I am having a civil ceremony and then a reception after-ward. How do i word my invites?

Question

also would it be weird to invit people to the recption but not to the cermony?

Answer 1

Please join

Jane Doe

and

John Smith

as they celebrate their new wedding vows

at their wedding reception

location name

address

date

time  

Answer 2

I don't think it's odd, but maybe that's because my family is Mormon, and they get married in the temple where only other temple-worthy adult Mormons are allowed.  So there are actually very few invited to the actual wedding.  Most "weddings" I went to when I was young was really just the reception, with a ring ceremony thrown in.  

Don't write, "small private wedding ceremony" because it's unnecessary.  If you word it right, they will have no doubts that it is just a reception they are attending.

Answer 3

I got married two weeks ago, and my reception is at the end of August.  We sent specific invitations for the wedding itself, and separate announcement/invitations for the reception.. (example below)

Girl and Boy were married such and such a day.

Please join us as we celebrate this joyous occasion on such and such a day..

Answer 4

I would use the same language as a traditional wedding invitation but in place of "wedding" or similar language, put "civil ceremony" or something more flowery.

If there is limited space at the ceremony, I would say it's okay to invite people to the reception, but they should be warned.  Perhaps you could have the reception on a different day?

Answer 5

You can just say something like this:

We will be married in a private

wedding ceremony on

Saturday, the twenty-seventh of

October Two thousand and twelve

Please celebrate with us at our

reception

following the ceremony

Harbor view Golf Club

six o'clock

8710 Harbor view Club Drive

Hilliard, Ohio