I am getting married and having a small private dinner reception for 50 people with the reception being at another location. I will have about 150 people attending the wedding ceremony. I have two sets of invitations being made: #1: wedding and reception info, #2 wedding info only.
Question:
How do you state on the wedding invitation for #2 that the reception is invitation only without hurting people's feelings. Additionally, since we will not be able to accommodate them at a sit down dinner, how can we communicate this to them?
Your invitation to them will only give ceremony location and no reception information. Your guests receiving the invitation for the ceremony only will be confused and probably contact you for reception information. You can at that time let them know that they are only to take part in the wedding ceremony. This cannot be stated on the invitation.
Another option for you would be to do a brief cake and punch reception immediately after the ceremony for ceremony guests. Your reception guests would proceed to the reception and begin with a cocktail hour.
It's always tricky when you try to do this for two different groups and surely someone will be offended along the way. Nancy Tucker President of Weddings Beautiful US http://www.weddingsbeautiful.com
Wedding Announcement - Private Reception
