for our "engagement" party. My advice is be prepared to cover the tab, no matter how small the party is - even if they may decide to just split/cover it.

View Quoted Comment Weird that your picture and name just changed on this post. Are you notifying all of your guests that they will be paying for a meal? I would not be traveling for a wedding when there wouldn't be a reception. My moms third wedding was in a courthouse and her and her H just went to dinner by themselves after. If you invite someone to dinner after your wedding, you should be paying. I'm sure they would be expecting that.

View Quoted Comment No, no it’s not. If you have guests at your wedding ceremony, you must host them in some fashion after, hence receive them.

If you wish to just have you and your spouse go out to eat, then you do not have any guests. Fin.

View Quoted Comment When a friend got married 8 years ago - it was literally 4 people present beside the bride and groom at City hall. We then went to a mid-range Chinese restaurant after and ordered a family style-lunch (no reservations or anything). We (the guests) decided to split the bill as a gift despite the couple's objections.

It was super lax and informal and it was perfect for them.

Do you invite people over your house for your birthday and then kick them out while you enjoy a quite meal with your family?

No. That would be rude.

Why would a once-in-a-lifetime day be any different, let alone less special?

Did the OP just disappear lol

I had a friend who had a small ceremony and dinner afterwards. It was just the bride and groom, both sets of parents and both sets of grandparents. I thought it was sweet and intimate.

View Quoted Comment That was a decision as guests, but the expectation is that you are being hosted by the couple. The expectation is that the couple will pay, if another person offers to pay, that’s up to the couple to accept or decline, but they should be paying in the first place.