[amy l]

My fiance and I have decided to get married on a cruise ship as we wanted to do that for our honeymoon. We have so many friends that a traditional wedding would be an astronomical cost so we wanted to keep it really simple. We are within 2 hours of the port that we want to leave from. Would it be appropriate to send out annoucements to our friends in such a way as to not offend them for opting to do the private ceremony but to also let them know we are thinking of them? I wouldn't mind if any came to the ship to watch the ceremony (it is performed before the ship leaves port and they allow visitors) I just dont want to hurt anyones feelings that we are not doing the big splashy wedding many had hoped for.
Regards,
Amy

[Wedding Queen and MOG]

You have to be careful here since technically you would be inviting them to your wedding. The wedding ceremony is the wedding, and the gift giving portion of the event. If you invite guests to your wedding, you really should be entertaining them in some form afterward, especially if you ask them to drive 2 hours to the wedding. If you can't, at least, offer your guests some refreshments after the ceremony then don't send any invitations (announcements are sent after the wedding to announce that a wedding has taken place).

[Etiquette Now]

Another great piece of advice. It would be impolite to invite guests to a wedding for which they must travel and not provide anything for them.