Wedding invitation question

*krista* · #1 May 3rd, 2009, 12:25 PM

I intend on inviting twice as many people to our reception than to our ceremony. How the heck does that work with invitations? I was browsing invitations online and saw that the invitation to the reception is optional, not the ceremony... I need it the other way around! I got my friend's invitation to her wedding and saw that the invitation to the ceremony was the main part of the invitation, and the reception invitation was just a small card inside. How do I go about inviting people to the reception only?

Also, I want to make it clear that the person and their one guest is invited, not their guest and kids. Anyone know how that works?

Oh yeah, and any suggestion for where to get invitations would be much appreciated.

soImarriedAnerd · #2 May 3rd, 2009, 12:31 PM

I would just do the invite to the party for some and to both for others. (like your friend did but the other way LOL). As far as the kids---I put JUST the names of the adults I wanted at the wedding but never added (&family or & kids) to the invite-all but one couple figured it out. I know some people put "adults only gathering" on the invites.

♥Ashley♥ · #3 May 3rd, 2009, 12:42 PM

I thought about doing that, and the way we would word it is something like "you are invited to the celebration of our marriage following a private ceremony" something like that.

Mod-LadyCoconut · #4 May 3rd, 2009, 12:50 PM

I don't really have any advice off-hand on how to invite people to the reception only.

As far as the kids thing goes... saying 'adults only' etc. is often considered hostile. The best way to do it is have your inner & outer envelopes and guests should know that only the people who's names are written on the envelope are inviteed. Some take it a step farther and actually fill in the response cards on the name line -- but I think that's overboard. Some people will get it and some won't -- and those that don't you'll just have to call and have the awkward conversation. Space (we can only fit 125 people, sorry) is the easiest, but if that won't be true for you... just explain that due to the budget you had to make some very difficult cuts - and for that reason you can't allow so&so to bring a random date, etc.

soImarriedAnerd · #5 May 3rd, 2009, 04:56 PM

I had my cousin throw a HUGH issue with not having her 2 kids come to the wedding (3yr. and 1yr old). It wasn't a money issue (even though $90/plate dinner would have been a GREAT reason not to have them) with us or a space issue---it was a flat out -we didn't want children at the wedding or party after wards. We didn't even have a ring bearer or flower girl. And the couple who brought their 2 yr old didn't RSVP them (USHER even!) so we didn't have the chance to tell them no she couldn't come.

**Jenn** · #6 May 3rd, 2009, 09:26 PM

I agree with Ashley about the wording. Just do what your friend did but in reverse. Instead of making the ceremony information be the bulk of the invitation, make that the reception information. Then those that are invited to the ceremony include a small card with that information.

As far as not having children there make sure you put the names of the people that are invited right on the envelope (inner/outer). The majority of your guests will understand what that means. Another good idea might be to have family/friends spread it by word of mouth.

There are a lot of great websites for wedding invitations. I'm always partial to mygatsby.com. That's where I get the text printed for the invitations I make for people. They have a lot of mix and match and custom stuff. Also, I don't know if you joined theknot.com but they have a message board where you can go to your area and ask other brides where they got their invitations (among many other things).

*JenJen* · #7 May 4th, 2009, 04:25 AM

We did that as well. We sent out a separate invitation for the reception only, and those who were invited to the ceremony had a card included that also invited them to the reeption(morning ceremony, evening reception at different locations)

Mars · #8 May 4th, 2009, 05:16 AM

I agree on the wording part as well!

As for the number of persons invited, our cards had the actual numbers like 1 person, 2 persons, etc. So we had something like Mr & Mrs. John and at the bottom it had "No. of persons invited: 2"

I'm not sure if that's the "proper" thing to do but my sister had something similar to Angela's and persons turned up with additional persons. I was not having that!!

I agree on the wording part as well!

As for the number of persons invited, our cards had the actual numbers like 1 person, 2 persons, etc. So we had something like Mr & Mrs. John and at the bottom it had "No. of persons invited: 2"

I'm not sure if that's the "proper" thing to do but my sister had something similar to Angela's and persons turned up with additional persons. I was not having that!!