I am a professor at a small (1100) student very close-knit university--2nd wedding. I went to school there myself and have always dreamed of being married in that chapel. I am able to use the facility chapel, antique guesthouse and party facilities at very low or no cost, and the food service chef is superb.
However, I cannot afford the reception dinner if I feed the 600 plus students that will expect to be invited!!!! (I'm really popular), plus the 100 friends and family that have indicated they will probably travel to be here. I am hoping for an early evening October wedding--5:30 or 6pm, with a 7 pm reception desired.
I am planning for the 90 faculty and staff, and their spouses, and the 100 friends and family. I can't afford over 300. But how to exclude the others, or cut costs? Can the reception be limited, but not the ceremony--the chapel holds 600??? Can we serve a limited dinner and invite the students to a dance later, say at 8:30pm? If its even proper, how on earth would you word it? I'd move the time up and serve just finger foods, but I have a very formal dress--I never got to do it "right" the first time, so this is my dream.
It may seem as if your situation is different, but it really isn't. Most everyone has the dilemma of cutting the guest list to a reasonable number. Just invite those who are very close.
It is considered very impolite to invite some to the wedding and not the reception and equally impolite to invite some to part of the reception. You would be labeling some as more important than others.
Unusual Invite Dilemma
