Reception Only Guests

Save the dates aren't required, but you can send them if you want.

I'm hesitant on the showers thing. Technically they're not invited to your wedding, just your reception.

Having a truly intimate ceremony then a larger reception is fine, etiquette wise, but the vast majority of cost comes from the reception so it doesn't really make sense if the reason for doing so is to cut cost.

I would not do this. Its rude.

1. Only invite people to the reception that you are inviting to ceremony. It looks like your asking for gifts.

2. Don't send them STD's.

3. No why would they go to prewedding activities if tehy arent invited to wedding.

Define 'small'...

We did an immediate family only ceremony, and a big reception for everyone! What we did, since the ceremony was so small, was, we sent out invites for the ceremony to the ones invited, and then we sent out separate invites to everyone invited to the reception, and everyone that had been to the ceremony! They were on separate days, so it worked out pretty nicely! Definitely do not send std's for the ceremony to anyone who isn't invited, and if you're having it on the same day, you may want to print up ceremony invites that say 2:00(ex) and reception invites to those invited to the reception that say you are invited to the wedding reception of Jack and Jill at 4:00(ex). That would probably be the best way to do it! Hopefully I don't sound too confusing...lol! It's been a long day!

Yes it has to be very small for this to work though. Like only immediate family.

P.S. We did our wedding this way because of my sever anxiety! I had a panic attack and almost passed out, just in front of our parents and grandparents, so there was no way I could stand up in front of 80 people and say I do...LOL!! As far as budget...the ladies are right...the reception is what costs the most money!!

CK- your opinion.

Mine is that it's pefectly acceptable to have a small wedding. I kind've wish I would've done that. But I would be kind've wiered out to be only invited to the reception. This is my opinion.

If its really only immediate family and friends, like Staci said, than I dont know. Still feels wierd.

Crystal- I can understand that I suffer from anxiety and worry about the cermony alot. I didnt realize that was an acceptable option.

Did you have anxiety about reception? Becuase thats alot of people too?

There are valid reasons out there for reception only invites... for example, some places of worship don't allow non-members to be in the building. A few of my childhood best friends were Mormon and I'm not, so I wouldn't have been allowed at the actual wedding, but was happy to be invited to the reception. Crystal's example is another good one if somebody doesn't want to stand up in front of a lot of people.

But like Christine said, it has to be truly small, like immediate family only. Otherwise there are going to be a lot of hurt feelings.

I think private ceremony and large reception isn't that big of an idea. Tiered inviting is really only an issue when you invite people to ceremony only, or parts of the reception and not to other parts.

I don't really see how this is different than destination wedding, with a reception upon returning.

@Kathryn M. I had a little bit of anxiety about the reception, but not as bad as the ceremony! I didn't have to say anything in front of everyone at the reception, cause we had someone else do a toast for us and introduce us and all that, and then we got to go sit down, so it wasn't so bad...LOL!!

We just attended a reception only this past weekend. The couple was married at the venue a hour before with just immediate family. They sent STDs for the reception. It was a great time and totally appropriate!

This is becoming pretty common where I live. I don't really understand it for a lot of people since the reception is generally the bigger cost driver. A lot of couples are even inviting people for just the dance part of the reception.

I'm not sure about STDs, but I have seen invitations that state that you are invited to the reception only. People don't seem to mind as long as it is a very private ceremony.

View Quoted Comment I’m getting married in May and we sent out STD’s in late October. My fiancé is very shy and now he’s having severe anxiety over a big wedding. I still want to get married so we settled for the idea of a small wedding with immediate family and a big reception. I shouldn’t have sent out STD’s to everyone but it’s too late now. How should I handle this stressful situation?