Appropriate for just the reception?

Question

my fiancée and I were discussing wedding details ( even though it is a few years off, we are saving up now) and he feels it is appropriate to invite someone to just the reception and not the wedding, and I, honestly dont think that's right. I know some people only show up for the reception, but can we really do that?

Answer 1

No, it's rude. You invite people to both the ceremony and reception.

Answer 2

You can if the wedding is very Small and intimate like immediate family only.

but its hard inviting people to a party but not the reason for a party.

One way around it, destination wedding and a reception when you return.  

Answer 3

It's more appropriate to do it the other way around.

"Come celebrate our day with us, but we don't actually want you there when there's something to celebrate."

However, I speak with a strong religious bias, so take what I say with a grain of salt.  

Answer 4

In my old church when people would get married, they usually said that everyone was invited to the ceremony but only close friends and family were invited to the reception.  They wanted to have sit down dinners, etc. so it would have been costlier to have too many people there.

I personally would rather see people get married and skip the reception but if you're spending more on the ceremony, then that could be what your fiance's reasoning is.

Answer 5

I'm getting married in Nov and have just printed my invites. I guess people do it but personally...If I don't want someone to come to my ceremony then why would I want them at the reception. At least they aren't drinking and eating at the ceremony right?  I would think its a little rude to say to someone ''your not invited to the wedding but feel free to come to the reception!?'' You are either inviting them to share in your special day or your not...thats what I think anyway. Best of luck to you :)

Answer 6

Yes this is perfectly acceptable.

Most wedding invitation suppliers, offer invites for both wedding & reception and just for reception.

If you dont feel confortable with doing this you should discuss it with your partner and come to some sort of agreement about it!

Hope this helps  

Answer 7

Yes, you can invite people just to the reception.  More and more brides are doing that because of the size of the churches.  It's like you said most people show up for just the reception and that is really where you see your guest anyway.  You can word your reception invite really nice and it will still make everyone feel special.  

Answer 8

Most people I know who have got married recently have had close family and very close friends as guests to the actual service and wedding meal. All other relatives and other friends were invited to the evening reception only.  

Answer 9

A lot of people think its ok to have a small ceremony and a big reception.

Im not one of those people. I just think that the reception is the party celebrating the main event, the ceremony. The ceremony is the whole reason for having a reception in the first place. Essentially you are throwing your own party, thanking your guests for being present at the ceremony.

People say that they want "private" ceremonies, or that most guests skip the ceremony anyway. In my experience, not true. Who skips ceremonies? Thats ridiculous.

I agree with you!