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Stephanie
Dedicated May 2022

How many people do this?

Stephanie, on May 8, 2018 at 6:32 PM

Posted in Etiquette and Advice 30

"This" being have a small wedding ceremony just close close family/friends and then do a reception thats much larger and with more people? This was just an idea the popped into my mind. Neither me nor my FH have ever been into the idea of a large wedding but we have alot of friends and family that...
"This" being have a small wedding ceremony just close close family/friends and then do a reception thats much larger and with more people?

This was just an idea the popped into my mind. Neither me nor my FH have ever been into the idea of a large wedding but we have alot of friends and family that we would like to celebrate our marriage together.
So does the idea of a small weddibg ceremony with a larger reception seem like a good idea or would that be rude or insulting to the people who dont get invited to the actual ceremony?

30 Comments

  • A
    Beginner June 2018
    Alli ·
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    We are doing a small ceremony, (parents, grandparents, and siblings) and then a huge reception, almost 200 additional people. The only exception we are making is for out of state guests are welcome to the ceremony. I am in Ohio and I have family coming in from Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina.
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  • M
    VIP June 2018
    Marcellab ·
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    Can't speak for OP but it's not about cost. Some people don't want to share that moment with everyone but would like to just share it with immediate family. I personally would rather just have a small ceremony and larger reception for this purpose, but FH didn't want to do it that way.

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  • T
    Expert September 2018
    Tia_Fred ·
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    My cousin did this and I thought it was fine
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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    I don't think it's rude, I'd prefer being invited to the reception not ceremony rather than ceremony not reception. Could you elope somewhere different than have a ceremony a week or so after with more people?

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  • Stephanie
    Dedicated May 2022
    Stephanie ·
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    Thats something ive been bouncing around in my head. I really want a beach wedding. Im from FL i love love love the sand and the water and the sun, so a beach wedding is like my dream, but getting. Everyone together for that would be very difficult.
    I thought about eloping just the two of us but ive always dreamed of my dad walking me down the isile ya know?

    I dont know much of anything about weddings or wedding edicates, if we eloped with just his parents and mine would that still be a thing my dad could do? And then like a reception party later or something like you said?
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  • BB-H
    VIP September 2018
    BB-H ·
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    I had a friend do this. It was literally them, the officiant, two people acting as witnesses, and their immediate family. Then everyone came to the reception. As PPs stated, I think it only works if it is truly just immediate family, and then everyone for the whole reception. It can work out very nicely.

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  • OrangeCrush
    Super October 2017
    OrangeCrush ·
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    I would do this, however, the people invited to the ceremony would be immediate family only, once you start inviting more than that it can cause hurt feelings. Throw a reception and invite everyone!

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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    Yes of course! You could totally have an immediate family ceremony with 10 guests or less or whatever number and have your dad walk you down the aisle. Then have a reception after! That's totally fine!

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  • J
    Savvy August 2018
    Jacie ·
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    My FH and I are with ya on this. Day of is only going to be immediate family, grandparents, and a few close friends. Then we're taking off on a cruise to who knows where, and when we get back we're planning on having a reception/open house with all of our family and friends.
    Our thoughts have been to send out elopement announcements so people don't feel left out.
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  • Priscilla
    Devoted August 2018
    Priscilla ·
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    My friend did this. They only had their wedding party and parents at the ceremony. I'm guessing it was cool but she didn't want the big crowd until after
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