How do you tell people that may not be invited to the reception, that they can attend the ceremony only?

Question

People have asked me if there invited to the wedding. I say yes because they can attend the ceremony but maybe not the recpetion. How do you tell people that without being rude or sounding cheap?

What should I respond to people that ask if there invited, that Im not planning to invite is more of my question

EVERYONE IS SAYING ITS RUDE BUT NOT TELLING ME HOW TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE THAT ASK ME IF THEY AR INVITED

I am not able to invite everyone because of hall and financial limitations.

Answer 1

Tell them that due to space and financial constraints, you unfortunately are unable to invite them. Tell them you wish it could be different, but your hands are tied. Then let them know that if they would still like to attend the ceremony as a show of support, you would love to see them there, but they are under no obligation to attend.

Answer 2

The reason why you aren't getting many responses is because there is no way to not offend someone in this situation. Inviting someone to the ceremony but not the reception is rude and does sound cheap. Is there any way of having some cake and punch after the ceremony? If the costs of the reception is what will make your budget overboard, scale it down to accommodate everyone you'd like to invite. Perhaps have a dessert reception / hors devours only. The other alternative is to only invite those who are attending the reception to the ceremony. I know that it's not what you want to hear but that is the most sensible thing.

Answer 3

You need to be honest with them and tell them,,eventhough we would like to include everyone, it is just not financially feasable and we have to have a smaller reception and ceremony then we would have liked to. Being honest is definately the best way to go. People understand that weddings are very expensive. Also, do not tell people they can come to the ceremony but not the reception. Just tell them the small, financial thing. Sometimes people invite more people to the reception rather than the ceremony because they want the ceremony to be more personal and intimate.

Answer 4

Hi Lady K,
This is a tough one because it's hard to say that they can come to the wedding if they can't come to the reception.
If they can't come to the reception due to money reasons, then don't invite them to the wedding either.
First off, THEY are rude for asking if they are going to be invited. Obvioulsy they have never had to go through the stress of planning a wedding themselves and having to work with a budget.
If they ask, just be honest and tell them that due to financial reasons you have a very strict amount of guests that are going to be invited.
Also, think of it this way...if you were closer to them, they WOULD be invited anyway. So if they aren't invited then they must not be people that you see all the time or that you are super close with, so don't worry about pissing anyone off. IT'S YOUR WEDDING! Do what makes you happy and remember that no matter what, you're going to piss someone off anyway even if you try accomodating everyone. Do what you feel is appropriate.
Good luck!

Answer 5

You absolutely cannot invite people to the ceremony but not the reception, so you must stop telling people they are invited when they are not. All you need say when someone is forward enough to ask if they are invited to your wedding is to respond that you'd love to invite everyone you know, but you and your fiance have decided on a small wedding and so you won't be able to invite everyone that you'd like to. If you haven't settled on the guest list yet and there's a chance the person will be invited, you might add that you're still working on the guest list, and how difficult it is, blah, blah. You don't need to provide a reason for a small wedding (you don't need to explain that it's too expensive or the hall is too small, or anything else--it's not their business).

Answer 6

You flat out DON'T tell people that! How rude! Basically you're saying that they are not important enough to you for you to invite them to the reception, which includes dinner, presumably. It IS cheap. Maybe you can find a less expensive venue for the reception so you'd be able to afford the reception for everyone you plan on inviting to the ceremony. Good Luck, I know it's stressful. Just don't forget that you'll have to deal with the majority of these people AFTER the wedding, and you don't want to look like a fool.

Answer 7

I had the same issue. I had a very small wedding and couldn't invite all my friends. Several people (who really were close friends) simply assumed they would be invited and asked me where and when . . . I responded by telling them that as dear as they were to me, I wanted a small wedding and was only inviting family and a few others who knew the family well. I know a few people's feelings were hurt, but I don't think they were terribly upset (as I think they would have been to have been invited to the wedding but not the reception; I just don't think you can do that without seeming very insensitive or cheap).

Answer 8

Hi.

Well.....I'm thinking you could figure this out on your own!

Simply say, "I'm sorry, but we need to limit the amount of guests due to finances, so I'm sorry that I could not invite you."

It's best to be perfectly honest with people! You won't sound rude if you simply state it as I have said. Most people DO understand that people are limited financially and cannot invite everyone under the sun!

Now....don't TELL people they can come to the ceremony!! Really, etiquette states that those invited to the ceremony also be invited to the reception!

Good luck and I hope you have a beautiful day!

Answer 9

You cannot invite people to the ceremony but not the reception. You can invite people to the reception but not the ceremony.

Those people who are not invited to the reception should not be invited to any of it. You are going to have to tell these people that they aren't invited. Say something like, "I'm sorry, but we're having a small wedding and won't be able to invite everyone we would like to be there."

It is MUCH easier to tell someone that they aren't invited to anything than it will be to, on your wedding day, tell people at the ceremony that they have to go home now and can't follow everyone else to the reception.

Answer 10

Just say that due to financial restrictions we can not invite as many people as we would like to attend reception and its rude to invite people to the ceremony and not the reception. But if you would like to attend just the ceremony, you are more than welcome. This way told them the reason and now gave them the option with the full understanding that they will be just attending the ceremony.

People shouldn't be asking you to if they are invited to the wedding. That is rude of them.

Answer 11

Well people should not be asking if they are going to be invited it in the first place, however everyone is right, it is not really proper to invite to the ceremony only.

Tell people that those who will be invited will receive their invitation by mail and that the guest list is not finalized yet.

Fiscally no one but the uber-rich can invite everyone they'd like to their wedding, don't be upset by people who think they are more important than they are. Not everyone is going to attend who you invite anyway. Try something non traditional if you want to get more bang for your buck (early reception or buffet).

Congratulations and good luck.