Inviting guests to reception and not ceremony

I would just take a large group photo at the reception. No need to have them come early or anything like that!

If you want to have entrances at the reception, then go for it! They don't really have anything to do with the ceremony, so I don't see why you can't still have them!

This is what one of my friends did! They just had them and their immediate family at the ceremony. She had her two sisters as bridesmaids and they were still introduced at the reception. I would just do the group photo at the reception.

I personally don't agree with not including everyone at the ceremony, but that's just my own personal opinion. My husband wanted to do this, but myself and a lot of our guests were against this and rather offended they weren't going to be invited to the ceremony. Now to answer your questions.

1. I wouldn't have them arrive early or meet you somewhere special. I would figure out with your photographer a time during the reception that this could be done.

2. I see no correlation between a grand entrance and who is invited to the ceremony so if you want to do a grand entrance then go for it.

Unless he wants it to be more intimate I don't really see a good reason why you wouldn't invite everyone. The ceremony isn't where most of the money is spent on the wedding as the cost is generally the same whether you have 10 guests or 100+ guests whereas the reception is usually per person so if he suggested it to save money then I would have to say I disagree with that logic. My husband only suggested the idea because the location he wanted to have the ceremony could've only accommodated at most 20 people, but both of our families and friends were hurt by the idea of being excluded. The most important part of the wedding is seeing the couple get married so excluding guests from the ceremony in my opinion means you don't view then as important as others.

Normally cocktail hour is held between the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception where food and drinks are served. We did a lot of photos in advance including a first look, but if you don't want to do a first look you could still do some photos in advance so it wouldn't take as long, but I would definitely find out why he only wants to invite immediate family.

Unless there's a really specific reason you want a tiny ceremony and big reception immediately after, I would not do this. If all the people are important enough to be invited to celebrate your marriage, why would you not want them to witness the ceremony? Technically this is fine etiquette-wise, it just has never made sense to me and honestly I don't think I'd attend a reception like this.

Strangely enough the etiquette books do say this is acceptable but is very hurtful to many. Many guests see the ceremony as the most important part of the day and do decline reception only invites. But the reception is where the bulk of the cost goes so a smaller ceremony does not cut costs.

I wouldn't attend something like this as a reception only invite but that's me.