Key Takeaways
- Let guests know they're invited to the reception with clear invitations that focus on celebrating your marriage.
- Plan a small ceremony while organizing a fun reception where all guests can join in the celebration.
- Make sure to create two guest lists: one for the ceremony and another for the reception only.
Traditional etiquette states that anyone invited to your wedding ceremony has to be invited to your reception—but it doesn’t apply the other way around. That means that you can absolutely bring your dreams of a small, intimate ceremony with just family to fruition, while still getting to plan and throw a party with all of your friends (and without breaking any major wedding rules along the way). There are two main challenges when going this route. The first is emotional: Certain family members might have opinions and feelings about not attending the service. The second is logistical: You need to nail your wedding reception-only invitation wording so that it is crystal clear for attendees (and so you don't start fielding tons of texts and calls about where the first half of your celebration is happening).
We'll help you with both, ahead—but when it comes to designing wedding invitations for a two-part event with different guest lists, you have two options, says stationer Sakshi Karambelkar. "Two separately worded (but perhaps not separately designed!) invitations are always recommended in this scenario, with one having the ceremony plus reception language and the other only having reception language," she explains. "Another option that would work well is to design the invitation as a reception-only event, and include an extra ceremony invitation card in the suites of those invited to the ceremony."
Both suggestions will get your point across, so long as you also choose the correct phrasing—and by providing clarity, you should also be able to reduce certain emotional responses, too. Here, learn more about wedding reception-only invitation wording, including the tips you need to put together an invitation suite that makes sense for this event format and clear text samples that you can make your own.
Wedding Reception-Only Planning Tips
It's important to grasp the nuances of a two-part event before you begin the wedding invitation process. Here's what you need to know about successfully planning a smaller ceremony, followed by a larger reception.
Create Two Separate Guest Lists
Before you begin designing your wedding reception-only invitations, you'll need to plan two separate guest lists: one for the wedding ceremony and reception, and one for just the reception. You can make the ceremony and reception guest lists as small as you wish, whether it’s just your immediate family members or a group of 30 of your closest family members and friends. You could have the ceremony in a church, at your reception venue, or with only the necessary witnesses in city hall. As long as everyone who gets a ceremony invitation is also included in the reception, you’re good to go.
Stick to Your Guns
Once word gets out (or the RSVPs start trickling in), stick to your guns. Some guests may try to pressure you into inviting them to the ceremony, as well. But if you make one exception, you'll invariably have to make another, so stay strong and don't go back on your original decision. Just be sure to convey how excited you are to party with them at the reception—and how grateful you are that they can be there to celebrate you on your special day.
If You're Having the Ceremony Earlier in the Day
If you’re planning both the ceremony and the reception for the same day, try to have your ceremony on the earlier side. This will give you and your intimate group of guests plenty of time to celebrate (we recommend a post-ceremony Champagne toast before you head to the reception!), as well as provide an opportunity for you to take all the pictures you might need before you continue with your evening. Once all of your reception guests arrive, you can make your grand entrance and get straight to mingling.
Planning the overall reception timeline correctly is also important. Make sure you allow ample time for you and your ceremony guests to arrive at the reception, ideally at the same time as the rest of the guests, so the party can get started. If your reception invitation calls for a 6:30 p.m. start time, you may want to have the space ready and the bar open closer to 6 p.m., just in case guests begin to arrive a little bit early. Then the two of you can either jump right into the cocktail hour or have your band or DJ introduce you formally before dinner so you can spend some time greeting the rest of your guests.
If You're Having the Ceremony and Reception Days or Weeks Apart
Having the ceremony and reception on different days requires a little more planning, but also gives you some flexibility. You could have the events a day or a week apart, or spread them out if your schedules work better that way. You can even have the ceremony and reception in different states or countries if you want! And it’s a perfect excuse to put your wedding dress back on!
Wedding Reception-Only Invitation Options
As mentioned, you can tackle invitations for this two-part event format via two methods.
Print Two Different Invitations
Your first option is to print two invitations, one that invites a smaller group to both your ceremony and reception and one that invites the rest of your guests to the reception only. "Typically, we can achieve this using the same design across both sets, with a slight shift in just the language for the two separate groups," says Karambelkar. "This keeps the design and the experience cohesive, while directing the appropriate guests to the appropriate venue." The only downside to this approach? It's often more expensive, since your stationer will need to make two suites instead of one.
Reception-only weddings are a great opportunity to get creative with your stationery. "A lot of 'traditional' invitation design can be thrown out the window because there isn’t a formal ceremony involved, and you can really let your partner and your personalities shine," says Karambelkar. "Make the invitations fun, funky, and full of expression that will get your guests excited to come to the reception!"
Print One Invitation and Include a Ceremony Details Card
To keep costs a little lower, have your main invitation printed with the reception information, then include another insert card with ceremony details for the smaller group of guests who will also be invited to the ceremony. Karambelkar suggests adjusting this card to be a little more personal. "You could use this extra card as a sweet gesture for your close family and friends invited to the ceremony with either a personal note, or some homage to the intimacy of the event," she says.
Either way, your wedding reception-only invitation wording is absolutely key.
On the invitation, instead of inviting guests to witness your marriage, the wording should say that guests are invited to a reception in celebration of your marriage.
Wedding Reception-Only Invitation Wording Samples and Ideas
It is critical to word your reception-only wedding invitations in a way that makes it clear to guests that it is, in fact, just a reception—no ceremony included. "The wording also varies slightly depending on if the ceremony precedes the reception on the same day, or if the reception is happening a while after the wedding ceremony," says Karambelkar, who has the following suggestions:
- “[Names of couple] request the pleasure of your company for a reception in celebration of their new marriage”
- “[Names of couple] request the pleasure of your company for a wedding reception, following an intimate wedding ceremony with close friends and family”
- “The newlyweds [Names of couple] invite you to a reception in honor of their recent marriage”
Looking for a complete wedding reception invitation wording sample? Peruse a few of these invitations' text, which you can make your own.
Emily and Sarah
Emily Katherine Schwartz
and
Sarah Andrew Gordon
will be married in a small ceremony
on Saturday the sixth of October
Please join us in celebration
at their wedding reception
Saturday the twentieth of October
Two thousand eighteen
At half-past six o’clock in the evening
Brooklyn Winery
Brooklyn, New York
Imani and Jason
Wedding Reception
Celebrating the Wedding of
Imani Ellington and Jason Ward
The honor of your presence is requested
on Saturday, the thirty-first of March, 2018
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ellington
6850 Veranda Avenue, Pasadena, California
Kevin and Christopher
Together with their parents
Kevin Baron and Christopher Baron
invite you to celebrate their union
at a wedding reception following the ceremony
Join us for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, dessert, and dancing
at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu
at 4 p.m. on April 15, 2018
Christine and Lee
With great love and joy
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Johnson
and
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Chang
kindly invite you to a
reception celebrating the marriage of their children
Christine and Lee
on Saturday, August 11, 2018
Victoria and Tristan
Just Married
Victoria and Tristan invite you to join them for
a celebration with the newlyweds
at noon on Saturday, June 2, 2018
The Peninsula Beverly Hills
RSVP by May 15, 2018 at www.Tristan-Victoria.wedding
Dahlia and Miguel
We're married!
Please join Dahlia and Miguel for cocktails, dinner, and dancing
And help us celebrate the happy occasion!
On November 3, 2018
At Perch in Los Angeles
