Wording for reception only invite?

Question

I am having an outdoor reception in our backyard, about 40 people, at 3pm and we will only be serving finger foods/appetizers, beer, wine, champagne, iced tea/lemonade, and of course, cake and a few other dessert items. We are having a private ceremony at noon. How should I word this on the invite?
So far this is what I have:

We
Bride
&
Groom
together with our families
request the pleasure of your company
at the reception to celebrate
our wedding day
date/time
address

at the bottom of the invite I would like to include:
garden reception with hors d'oeuvres and refreshments

Does this get the message across that its an invite to the reception only and that we got married earlier in the day? and does it convey that there will be no big meal?
Is this appropriate wording?
Help!

Answer 1

Don't use the word "reception" - you aren't having a reception, you're having a party to celebrate your wedding.



Bride and Groom

together with their families

request the pleasure of your company

at the celebration of their wedding

on DATE and TIME

at PLACE.



*Light refreshments will be served

Answer 2

Even though it is supposedly proper etiquette to invite someone to a reception, but not the ceremony, I disagree. To me, the main event is the exchange of vows. The reception is simply a party to celebrate this. I would be hurt if I were invited to one and not the other. If you are set on having it your way, send out two different invitations, a regular one and another containing only the info on the reception. Beware that this can cause confusion, as some guests call to find out what time the ceremony is supposed to be. They may assume an oversight, and not realize that they have been left out.

Answer 3

You could say:



Mr. Groom and Mrs. Bride

together with our families

request the pleasure of your company

to celebrate our marriage

on day/time

in the Gardens of address



hors d'oevres and refreshments will be served



you could also try:



Bride

&

Groom

will be married on

day/time

in the presence of our families



we request the pleasure of your company

to celebrate our marriage

in the Gardens of address

at time

hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served



I think the latter is a bit more clear. but either way the hors d'oeuvres and refreshments part is pretty to the point. also, the timing needs to be appropriate. don't invite them at 6 pm if you aren't serving dinner (i have actually been to a wedding like that! it was awful! the groomsmen snuck out to get mc Donald's and ate it in front of all the hungry guests. SO tacky!)



If the time is anywhere from 1pm-4 then I think they will understand they aren't going to be served dinner. also, people who have serious questions will ask. perhaps include your mother's information in the rsvp part and they can ask her the details if they really don't understand.

Answer 4

Jenny, what you have planned is fine (for that time of day), but I do not like your wording. Here are my thoughts. Take out the word "we" - it doesn't belong. Also, you should indicate that you will be married privately earlier in the day. Also, the "together with their families" should come first. Here is my version:



Together with their families

Jennifer Sue Johnson

and

Ryan Thomas Sullivan

request the honor of your company

at a reception to honor their marriage

Saturday, the fourth of September

Two thousand ten

at three o'clock in the afternoon

at their home

111 Cleveland Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri



The garden reception will feature

hors d'oeuvres, drinks and dessert.



Jennifer and Ryan will be married in

a private ceremony earlier in the day.

Answer 5

"We the bride and groom, together with our families, request the pleasure of your company on (date) at (time). (address)

Please join us for a Garden Reception. Hors d'oeuvers and light refreshments will be served.

Looking forward to sharing our joy with you, (your names)"



Something like that would get the point across and be appropriate I think. To me it is perfectly okay to call it a Reception. I had two receptions after my wedding. One in the state I was married in after the wedding, and another "Reception Only" in the state my husband lived in before we married.

Answer 6

It sounds like you are inviting them to your wedding by saying to celebrate our wedding day. After the celebrate I would add the following------our marriage or our wedding day as we exchanged vows this morning at __________. or as we exchanged our vows on this our special wedding day.



your company at a reception to celebrate the exchanging of our vows this morning, or on 00/00/00 at 10:00 a.m.



Mr. and Mrs. John William and Susan Anne (Smith) Adams, together with our parents request the pleasure of your company as we continue our celebration on this special day.

A garden reception will be held at 3 p.m. in the afternoon at the home of__________________.



The brides parents, 33 Oak Street, Somewhere, Ca or whose home. To use the term garden implies outside and sounds better than saying outside to me. This will inform your guests and they can dress appropriately and comfortably. Enhance the backyard with various annuals and hanging baskets of flowers from sheperds hook hangers or beautiful large baskets from trees. You didn't ask how to decorate, did you. The three p.m. lets guests know that it will be refreshments only, but I still think I would put A Garden Reception With Hors d' oeures and light refeshments sounds better. The first part of the announcement with your new name will be a Wow when guests read the first line.

Answer 7

I really did think about this when I read your question, and I cannot think of any other wording that you could use. i think I would definitely include the information at the bottom, and that should get the point across. Besides, if the people DON"T understand, they will when they get there..haha! Good luck and congrats!

Answer 8

I would put on the RSVP "Reception Only"