Save-the-Date cards for reception after DW?

Perhaps something along the lines of "Save the date! We will be celebrating the marriage of ___ & ____ with a reception in their honor on ___(date)____"

I would find a stationer and ask them for wording samples. I'm sure many of them have encountered this situation before.

Send them like you would for a normal wedding, just say private ceremony to be held in Florida prior.

Your invitations company should be able to assist with proper wording.

Im actually kind of doing the same. having a wedding in greece in feb 2011. my entire family is in pittsburgh and his is in cleveland. so we booked the reception for both sides of our families in cleveland on june 25 2011. since, like u said, its summer and people are busy, plus my family needs some time to make travel arrangements. so after a lot of time debating and freaking out.. my final plan is.. we are sending formal invites to everyone for our wedding in greece and inside the pocket fold we are attaching a little luggage tag save the date for the reception. and then we also will be sending another nothing fancy but "formal" invitation for the reception! i am DIY-ing all these too! they turned out really cute! hope this helped!

We put a reception STD in our announcements after the DW, and then sent out invitations a couple of months, about 8 weeks before the hometown reception. How much time will there be between your actual wedding and the reception that your parents are hosting?

How about

"Were getting married

August 3, 2011

in City, Florida

Please save the date

Day, Month Year

for our reception

when we return as

husband and wife

Brides Name & Groom's Name

Invitations to follow"

I'd leave off the part about when and where the wedding was/will be. It's like telling them there was a party, but they weren't invited! Just include what is pertinent to the guests - when & where for the reception. Iliana's suggestion works well!