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I'm confused, you are inviting some people to the ceremony but not everyone gets to go to the reception?
How many people are you inviting to the ceremony only? I would go out and buy some Michaels invites and DIY some ceremony only invites super quickly.
Ouch.
Yes, everyone who gets that will assume they are invited to both. Even without a response card in the envelope.
I think the only thing you can do is send them out and make some phone calls. Yes, include a note, but also call them. This could be a pretty sticky situation depending on your guests and how common it is in your circles to only be invited to the ceremony and not the reception.
As for what the note should say, I guess something along the lines of how sorry you are for the confusion on your invite, but that the reception is for close family only but that you hope they'll attend to see you become husband and wife at the ceremony.
Sorry I'm not of more help... though I've been a wedding coordinator for years I've never worked with a couple who didn't have the ceremony/reception with the same guest list.
Good luck and ask your mom for help, too!
uh oh! If you put the reception info on the invite, then you ARE inviting all of these guests to both the ceremony and reception. I think the only option, even though it's a pain in the behind, is to redo your invites. If you include a note, saying by the way, you're actually NOT invited to the reception, even though I printed the info on the invite is pretty rude, in my opinion. Because of this, I think the only way to not offend your guests is to reprint them, and obviously omit the reception info. Sorry this happened to you, it totally sucks.:(
ETA: You'd only have to redo invites for those guests who you planned to invite to the ceremony only, and you could keep the invites for those who are invited to both.
I think it would be awkward and in poor taste to send someone a printed invitation that mentions the reception, then a separate enclosure that in effect says"By the way, you are not invited to the reception".
I would be pretty offended if I got an invitation with the reception info on it, but then there was a note that I wasn't in fact invited to the reception. Some people get to go, but I am not one of them? like a PP said, I would go to Michaels and make some new invites ASAP
@simplifiedbride: My thoughts exactly.
If I received an invitation with a note rescinding the invitation, I would feel offended. But you don't really have a choice since they go out this week.
I would print out ceremony-only invites as well. :(
Reposting what @Jules1949 wrote for emphasis
I think it would be awkward and in poor taste to send someone a printed invitation that mentions the reception, then a separate enclosure that in effect says"By the way, you are not invited to the reception".
I just don't see how it can be done without hurting some feelings.
"Oh, uh, well, I'm telling you about this party we're having, inviting you with the invitation and now I'm uninviting you with this note"
I would be hurt
Yikes, I think you definitely need to print out different invitations without any reception information on them for the guests who aren't invited to the reception.
I'm 100% not trying to start anything here, I'm just curious - I've never heard of a wedding without a reception. Is this common?
How many more people are you inviting to the wedding that you are NOT inviting to the reception?
This wasn't an option, but can you just include them in the reception, too?
You definitely need new invitations for those who are not included in the reception. There is no advisable way to send a note telling them to disregard the reception information because they are not included.
You aren't having anything following the ceremony for all guests? I've heard of a little shindig at ceremony sites, then a private reception later for close family, but never a wedding with nothing for all guests.
I agree with the other posters, I don't think you can send out invites with reception info to people who aren't invited to the reception. Including a note saying they aren't invited to the reception that's clearly listed on the invite would definitely offend people.
(sigh) Of course, I do not want to offend anyone.. I WISH it was as easy to just invite everyone who's currently not invited to the reception.. to the reception. Budget & hall restraints just wont allow it.
Our initial idea was to have a cake-n-punch reception for other guests, but the church nixed us on that.
so far the guest list is 160, reception list is 120
(my invitations are sooo pretty, too...) I can't believe I did this!!!! smh.
Good news!! my bff is reprinting the invite on cardstock paper, very same invite, in colored ink, w/o the reception info omitted. Now to find envelopes! Crisis averted!!!
And THIS... is why she's the BFF.. I would be bananas w/o her. (and my sweetheart!)
ALL SMILES..
I still think it's risky because so many people will still ask where the reception is after the wedding orfollow others over in their car to the reception site. I just invited only people that were invited to the reception that way there is no confusion.
it's impolite to invite people to the ceremony and not reception. it just looks like a gift grab. if you can't afford to have everyone at your reception, don't invite them to the ceremony.
@LGenz: Ditto LGenz's response. Or is there any way you cut off the part about the recpetion on some of them as not to waste invites?
My fiance & I have explained to ALL our friends & family that we cannot accomadate everyone for the reception; and most just want to be there to witness the ceremony. There isnt any intention to get gifts at all.. our main concern is that all of our friends & family witness the main point of the day, to see us get married. Gifts, although lovely, are optional. But they know us WAAAAY better than to think that we are doing anything like that.
@jeffloveschrissy: Yup.. the BFF made it happen. Duplicated the invites, without the reception info. Whew! crisis averted.
So are you specifically telling them that they arent invited to the reception? Because a lot of people will automtically assume that they are invited to the reception. Personally I would only give an invite to those you want to attend the reception as well otherwise you will face a lot of awkward questions later
Please don't invite people to the ceremony and not the reception. There is no way around it to make it appropriate and not rude. Keep your guest list at the 120 and you'll be golden.
I think you REALLY need to re-do your invites. It is just incredibly rude to list the reception on everyone's invite, and then try to include a note to un-invite some people from the reception that they already know about. If you care about being polite at all, you cannot send out these invitations. Why are you not inviting everyone to the reception anyway?
If they are important enough to witness your ceremony, then they are important enough for you to figure out a way to invite them to the reception. I would be really, really put off and offended if I were invited to a ceremony and knew there was a reception but wasn't invited.
My advice is to cut back the entire guest list to 120 period. Only invite those people. Invite them to both the ceremony and reception that way you don't have to leave anyone out.
No way in a million years should you invite people to your ceremony and leave them out of the reception. I think that's kind of awful to be honest.
@delirium.megans: I second that. Keep it at 120!!!
Honestly, even though you have explained to your guests that you can't accommodate everyone, cutting a guest list from 160 to 120 isn't that hard. Plus you can always have your rsvp date early so you can send out more invites to those you didn't include in the first round. No matter how understanding guests are, it is still in poor taste.
I appreciate all your responses. Our problem is solved. Both sets of beautiful invites are in & we are very excited. Our guests are our dear friends & family.. no matter your comments about poor taste or being rude, everyone is very much happy with our union & even happier to join us, whether for the ceremony and reception, or just the ceremony itself. Perhaps you feel different, but its our decision, & our family & friends are ok with it. At the end of either event, I'm just excited to be marrying my absolute best friend. <bigggg smile> bblessed ladies...
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So... I had my invitations done & all was well. I had only included the wedding info on the invitation, as that's all the online form asked for. The lady who worked with me sent me an email, asking why I didn't have the reception info, & wher it was. Not thinking (well actually thinking, that's great! i can put it on 1 pg), I gave it to her. They sent my proof.. with the church info at the top & a space, & the reception info at the bottom. Perfect? NOTTTTT!
My mom sees the proof (after the order had already gone in) & calls me at 7am on Saturday (sheesh!). Says that every person who gets an invite would think they are invited to the reception, too, since the info is there. (sigh) I do see her point, but seeing as they are ON THEIR WAY to me.. nothing much can be done. I do have RSVP cards for those invited to the reception
My solution: To add a small note in each invite (only for those NOT invited to the reception), saying something. Now here's where I need your help. WHAT should I say??? I was thinking to mention something about ourwedding being a closed, intimate gathering.. and to thank them for attending the wedding. (shrugs shoulder) I don't know. HELPPPPP me!!