I am getting married and am having a small backyard wedding, how do i only invite people to the reception?

Question

I am getting married and am having a small backyard wedding, how do i only invite people to the reception?

Answer 1

Simply put reception on the invitation and the time. If they have no other information obviously they can't attend.  

Answer 2

dont' say you are on a low budget and can only have certain number at the ceremony.  The reception is the expensive part. If I heard that I wouldn't go to either.  if you can afford to buy me a dinner and drinks, you can afford to have me be somewhere that doesn't cost any extra,.

If you are going to do this, do what the first person said. if people ask about the ceremony tell them, nicely,it's too small of a yard and the ceremony is full

Answer 3

I actually did this to a few people at my wedding. I made up special invitations that said, we're getting married but on a low budget. I consider you a close friend but can only have so many at the ceremony. However I would be so grateful to have your presence at my reception and hope very much that you attend! People understand, nobody was mad at me and everyone came!

Answer 4

Just word it differently on the invitations.

Instead of "we request the honor of your presence as ___ and ___ exchange vows of holy matrimony...." use "you are cordially invited to a cocktail reception with dinner and dancing to celebrate the marriage of ___ and ___, to be held at reception hall at 5 p.m." Then, for the ceremony, do the standard invitation for the people who will be at the ceremony.

Don't feel bad about excluding anyone from the ceremony, people do it all the time. Every day, people do destination weddings and other types of ceremonies where you can't really have a lot of guests, but then they have a large reception to celebrate.

Answer 5

Brides do this all the time! There's nothing wrong with it!

However, you cannot invite people to the ceremony and not to the reception. It's like saying, "You're good enough to bring me a gift, but not good enough to feed."

Do two types of invitations: one for those attending ceremony AND  reception, and one for those attending reception ONLY. Send applicable response cards with each.

Answer 6

Send out invites that says

Come join us for the celebration of Mr. and Mrs X  at 7pm at the reception all.  

Answer 7

you send them an invitation that says

You are cordially invited to the wedding reception for

Brides Name

and

Grooms Name

on ___________ (date) at ________(time)

at __________(location)