How do i word "no reception to follow" more formally?

Are the ceremony and reception at the same location? Do you think that no one will mention the reception at the ceremony within these people's earshot? This just feels like it could go really, really wrong.

Is your dad contributing financially to the wedding? Honestly, if you don't want them there, you shouldn't invite them at all, regardless of what your dad wants.

I completely get your frustration with these added guests, but I agree with Becky that the approach would be to just not invite them at all. Unless your dad is contributing to the wedding, he has no say over the guest list and you just need to tell him firmly no, you’ve thought about it, and you will not be adding to the guest list at this time. There might be even worse confrontations if they come to the ceremony only to find out that everyone else gets to go to a fun reception afterward.

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The wedding is at 2 and the reception is at 5 so there will be enough of a gap that I don't think they will notice. I also don't think they will come. I really just want to be able to say "Welp, I tried" to my dad. The guest count is currently 38 people, 24 of which are my fiance's guests. So i'm not worried about my family telling them something but again I really don't think they will come. If it's rude enough that they don't come, I guess that is kind of my goal.

Honestly just don't invite them

Especially with how small your guest list is, I would just tell him no and not invite them at all. You will definitely notice them at the ceremony and they will be in those pictures if they do show up. Like, one of my favorite ceremony photos is a shot where the photographer got an angle that also showed a lot of my guests, and it’s so sweet to see all our loved ones exchange our vows. If you really don’t want these people there, you don’t want them at the ceremony either.

View Quoted Comment I agree with Becky. It's very likely that these relatives will find out from someone (either ahead of time or at the ceremony) that there's a reception and that they weren't invited to it, and that would cause awkwardness and hurt feelings. If you don't want to invite them to the reception, then I wouldn't invite them to the ceremony either. If you do invite them to the ceremony, then I would definitely invite them to the reception too. If you're paying for your wedding, you do not need to honor your dad's request of inviting them.

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With only 38 people invited, you're going to know they're at the ceremony - and they're going to be in photos. I really think you should just tell your dad you don't want them, and they will not be receiving an invitation - unless he's paying. If he's paying, he gets some say in the guest list, which likely means you'll have to invite them to all of it. Also - you said none of your family would tell them about the reception - but it sounds like your dad might.

This is a hard one, but I agree with the others and do not think just inviting them to the ceremony is the solution. If you really do not want them there then tell your dad you will not be inviting them and ask you fiance to back you up on the choice. Good luck!

If your Dad is not paying, he gets no say in the guest list. Just because you don't know these people doesn't mean you should be rude to them. I think the purpose of being rude but not too rude is not well thought out.

I just wouldn't invite them. If your Dad is dying to see everyone he can have a family reunion, just not at your wedding.

Honestly, I just wouldn't invite them. If it is so important to your dad, maybe he can host a special gathering at his house or something and can throw him a bone and show up for an hour or so there.

There’s no polite way to phrase that. Don’t invite them and set hard boundaries with consequences for dad. Tell him no and hang up the phone when he brings up the topic. He can host family on his own time in his house at a separate occasion. There is no reason to bully you with this.