Intimate Church Wedding

You should only invite those that you can afford to host at dinner.

I agree with the PP. I've been to a wedding where the couple did this and it didn't go over very well with a lot of people. I guess it's also a know your crowd type of thing too.

I agree with the other posters. You should only invite the number of people you can afford to pay for their dinner.

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Thank you ladies! I thought the same thing, but I just wanted to get a feel on this.

I agree with PP. I’d start off with enquiring about set menu prices at a few restaurants you’d consider (don’t forget to budget for the tip, which can be quite significant depending on your group size). That will give you an idea of what fits in your budget and how big your guest list should be.

View Quoted Comment Agree with this. It will backfire otherwise.


Also make sure you are covering the cost of dinner for everyone. If you want more guests in attendance, skip dinner and serve cake and coffee to all which is very inexpensive.

View Quoted Comment I second this. Having a wedding at a non mealtime then serving cake & punch immediately afterwards is acceptable and the way to invite more guests.

Totally agree with everyone- only invite those you can afford to provide dinner.

This is the exception to the usual rule that all invited to the church must be invited to the reception: *******
It is the custom in many churches that you may arrange for cheap to have punch and cookies served in a parish hall for those from the congregation who were there, and any friends or family not going to a dinner. Any immediate family and some friends are sent separate invitations, simply inviting them to dinner. These are not talked about with those not invited.

This from Emily Post Etiquette 17th editionis what you will find, for generations back, in any etiquette book.

Invite those you can afford to host. Of you want to invite more ppl, then you could always do simply a cake and punch reception. Big cake from grocery store, and then 2 liter beverages.

Only invite those who you can afford to host. So in your case, I would definitely recommend limiting to immediate family if that's who you plan on hosting at the dinner

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Thank you for your suggestion.

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Thank you for this information.

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Thank you!

Only invite those can afford to host. Cake and coffee is very inexpensive.