Ceremony Only

If you don't want a reception then don't have one! This day is about you and your fiance making the choice to spend forever together.


If you want to invite 300 people go for it! If you want only the legally required number of witnesses and an officiant there, go for it!
If the people who want to share your day with you want to party afterwards they can do that without you.
My fiance and I aren't sure how many people will be in the room when we get married. Legally we need a civil officiant and two witnesses. I want photos. So for us the minimum is 4 people. We might decide to have only family, or a selection of our closest people. Ultimately it's our choice because it's our big day!

Shannon...I don't know...I think it is weird. Why some get after party and some dont.To make it polite, you maybe would need to add in invitation for ceremony part. No gifts.

Because, inviting for ceremony and people come and bring gift and after that they don't get all the rest of evening with couple would be strange.

I think...just need to represent right!

Definitely not rude. If anything, it's better than the opposite (reception only and no one gets to go to the ceremony).

As long as its just your immediate family its fine. i think its rude once you start picking random aunts/uncles/cousins to attend!

I’m an advocate for your wedding, your choice! If you want to go out to eat after or have drinks somewhere you can totally do that but don’t feel obligated because others want it ☺️

I don't think it rude at all. As long as your family knows there won't be a ceremony I don't see any problem with just a ceremony

A family wedding if fine by keeping it really small and intimate. Still have the elopement with parents and siblings, then dinner together rather than a venue costing you more than needed spending.

I think it's fine.
I am having a very similar wedding except we are going out to dinner with everyone.
I would have liked it to be just us but I decided to pick family harmony.
I think you should do what you are comfortable with.

Completely fine - I'm sure they will be a little down when you tell them, but remind them that it's your day and it's what you want. Also, that you are already deviating from the plan so they can attend the ceremony.

Not if they invited themselves! Just explain your thought process and how this was what you wanted! Make sure they know what to expect!

It should be fine, just let them know there is no reception.

One thing you could consider is going to a restaurant afterwards and have a nice dinner, but maybe asking everyone to pay their own way - again, you don't have to do this if you don't wanna.

I think it’s fine. I would just let people know that there’s no reception afterwards!