Wedding ceremony but no reception?

You have four options:

1. Cake and punch reception for all guests at a non-meal time.

2. Small, intimate ceremony followed by dinner for your guests at a local restaurant.

3. Push back the wedding till you have enough money to host all your guests.

4. Elope.

I think that if you want to just have a ceremony, elope. We debated this quite a bit and my boundary stands at: if we ask someone to be here with us in the beginning of our marriage, then it's only courtesy to provide them with a meal and thanks for coming.

Just to clarify, you still need to pay for the dinner and drinks even if its at the restaurant. I say that because I heard of brides trying to save money and think that because the reception is at a restaurant they dont need to pay.

Yes. Its rude. The reception is the thank you to your guests.

Might as well just get married at the courthouse.

Have you considered eloping? It can be very romantic and could be combined with your honeymoon.

I agree with the suggestion for a restaurant reception! I have been to a few of those and they were lovely and low key!

Definitely rude, people will be offended as it will appear you are just being gift grabby.

Like PP do a small dinner at a restaurant after or elope.

But honestly you should wait until you can properly host your guests. Or postpone your honeymoon, a honeymoon is not a requirement!

I think this needs re-stating, if you do the restaurant option, you're obligated to pick up the bill for everyone.

Also a honeymoon isn't actually necessary. But if you really want one go to any resort in any tropical/Caribbean area and have a destination wedding. 2 for the price of 1

If you do a restaurant reception, please pay for at least beer and wine. It was announced, very pointedly, at a restaurant reception I went to that the hosts would pay for food, but would absolutely pay for zero alcohol. It was really annoying, especially since it was a destination wedding that we drove 6 hours to attend and paid for a hotel for.

As a guest I think it would be kinda weird to get dressed up or travel just for a ceremony. At least cake or something

If you invite people to witness your wedding, the deserve to be fed on your dime. this includes alcohol.

Incredibly rude. Do a courthouse ceremony with a very small bunch and call it a day.

@UnderTheJuneWillows wow that is so rude!

There definitely needs to be some sort of reception.

The reception is the big "Thank you!" to your guests, so you need to have one. If it is not in your budget, considering postponing, eloping, or pushing your honeymoon back. FH and I likely won't be able to afford a honeymoon right away, so we'll be pushing ours back a year and going on an anniversary "honeymoon" trip.

I wouldn't go unless it was someone I really really cared about. And even then, it'd be more of a chore than a celebration!

Yeah I would either elope or just invite family and take them to dinner after

Have a 2 pm wedding and just serve cake, lemonade, iced tea, etc. Just make sure to say something like "Dessert reception to follow" on the invites. That way no one expects real food.