Wedding reception invite

[Sadie22]

I was informed of the date of the wedding weeks ago, and then received an invitation to a celebration of marriage which I accepted. I just found out that the invitation is to a party only, not the wedding itself, which will take place at the same location shortly before the party. I am disappointed. I was looking forward to attending the wedding. Is this type of thing something new? Or was I supposed to know that a celebration meant just a party? Color me hopelessly old-fashioned and out of the loop!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Hmm, I have never been invited to a reception, but not the actual wedding. Maybe it is being held in a tiny church?

 

[babyrich]

I was informed of the date of the wedding weeks ago, and then received an invitation to a celebration of marriage which I accepted. I just found out that the invitation is to a party only, not the wedding itself, which will take place at the same location shortly before the party. I am disappointed. I was looking forward to attending the wedding. Is this type of thing something new? Or was I supposed to know that a celebration meant just a party? Color me hopelessly old-fashioned and out of the loop!

Maybe its possible that the location only has a small chapel and can only fit a small amount of guests??? The only time I have only been invited to a reception is when the couple went to St. John and got married. They came home and had a reception for family and friends.

 

[Disney845]

I don't think that it is necessarily common here in the US, but I think it could be due to a variety of factors. Perhaps the actual site of the ceremony is too small to fit all of the guests or perhaps it is a case of immediate family for that portion only.

Also, something to consider, are either the bride or groom's family not from the US. It has been my experience that this can be common in other cultures where you might be invited to the ceremony (which could take place in a civil office, etc), or the reception meal, or an evening dancing party afterwards. People could be invited to all or any one of these events.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Just playing devil's advocate...are you sure that doesn't include the ceremony? Because our wedding ceremony is taking place at our reception venue as well - the guests come in, get their place cards, find their table, and then the ceremony will begin. And our invitation was worded as "parents invite you to join them as their children celebrate their marriage" yadda yadda yadda...

Just a thought.

 

[Coconut36]

I have heard of people doing that in situations where the actual site for the wedding will not accommodate everyone. It's possible they have restrictions for the ceremony but not the reception.

 

[budbeerlady]

We have been to 2 of these. It was nice to not have to worry about being late to the wedding!!!! (I usually am very prompt but with wedding we are always late! I blame it on Dh.)

#1 the chapel was really small, so immediate family only viewed the wedding. They then moved across the parking lot to a larger reception building.

#2 The couple was married along a scenic view on the grounds and then walked into the reception area. They didn't have much room to view so family just stood around them at the location.

 

[CurlyGirl]

Could be that they just want an intimate ceremony but want to celebrate afterwards with lots of people.

 

[corgi_monster]

That's fairly common where I'm from.

Another trend here is for people to skip the ceremony and show up for the reception. 50 people might show up to the ceremony, but 300+ will show up for the reception.

 

[AshleyW]

Could be that they just want an intimate ceremony but want to celebrate afterwards with lots of people.

That's what I'm thinking. DF and I are having a destination wedding so it's not an issue, but we had decided earlier that if we were getting married locally, we would want a private ceremony and then a large reception.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hmm, I have never been invited to a reception, but not the actual wedding. Maybe it is being held in a tiny church?

I have. It was a compromise between the bridegroom to let one have a "wedding" versus just eloping. They had a private ceremony with just the parents as witnesses and then joined the reception.

I thought it was odd...but maybe they started a trend. . Guests had open bar while they were in the ceremony, so most didn't seem to mind.

I found it strange that we were in the same building at the same time while it was going on. But the bride wanted the locale for both, so that is what they did.

 

[VAfamily1998]

One of my best friends from high school is LDS (Mormon). I was invited to her wedding reception, but not the actual ceremony itself because it was held in a temple. You have to have special permission to go in a Mormon temple (must be Mormon, and meet other criteria) so many of the family/friends only attend the reception.

 

[lovesmurfs]

If this is for a friend or family member (I would assume it must be, because you've been looking forward to it), couldn't you just ask them about it?

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Another trend here is for people to skip the ceremony and show up for the reception. 50 people might show up to the ceremony, but 300+ will show up for the reception.[/QUOTE]


I think it is beyond tacky when people do this.

 

[JoshAndEvsMom]

I once did a wedding where the couple had their reception on a roof top location and the ceremony down below. Guests were invited to the reception and enjoy hors d'oeuvres while the couple had their ceremony. They could observe from up top but couldn't hear anything that was being said. The couple wanted a very intimate ceremony and only their parents and children were present down below.

This was actually one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever helped plan. The couple was very in tuned to the "marriage" aspect of the day... I have done so many where they were so caught up in the production of it all, I wondered if they actually remembered that they were getting MARRIED... as in FOREVER

 

[aprilgail2]

Another trend here is for people to skip the ceremony and show up for the reception. 50 people might show up to the ceremony, but 300+ will show up for the reception.

I think it is beyond tacky when people do this.[/QUOTE]

Really? Its very common around here- I am very happy its common because I hate weddings so I skip them whenever possible and just go to the reception.

 

[Sadie22]

If this is for a friend or family member (I would assume it must be, because you've been looking forward to it), couldn't you just ask them about it?

Since I have been given this new info, I am going to ask about it now, on the off-chance that the person who "set me straight" was confused. Other young members of the family have done unorthodox things, they are on a limited budget, the date was set and then the arrangements made, and this venue does have limited space indoors, so it could go the way I expected or the way I was told. We shall see.

 

[WowLookAtThat]

My husband and I were married in a courthouse and it wasn't possible to invite everyone so after the ceremony my family came to the barbecue after.

 

[Sadie22]

My husband and I were married in a courthouse and it wasn't possible to invite everyone so after the ceremony my family came to the barbecue after.

That's great, but I'm sure everyone going to the barbecue knew that it was a party after a wedding. All this time I've been expecting to go to a wedding with reception afterwards. I really hope the person who told me different was wrong.

 

[DisneyScraps]

I have heard of that with very small churches or for people that want a very intimate setting.