ceremony vs. reception
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 20:14
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We plan on having about 200 guests at our wedding, however the venue we chose for our ceremony (a wonderful park in our area that is giving us a great deal) only holds 150 people. if it is a nice day and we can be outside our space is basically unlimited, however if it rains the building we are also being given is what has the limit. Now my question is whether there is a proper way to invite guests to JUST the reception for the meal etc and let them know the ceremony will be private for immidiate family only. FH and I don't want to leave anyone out, but the city is enforcing the limit because of fire codes.
We did this for my sons wedding. We invited only close family to the actual wedding. Then on the invitations for everyone else it was an invitation to the reception to celebrate their marriage. No one seemed to have ill feelings about only being invited to the reception.
I see no problem with that idea, really. The ceremony could be a private affair, and the reception could be a grand celebration with everyone.
Since you need to abide by the city's regulations, you will have no choice but to make the ceremony a private event. I firmly believe that everyone else will be happy to just attend the reception. I might be wrong but I'd like to think that people should care about your happiness on that day than about their own feelings.