What are your thoughts on this?

A lot of ceremonies now are more intimate so no it's not rude. Do you plan on having a reception?

It's not rude to have a private ceremony and invite guests to the reception, as long as you're clear that you're inviting them to a reception and not a wedding.

In my personal opinion, I would feel weird getting invited to a reception but not the ceremony if it’s the same day. Elopement and having a reception later on is different. But if it’s a ceremony then a reception right after- I think it’s kinda rude. It’s like saying: come celebrate me and our marriage but oh wait... I didn’t want you to actually be there to see it happen. I also thinking getting married should be someone your loved ones are there to see and enjoy with y’all.

It’s fine. The only time it’s rude is when you pick and choose which friends to witness the ceremony and then invite others to just the reception. I would just let people know on the invitations that you’ll be married in a private ceremony.

We've been invited to two receptions of couples that eloped, then just hosted a reception later. We didn't mind. I prefer to see the ceremony than not, but obviously we weren't mad at them. If we eloped, our parents would have been super bummed and probably our close friends too that they missed the ceremony but I think that's crowd-dependent.

View Quoted Comment Yes, we are planning on having a reception.

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Is the reception going to be intimate as well or with more people?

A couple of my friends just eloped and had an intimate ceremony just them. Then half a year later they had a reception celebration.

View Quoted Comment I am not very close with my family because they can be quite toxic. I would feel extremely uncomfortable having them their for the ceremony. I still want them to be able to interact a little bit though. I’m just trying to have some boundaries. This is the main reason we are considering doing this.

View Quoted Comment We were thinking of just having all of our close friends and family around for the reception.

My FSIL eloped. My FMIL was upset at first, but everyone got over it soon and got busy planning a reception for her. It's honestly what you want to do! People will understand.

View Quoted Comment That’s a very good point. I have had two of my sisters who eloped, while others in our family did not, I think most of my family wouldn’t mind. My friends and my fiancé’s friends definitely wouldn’t, they have always supported us in everything.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! This makes me feel so much better!

View Quoted Comment I see your point but not everyone wants people present for life events. It's about the couple & not others in my opinion. Many people choose to marry because they want the focus to be them two. Doesn't mean you don't love the people in your life but some people just don't want a huge affair. My fh hates attention on him due to social anxiety so is doing something private isn't rude rather just focus on us and not being center of attention. I think it just depends on ones perception of events. Don't mean to sound harsh but rude is a rough word for someone's personal preference. I think a private ceremony and reception after is good but like a pp said as long as some are invited and some aren't apart from immediate family.

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I don't think anyone would get offened.

My sister had a ceremony with just family and invited everyone else to the reception after the ceremony. She was also a private person and didn’t want everyone there for that. She put the reception start time on the invitations and just told family what time the ceremony started.