My fiance and I are planning and paying for our wedding, it will be a second wedding for both of us. For our first weddings, they were the usual, big and costly. We are planning a very informal ceremony in the evening with a few friends and family. I want to send invitations to the ones invited but I also want to let them know that there is a reception to follow for certain people. Is it inappropriate to send a reception card that says, " Private Reception following by invitation only."
We are trying not to be rude, but we feel that a private reception for a few people will be just enough. Not to mention, keeping the cost down.
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Jan 25, 2005, 9:26 AM
Post #2 of 2
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Re: [maybaby93] invitations for private wedding
[In reply to]
Consider how you would feel to receive an invitation to a ceremony with the words you suggested. You won't want to risk offending any of your friends and family.
Since it is not polite to invite guests to your ceremony without having some sort of refreshments for them afterwards, the following options are available and considered socially acceptable:
1. Invite as many guests as you like to the ceremony and have a small "reception" immediately following. These refreshments can consist of simply coffee and cake or punch and could be held in the church's hall. A larger reception with a complete meal served can be hosted afterwards. In this case you would have two types of invitations; a ceremony invitation (for everyone) and a reception invitation only for those invited to the larger reception later in the day. If sending both, send them together in the same envelope.
2. Only invite guests to the ceremony you are inviting to the reception. In this case you'll send one invitation including ceremony and reception information.
Best of Luck! Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
invitations for private wedding
