Ceremony Only?

You would need to host people afterwards in some way. If budget is a concern it’s fine to have a late afternoon reception consisting of just cake and punch that ends before dinner time. If that is not possible then I would elope.

Can you maybe just do a small wedding then take them out to dinner?

You absolutely don’t have to do a reception, just let it be known on your invite that it is ceremony only

That exactly what we wanted to do. When I heard that his parent were going to take people out to eat, I felt that was too much. His parents have so much medical debt, we wanted them to avoid them paying for anything. So now we found a place to hold the reception. Ours will be a party of 50, so itll be small. The place only holds 50 and it's pretty good price.
I would suggest finding a resturaunt with a room and only invite a very small group. I know the whole point is to invite a lot of people and not disappoint anyone. I see it this way, majority just want to go and be nosey and post something on social media. The people that I'm inviting, I know will be rooting us on in this marriage.

My coworker just had a ceremony only. That's fine. It's whatever you want to make of as a wedding. It's all about how we are celebrating you so reception or no reception it's all good

We are already married, and we went to the courthouse, got married and took pictures. Just family and my husband went to a small lunch.
You don't have to have a reception, and that's totally fine! Or you can do a very simple after-party if you'd like.

View Quoted Comment This. And if you do a cake & punch reception (totally fine) just have the wedding at a non-meal time like 2 pm.

No, it's not okay to do. If you invite guests to your reception, you need to receive them afterwards with food and drink appropriate to the time of day (that's what a reception is). It doesn't need to be expensive or fancy, and if you have your ceremony at a non-meal time it can even just be cake and punch, but you need to provide something for your guests after the ceremony.

I personally think it's ok; especially if you let you guests know that there will only be a ceremony.

Totally fine! But it's more normal for a ceremony-only wedding to be close friends and family-- if you're inviting a lot of people, or they're coming from further afield, they'd expect celebrations and food.

Can you do a very small cake and punch reception after?

View Quoted Comment This. In churches there is usually an easy room for punch and cake only. But many ceremony places, no. As long as the invitation says ceremony, does not say reception to follow, it is fine. Receptions are an option, not required. Events that are long and cross a meal time, for people who have traveled for hours, it is common. But an hour ceremony, no.
I have been to weddings in public locations, from at the top of a mountain tramway, to the courtyard of a beaux arts building, to a pier on the great lakes, and Boston Common, with not even refreshments, and no one complained. And others where as the day got closer, and some relative heard small group, no reception, someone or 2 couples if one or both families offered to take a party if 30-45 out to eat. But usual meal, not pricey at all. Do what you can afford, and what you want.

I very strongly disagree that it's acceptable to have a ceremony-only wedding if you invite guests. You don't have to spend much or have a big shebang, but you do need to do something after the ceremony for your guests. You don't host an event without appropriate food and drinks for the time of day; that is standard and basic hosting etiquette.

If you don't want to have a reception, don't feel obligated or pressured to do so. Having a ceremony is about asking people to witness your commitment between you and your SO. It's not about feeding people and "hosting" them. If you choose to have something afterwards, cake and punch is a great option as others have suggested.

I feel you need to do something afterwards for your guests. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive. People took the time and possibly money to come see you get married.

Last month we went to a small ceremony for our friends at their house on a Saturday afternoon. We had Costco cake and sparkling cider afterwards. Everyone wanted to toast the bride and groom and give them their best wishes. It was special to spend time with them and see how happy they were.

View Quoted Comment Hosting etiquette is for a party, meal, etc. where a person is a host. A ceremony is not a hosted event. Baptisms, weddings, graduations, confirmations, christenings, swearing into office, becoming a citizen, and any other ceremonial occasion, especially either a legal or religious one, the ceremony may stand alone. Any hosted party is optional, always has been. Check your history.

It is the norm to host some form of reception after a wedding. I won't get into proper ettiquite because it differs on who you ask and what era it came from. Like others have suggested a simple cake and punch reception in a backyard, church hall, park, etc is just fine. It is a thank you for those who traveled to attend and to celebrate the nuptials. Good photo opp too.