Coworkers?

You can’t invite people to showers, parties, etc and not invite them to reception. I work with mostly women. I eat lunch with same girls daily for years and one I’ve know for over 14 years. People on my team I am not inviting because I’m not friends outside of work.

The reception is the most expensive part of a wedding. 1. How will inviting more people save you money? 2. Inviting people to one event and not the other is so rude! I would be so offended if I knew my friend was getting married and asked me to come to her reception but I wasn't allowed to actually see her get married and I wasn't allowed to eat. Just don't invite them and maybe have a girls dinner later on.

I think it makes sense in this case to not invite coworkers at all.

Your manager has NO say in this, and I think it's ridiculous that that person would even comment something like that! I definitely agree that it is rude to not invite people for the whole thing! I am inviting quite a few of my co-workers and their plus ones because I feel it'd be rude not to include their person. These are people that make my days better, that make me laugh, that I may see out of work as well. Invite whoever YOU'D like, but that you can afford as well. Good luck to you