Reception Only?

My coworker actually did this last year. he eloped in may or so and then had a reception only in october. they didn't specifically say that there was gonna be no ceremony but on their invites they wrote it as wedding celebration reception so that made it kind of obvious it was only a reception. they didn't actually do anything like first dance or speeches or cake cutting either during [but doesn't mean you can't!] they just had a 4p cocktail hour. and then 5p dinner. and it ended at around 8pm or something like that.

I think this is totally fine! I would just put on the invitations that it's a reception and make the wording so it doesn't say "the marriage of" since that sounds present tense like it'll happen at the event, if that makes sense.

I’m thinking of doing this! Was wondering the same thing about how it will flow since were having our ceremony this year there will be no ceremony so I’m thinking of doing a cocktail hour first for people to mingle then doing the party just like the reception would be.

I got married yesterday and only invited our immediate family to view the zoom ceremony. So we will just do the whole production over come September for those who didn’t witness the ceremony.


We have bridesmaids that paid for dresses and groomsmen who paid for tuxedos. I want them to walk down the aisle, my flower girls to throw the flowers and experience the whole wedding experience! I’m excited to do it again! Since I didn’t walk down a aisle either. Plus our venue made the decision for us based on finances.
If we take out the allotted ceremony time of one hour we will have to do a whole new contract with new a new deposit and prices. So, we are doing it again and all who saw it yesterday will have to watch it again. If they don’t want to watch then they can decline our invitation!

I've seen invitations that say "You are invited to celebrate the marriage of " No mention of a ceremony at all.

Thanks all! I never considered just changing the wording around on the invitation but that makes total sense.

I think it’s totally fine to do just a reception/party. I would put something in the invitation to let people know to come celebrate your recent nuptials. Word it that way as opposed to “invite you as we exchange vows”.

For me, I’m still planning on getting married on my date 10.24, but if I can’t invite everyone then I’m really planning on a simplified service and having the full ceremony when I can have the reception later. But that’s me.