OMG I am confused? If you have a very simple short wedding in the park, no Bridesmaids or groomsmen,?

Question

no chairs( people think this is wrong to) everything simple as can be, how do you write on the invite that there will be no reception? I know some people think you have to have a reception, but we are not and I want to let people know that without sounding rude. Also for the people who will not be invited, is it rude to send out something telling them that we are now MR. & MRS?
Thanks for the help!

We don't want gifts and we are inviting the few people that we are because they won't mind standing for 15 min. to see us exchange vows, not everyone feels they have to get something in return. But thanks for your words anyway.

We have thought about a pot luck, but if we invited everyone that's 150-200 people and we can't be positive that there will be enough food. We have also conciderd the JP, but would still like it to be somewhat nice. I didn't think people standing would be a big deal but I guess it is...

Also this is only for close friends and family, we are not inviting everyone, because we are going about it differently.

Answer 1

if ur having no reception then why have people come and waste their time standing outside? seriously i would be a little pissed bring ing a gift, watching the nupitials and no reception to follow. get married at the jusitce of peace if u have no reception planned.

Answer 2

If you are inviting only a few people and they are close enough to understand your situation they shouldn't find anything rude about an honest wording in your invitations. People should be there because they love and support you, not because they want a free meal for their time. There is nothing wrong with having a short simple wedding in the park surrounded by those closest to you. Staying within your means for a wedding is a very intelligent decision, and you shouldn't let people tell your otherwise. The most important part of a wedding is the everyday married life that comes after.

In your invitations you could use a basic traditional wording with the exception of something stating "just (bride) and (groom) for ceremony only" or "for a simple ceremony". You could also state honestly "no reception to follow."

It is quite common to send out wedding announcements in lui of invitations when you are having a small or excursion ceremony. It isn't rude, simply a way of letting people know you've tied the knot with the one you love.

Answer 3

If you ask people to your wedding, please offer them some sort of refreshment and a chance to talk with you and your new husband afterwards. It doesn't need to be fancy or expensive. After all, if the wedding is being held standing up in a park, I'm assuming you're only inviting a handful of people.

I went to precisely that sort of wedding once. The actual ceremony was only about five minutes and there was nobody there who had such severe leg or back problems that it was any trouble, but I wouldn't recommend having standing only if your ceremony is much longer than that.

Anyway, after the ceremony, all twenty or so of us sat down around a couple picnic tables and had a simple lunch with salads and sandwiches and lemonade. It only lasted and hour or so. The entire spread couldn't have cost more than dinner for two at a slightly upscale restaurant, but it more than satisfied everyone there. You could easily do just fine with a simple cake and some punch of some sort, as long as you don't hold it right at a mealtime.

if you're having a tiny number of people to a short, simple ceremony in the park, chances are you can get away with the no chairs thing unless you're inviting someone who is elderly or infirm, but no food and no chance to spend time with you? That will only make them wonder why they bothered to come. It's not even the food so much as the chance to talk to you and congratulate you.

If you truly want no reception at all of any sort, don't invite people to your wedding. Have it done with just you and the minimum number of witnesses required in your area, and send out announcements to everyone afterwards.

Wedding announcements are in no way rude. In fact, they are considered very proper. It's the traditional way of telling people you're Mr. & Mrs. when circumstances do not allow them to be at the wedding.

Answer 4

Instead of sending out wedding invitations, you can send out wedding announcements. If you are only having 10-15 people attending the ceremony then maybe have a light lunch or something afterwards at your place, or one of your families. You could even maybe rent out a clubhouse if you have one in your neighborhood or apartment complex. It doesn't have to be anything fancy just go to Costco or Sam's club or even one of your local grocery stores and pick up a tray of veggies, and a tray of sandwiches. That wouldn't cost much, and it's not a formal reception just a get together for the close people that witnessed the ceremony. Also for a 15 minute ceremony I would recommend you get a row of chairs. If the ceremony is more like 5 minutes then standing would be ok. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

To be honest, it doesn't sound like you can afford a wedding. One should do what one can afford, and one should follow the rules of etiquette. If you want more than you can afford, then work and save up your money until you can afford the wedding.

It sounds to me like bride and groom should just go to the courthouse and get married. Or go to your place of worship and have the clergy person marry you privately.

You mention friends and family. Are friends and family willing to help you celebrate? After a private wedding, have a BBQ or family party at home. If family is willing to help (maybe everyone bring a dish to share?), it can be done easily.

Personally, I think the wedding in the park idea does not sound workable for you. There should be chairs. Older folks may not be able to stand for even a short ceremony. If you are inviting guests, then you need to have some type of reception . . . even if it is just cake and punch.

I think if finances are a problem for you, have a private wedding. Then the following weekend, have a BBQ or family party at home. That way, everyone can still help you celebrate.

Use something like this for invitations:
Love isn't love 'til you give it away . . .
We, NAME and NAME,
will be married in a
private wedding ceremony
on DATE
You are joyfully invited to an informal
outdoor wedding celebration
after the wedding at TIME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE

Answer 6

In all honesty, you have to give your guests something other that the priveledge of seeing you exchange vows. That's just how it is. You don't have to have a whole reception, but an offering of punch and cake or something is in order. You could get punch/cake for under $100. easily--probably under $50. I can't imagine going to a wedding, there being a 15 minute ceremony, then saying ok, see ya later, and going home...as someone said above, these people are probably your immediate family, and with something like this, no formal invitation is required, just verbally tell them where and when.

And, yes, it's really nice to send out wedding announcements after you've married to extended family and friends.

Answer 7

Your invitation needs to be very clear that they are being invited to a ceremony only. Perhaps something like " Miss Betty Boop and Mr. Mickey Mouse invite you to witness the ceremony joining them in marriage on Saturday, June 1, 2008 at Maple Park." Invitations never mention what's not included, so you can't really say anything about their not being a reception.

While it's not for me to judge your wedding plans, I do find it odd that you are sending formal invitations to just a ceremony, without any kind of reception (even cake and coffee). If there is no reception, usually only VERY close family and friends attend, and you would invite them face-to-face, without a written invitation, and they would know there is no reception.

As for everyone else, you can send wedding announcement safter the wedding to let people know your happy news and new status. Best wishes.

Answer 8

well i would say just make out the wedding invitation do not include reception to follow and dont put an rsvp! The only reason for rsvp is for food head count people wil realize there is no reception if there is no rsvp and nothing to say where the reception is being held! I know you want simple but some people like to sit! Maybe you should spring for a row or two of chairs!!

Answer 9

I don't see a problem with standing for a short ceremony, unless you are inviting elderly or infirm guests.

I don't see why you would send invitations if it's only your closest friends and family. Just send out wedding announcements afterwards. (I would also send them to the attendees to have for a keepsake.)

I just helped my friend have a private outdoor ceremony a few weeks ago. Just the bride, groom, their daughter, me doing photography and my daughter doing video. And the officiant. We did some simple decorations and we stood for the ceremony. (Photographers usually do!)

The bride made her own wedding cake, it was just a small one which they cut for the photo op and then served, along with a bottle of sparkling juice. It was simple and elegant and allowed us to visit for a little while and chat. I think you will be missing out on the importance of breaking bread for the first time as a couple with your closest people surrounding you. If you can plan to just do a cake and punch, it would serve the purpose, or the idea of meeting in a restaurant following the ceremony is a good one.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a happy wedding day and best wishes to your future.

Answer 10

I think people are on track with the wedding announcement. Why not send an announcement, and include a hand-written note asking those that you'd like to attend to join you for the exchanging of vows?

It might be worth it to consider a cake & coffee/punch get-together at someone's home afterwards. That way everyone can relax and congratulate you. It doesn't even need to be a "fancy" wedding cake--hit up your local grocery store and check out the sheet cakes you can order. Or the tiered ones!

Answer 11

Okay, first of all...if people can't get over the fact that they have to stand, then screw them! If they can't be happy enough to attend the ceremony, gather around you in joy and be there with you during the vows, then whatever. It is ridiculous what people make a big deal out of...it sounds to me like there are people who really want you to have a big wedding and so are complaining about small things like no chairs.

I've never heard of someone not having a reception, but thats okay. You can make it work for you if that is what you really want. I would give invitations to anyone you want to attend, you can word your invitation so when people get there, they will get the idea that (for example) standing around you in a circle is something that is taking part in the ceremony:
"blah blah blah(introductory paragraph).... please gather around so and so as they join their hands in marriage, a circle of love to symbolize their commitment to their new life together...blah blah blah(location and time)" OR something like that, they will get it when they get there. That will make them feel included, without having chairs.
You don't have to put anything on the invitation about a reception, just name the date and time of the ceremony. People will ask about the reception and simply say "we aren't having one.." or you can put something on the invite saying "the bride and groom will be departing immediately after the ceremony for their honeymoon" and that will solve the problem also, even if you aren't going somewhere.

Because some people are going to attend the ceremony, you won't just be able to walk away - so find a way to thank everyone for attending by having a little keepsake there for them to take, or a reception line or something where you can talk to them for a bit before you take off.


As for the others not invited, of course you can send out wedding announcements! You can take one of your pics of you and your husband on that day, get onto www.costco.com and upload the photo to their photolab..then put it into an announcement template with some wording and mail it out with the envelopes they give you. That will give everyone a nice pic of you guys are your ceremony to have. Other online sites do that too, I just used Costco because I had one in my town and they were ready in 24 hours.

Good luck and don't let others get you down!