Inviting to ceremony only and not reception??

If there are people that are going to the ceremony just to get some alcohol later, then why would you even really want them there?

it does seem that for some the more people the better, but I can't imagine including people in such a important personal day that would be like that.

I asked my groom what he thought of the idea of someone only wanting to attend a wedding so they could get some free alcohol and he said this:

"I'd give them 5 bucks tell to go by themselves some alcohol and don't come! "

geez, if anyone is that desperate for alcohol that they would seriously horn in on someone's special day just to get it, I'd wonder if they needed directions to a local AA meeting.

There was a wedding of a work friend that my FH and I were not invited to the ceremony or the reception but sent a card to " Join the couple in celebrating and dancing the night away". Basically I read that as " Hey you're not important enough for us to invite you to the ceremony or reception, but come after and dance for two hours so you can give us a gift". There was also another one, where we were invited to the Ceremony and Dancing, but not the reception in between. We chose to go to neither. It is somewhat of an insult I think to not include your guests in all aspects of the day. Maybe record your ceremony and post the video on a cool website so people to view afterwards if they want to be a part of your day? IDK...

It is quite common in the UK to invite people to the reception only, but not the other way around. People will be having a good time, chatting to others, then you're telling them to leave and go home while the rest of you have fun.

I know it's really difficult when you want to have everyone involved, and if your friends are asking about it themselves then it seems like they're fine with it, but then if you have a group of people together how do you ask some of them to leave now? I hope you find a solution that works for you.

Maybe on your wedding website you can write it as ceremony is open to all that would like to attend. Reception is by invitation only. Then your friends can make the choice if they want up attend.

Aronna, you are one of the most sensible people I have come across and I'm not being facetious. We could be personality twins!

Stephanie, if you have guests that have no problem coming to the ceremony and not the reception, I say then invite them. Clearly they are reasonable human beings that understand that people have budgets but still want to see and share in the most emotional part of a wedding. And arguably, the most important part of a wedding.

In general this is rude. If your friends ask to at least come to the ceremony though, I think it's ok to let them.

Thanks everyone, in the end it's me making the choice and if my friends want to at least make it to the ceremony it's up to them they know my budget they know how expensive it is they work with me day in and out I think me telling them no you can't go just seems rude I have never asked for gifts and the people that know me know that. I'm glad I have friends that actually want to be there for the important part of my wedding and we don't have to kick them out since our reception is in another place and we will be having some toasts and appetizers at the ceremony before heading out to our reception.

I have close enough friends that would hate to not be able to watch us get married. If they want to go to the ceremony and understand they can't attend the reception then why not let them? I think it's different if they didn't ask and you only invited them to the ceremony but they sound understanding of your situation and just want to watch their friend get married, to me that's not a horrible thing! My friend got mixed up with dates thinking her other friend was getting married the same day, she was planning on going to my ceremony because she thinks they are magical and going to the reception of her other friend, some people do actually like the getting married part of a wedding.

View Quoted Comment Stop letting strangers tell you what to do about YOUR wedding. If your friends want to come to the ceremony which is the MOST important part then let them come!!!