Intimate Ceremony, Larger Reception

My fiance had wanted to get married in an area that would have accommodated only about 20 people if that and then throw a huge reception afterwards. I rejected that idea because I knew people would feel left out. Even friends of ours who are in our wedding said that wouldn't be fair to those you really wanted to attend the ceremony. Honestly, I don't think there is a good way to go about this without upsetting people. If it is what you do then go ahead, but I would expect backlash from people.

We're doing parents and siblings only at our ceremony and then having a party for my family in Ohio 2 weeks later and one for his family in NY 2 weeks after that. Everyone we've spoken to from the extended families has been completely supportive of it, but I think it would be different if we hadn't kept our guest list so specific. If we started including a couple of friends or any extended family and I would have expected a very different reaction.

My friend had a destination wedding in Mexico, and came back and had a reception 2 months later. She kept her guest list down to immediate family, bridal party and bridal party significant others. Which added up to roughly 40 people.
There were no issues.
They showed a slideshow at the reception.

Totally fine to have an intimate CA ceremony & FL reception later. The reception can have as many wedding traditions as you wish.

For our local reception (50 guests), we had more “wedding” traditions than at our DW: live band, dancing, cake cutting. We wore wedding attire (I had a tea length for that one). We had an 8x10 photo from our wedding on our reception gift table. We had cocktail hour, two-course dinner, open beer & wine bar, and dessert.

Photos from your wedding are fine. Not sure if these days a slide show from your wedding would be too much?

I think it's okay as you have it. I would tell your FH that he can't have other friends there because then it's defeating the purpose of an intimate family ceremony (and two best friends) which is fine. If it's truly only after the ceremony I guess. But if you post any pictures with all those other friends hanging out after your nuptials you are probably going to offend others.

Thanks for the guidance, everyone!

Friends of mine from college had one wedding with dinner reception in Maine where the bride is from, the about month later had another wedding with dinner reception in New Jersey where the groom is from. She wore her dress twice, the BMs wore their dresses twice, (because that was The Year Of Weddings all the groomsmen owned their tuxes since that was cheaper given they were all in each others weddings) Both ceremonies were in houses of worship, and a great time was had by all, and those of us who had to go to both, had twice as much fun!