Open Ceremony, private dinner, Open Reception

Yes, too confusing. If I was invited to a wedding that started at 4, with an evening reception, I would expect dinner. Even if you were clear that dinner would not be served, I can't imagine that would go over too well with your reception guests. You can't ask most of your guests to go feed and occupy themselves for a couple of hours while you and your family have dinner - or at least you really shouldn't.

Why don't you have the event at a time when you would not be expected to provide dinner? Start the ceremony at 7:30-9 and have the reception immediately following, or do an afternoon event (between lunch and dinner).

Please don't take this the wrong way: But this is extremely rude. You can't invite people to your ceremony, then tell them they're not invited to dinner, but then invite them back for dancing. It's basically like saying "you're not important enough for me to feed you". Also, if I were invited to a reception at 6:30, that's dinner hour and I would expect dinner. What if you had a private ceremony, private dinner, and then invited people for cocktails and appetizers from 9-midnight? That would be a litte more budget friendly, and you wouldn't piss people off. What do you think?

An alternate option I've seen a lot of brides do is have a very intimate wedding followed by a dinner then a week or few weeks later have an open reception that is more casual (hence more affordable).

IMO you shouldn't ask guests to come to the ceremony, feed themselves, then return later to celebrate.

Or, if you're looking for more budget friendly options, a brunch reception is cheaper and can still turn out really nice. Also, if you had a round of appetizers and drinks in an early evening reception, again- less expensive. For that, you would have your ceremony around 1, then reception from 2-5. Serve drinks and apps and do this on a Saturday or Sunday.

I agree, its not really nice. And if someone found out, i am SURE they would be offended. You could always wait longer and save some more and have a larger wedding. If you're not looking to feed people at all, then you need to do a cocktail reception with the ceremony starting AFTER dinner. then serve finger foods or just a cake and drinks. ya know?! i HAVE seen people have LONG time differences between Cer/Rec but eating in between is mean. PPL would be hungry and expect food

I'm sorry but I have to agree. It's really rude. People will know that they were excluded from the dinner & most likely it will cause hard feelings. I would avoid that plan if I were you.

Maybe you can do and open ceremony and then a cocktail style reception? Like light appetizers and drinks?

I don't think its a bad idea but i don't think the time line you have here works. I like the dinner with family before the Ceremony (at 7 ish) and reception with cake and drinks right after. I think if you are going to have a gap it need to be longer then a couple hours.

I agree with the other ladies, it's just not feasible to serve dinner to a small selection of guest.

What about some of the suggestions here?

Brunch wedding, ceremony/reception not at meal time, reception a few weeks after the ceremony. Those are all great solutions.

If I went to a ceremony at 4 and reception at 6:30 I would expect dinner. I would wind up very hungry and probably leaving early.

I would do an afternoon wedding with a reception that has light refreshments afterward. After the reception is over you can invite a small number of people to go to dinner with you.

6:30pm is dinner time and it will be obvious certain people were invited to the dinner beforehand.

I don't know if your "extra" friends and family would think you rude or not... but it is kind of inconvenient to come to a 4pm ceremony, probably wander out of there around 4:45/5pm (depending on length of ceremony and mingling afterwards) and then have to kill 1.5 hours in a possibly unfamiliar area.

Where are you having the ceremony? If it's in the city or someplace with options surrounding it would make it easier for other guests to find their own dinner between wedding plans. If you're someplace more rural, or in a town that most of them may not know, it puts a burden on them to figure out ways to spend 1.5 or 2 hours.

Weddings can bring out a surprising amount of expectation or judgement, and depending on your specific friends and family maybe they'll be OK with entertaining themselves, or maybe they'll think you've spit on the wedding holy grail.

I agree with everyone else....its kind of rude. PP's had some great suggestions like a brunch reception or just apps. Or else just have your ceremony and dinner with those who are invited to dinner and throw a party you can afford a few weeks later.

Sorry to say but I agree with everyone else also. If I was invited to someone's ceremony but not their dinner/reception I am not sure how I would feel :{

I am throwing this out and would like feed back. My daughter is getting married at 1:00 - 1:45. We were going to invite 220 to ceremony and We were thinking of having a cake and coffee reception from 2:00-4:00. Have coordinator announce that the light reception has ended. We are having a dinner/reception lasting from 6:00-9:00. 150 Invitation only guests. Same location. Is there a way we can pull this off? How could we word invites and word verbal announcements so some are not offended.