We have found a venue that we both really like that would hold our ceremony and reception, the only problem is that it is on the small side. We could have a maximum of 45 for the ceremony, 75 for the meal and 120 for the evening reception. We have worked through numbers and it would work if we invited parents, siblings, grandparents, best friends and aunts and uncles for the ceremony and then cousins and a few other friends for wedding breakfast and then finally the evening guests. Just wondering if it's a bit strange to invite people to the meal but not the ceremony and if people are likely to be offended? Ideally we would like them all to be there but this has been the only venue we have seen that we have both felt good about after viewing it. It is attached to a pub so we were thinking the wedding breakfast guests could have a drink whilst the ceremony was happening which would only last about half an hour but how would we go about wording the invites?
CommentAuthorDonnaH39
I think that would be okay if you explain why they aren't coming to the ceremony, it's not the same as inviting people to the ceremony and then saying ''oh but you can't come to the breakfast'' so I can't imagine many people would be offended by that.
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
edited
When are you getting married? Do they have outside grounds you could use for the ceremony? At my venue guests were able to spill out the French doors so people could get married in the smaller room but still in the venue, if that makes sense
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorMissM2bMrsW
Thanks for your replies. We're getting married in December so using outside space won't really be an option. I personally don't think I would be offended so hopefully people see it in the same light, I've just never heard of anyone doing it like that before so didn't know if it was odd.
CommentAuthorInDreamland
I went to a wedding where the church was too small for all the guests so I heard the bride and groom asked some guests to just miss the ceremony and come to the wedding breakfast, it was a little church so a squeeze. I think people will understand.
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
I think it's fine if you explain to your guests. I'm sure no one would have a problem.. those not invited to the ceremony should just be grateful that they're special enough to come for the wedding breakfast! :) x
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorMrsEmmaP
I think it's fine, they shouldn't have a problem and they still get to share the meal, speeches etc with you before the evening guests get there. I would just say something like 'you are invited to share our first meal as Mr & Mrs' or something, that way it is clear they are not invited to the ceremony but they know it is not just the evening x
Got together on 14th March 2010
Got engaged on 25th December 2013
Became Mrs P on 14th May 2016 - best day ever!
CommentAuthorWhovianbride
I'm not sure, the ceremony is the most important bit and would be sure if I was invited to a wedding day but not the ceremony would be a bit confused and mifed.
Met June 2009 on my Birthday,Met again July 2009 and got
together, May 2010 Moved in,Jan 2011 got pregnant,
August 2011 Got our own place, 2011 Had our Baby Girl,
Dec 2011 Got engaged, July 2015 Getting married! Yay!
CommentAuthorFlossie
^^ that's why I think it's important to explain the issue you have regarding numbers so that they fully understand. They should still be honoured that you've asked them to join you for the wedding breakfast and celebrate with you x
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorlala "mod" bunni
put something like this in with you invite ....
due to size of ceremony venue we are extremely restricted on numbers however we would love you to join us for our first meal as a married couple , then carry on and enjoy the rest of the day with us
i think it should be fine a lot registry offices are very small so guests get invited to the reception and evening do even if they haven't been to the ceremony tbh i think anyone they should feel grateful for being invited to any part of it i know i would xx
Officially married my best friend 2/5/2015 (secretly)
Big wedding 18/06/2016
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
Our registry office is really small, fits 15-20 guests in