Wedding Party vs. Reception Party

Hmmm ... some people might be offended. Can you do a cocktail reception instead a a dinner?

I got invited to something like this. They just put nicely (in fine print) either on the invitation or program (i don't remember which) that due to space, it is Invitation only to the reception. Yea, some people might be offended but whatever. They'll get over it.

Actually, i think the put it on the program, not the invitation. They just had a separate inviation for the reception.

I have been to weddings before of co workers who only invited their closest friends and family to the reception. I was invited and others werent but everyone understood and were happy to be invited to the wedding anyway. I think if people have the choice of either just being invited to the wedding and not the reception or not being invited at all they'd choose to go to the wedding. In the end the wedding is to celebrate eachothers love and committing to one another the rest is the party and not everyone needs to be their for that.

Honestly, at times like these people should understand, but some still wont. no matter what you do, someone will always be unhappy about something that you choose to do with your wedding. personally, im inviting everyone on my guest list to both, but if anyone who isnt invited asks if they can come, im telling them anyone can come to the ceremony since itll be at a church. but reception is invitation only

You should not invite people to the ceremony who are not invited to the reception. If you can't afford to have a reception for all of your guests, then you should keep the ceremony just as small. Another option would be to limit the reception, like just have it be appetizers, punch, and cake, so you can accomodate more people.

I would be slightly offended if I were invited to the ceremony and not reception, especially if we had to travel. I would recommend cutting the guest list, or changing the time of the reception so you could have just a cocktail reception with finger foods and a cake. (Just make sure you don't hold a light refreshment reception at meal time ie: 6pm, people will be expecing a meal, and state the type of reception on your invite)

Thanks everyone for the responses! I figured that would be the response I got. Just wanted to ask though. lol

If I can find a place big enough (and cheap enough), we'll probably end up doing a cocktail reception. I'm already planning to do my own catering with finger food type items, except for the cake of course. So hopefully I can use that saved budget for the reception hall.

Thanks again everyone! :-)

Girl do what you gotta do. Bump that etiquette stuff. No one said you needed to follow it. If it doesn't fit the budget, your FH will have to understand.