Invite to Wedding, but NOT Reception?

Here's the thing, it is your wedding, and reception so you can do what you want, but keep in mind the feelings of those hurt who are going to be left out. It sucks to be left out, I know people know what that feels like to not be invited to something, but to hear about it.

I think a small to medium wedding is great, and a large reception for everyone, and maybe you do small snacks and not a large three course meal if you are concerned about costs, and feeding everyone. A small family wedding is great, and a reception is for the friends, and family that know how to party! Again its your special day with your partner, so make it what you want, and goodluck! :-)

I know someone who's doing a 2-part reception... an intimate ceremony and dinner with close friends and family. And then a much larger reception after dinner where everyone's invited. They'll serve cake, have dancing, and there's a cash bar. I thought that was a great middle-ground. The wedding party still gets a full meal so they won't starve after doing wedding stuff all day. At the same time, their friends still get to party with them and have free cake. I wasn't invited to the ceremony and dinner but I'm going to the cake-and-dancing reception. My feelings weren't hurt at all.

Well we need help then. We attend a very large church 200+ so people. I volunteer in the children's ministry and have for the last 4 years. So while I know people I do not necessarily "know" them. My honey and I want intimate rustic romantic and to keep our guest list at 100 max. we have 50 people alone between our siblings their families and us (we both have huge families) is it really that bad to offer an open invite to the ceremony at the church say announce it the fri nite or sun service before the wedding and not discuss reception details. Were glad to do the receiving line, but don't really have time to do a, cake punch reception..grr I'm so confused. I love people but I'm not a millionaire and my fiancee really prefers small gatherings...stressed

I personally would not be offended because I am planning a wedding and anyone who has already had a wedding understands the financial aspect especially with large families. Lets be realistic it is all in how you present you invitation, you can have a message stating how thankful you are to have them join your ceremony but do to your large family you are unable to have everyone attend the reception, or like someone stated earlier you can open the reception up to everyone at a certain time. It is 2013 its your wedding do as you see fit, don't allow other people perceptions to change it, if they are there really for you they will understand.

I personally would not be offended because I am planning a wedding and anyone who has already had a wedding understands the financial aspect especially with large families. Lets be realistic it is all in how you present you invitation, you can have a message stating how thankful you are to have them join your ceremony but do to your large family you are unable to have everyone attend the reception, or like someone stated earlier you can open the reception up to everyone at a certain time. It is 2013 its your wedding do as you see fit, don't allow other people perceptions to change it, if they are there really for you they will understand.

I am facing the same situation because I simply don't have the physical room for everyone I would love to be there. I am considering talking face-to-face to people and letting them know that I have limited room at the reception and don't expect a gift from them, but if they are available I would love to have them celebrate with us at the ceremony.

Yes! It is TOTALLY okay. this is YOUR day and YOUR budget. People can understand that in this day and age weddings are very expensive. The ceremony is the most important part of a wedding not the reception. Long distance guests should be invited to both. Most importantly, remember to have the best damn time on your big day xo

I was invited to the reception and not the ceremony. If the ceremony is just family, that's understandable. But in this case, there were both friends and family at the ceremony. The invitation I got was verbal, and seemed kind of like an afterthought. The message I got, whether intended or not, was that I wasn't special enough to be at the wedding. This definitely hurt my feelings. I think I would have felt better if I hadn't been invited at all to either part.

View Quoted Comment Exactly!!!!!! Makes sense to me...I’m currently struggling with how to word the invite letting people know that the reception is “invitation only”... we don’t feel bad about it at all...wear having a cocktail hour for everyone to be a part of...