Wedding Resources - Is it okay to have a wedding ceremony without a reception?

Is it okay to have a wedding ceremony without a reception?

I am a bride to be with a ridiculously large family that is very close. In preparing our guest list, my side so far is 122, and his is only 20!! I've trimmed the list down as much as I could and the lowest i can get to is 107, but we simply cannot afford to feed all of those people. Would it be appropriate just to have a wedding ceremony and invite everyone without hosting a formal reception?

Public Comments

Of course. It's your day and your budget and you can do whatever you want with it.
Yes, it's fine. We had just a family wedding and then a come-and-go reception with finger foods and snacks, not a sit down meal. It was great and people were constanly coming, visiting and leaving. We didn't have a dance either.
Yes however, if youw ould still like your wedding cake and all that why dont you have a cocktail reception you should have dessert station coffee sodas and candy buffet and finger foods this way people arent expecting a dinner oh and do it at a time where a meal is not expected.
Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding! First....you are SO lucky to have such a large close family! That is great! OK...your question: NO, you do not need to have a "formal" reception, but you DO need to have something! You cannot expect people to get dressed up, travel to your wedding, bring a gift, and then simply go home after. Something that IS acceptable is to host a cake and punch reception after. That is all you have to do! You can add to it a little more if you want by serving some finger foods along with the cake and punch. OR....perhaps if your family is real close, they will help you with the food (if, in fact, you want to have a meal)....just an idea. A "reception" can be something as little as cake and punch, or as big as a 5-course sit down meal.....it's really whatever the bride and groom want. But, yes, please do something for your guests after so that they can congratulate you and chat with you for a bit.
ya the reception is the best part. You need booze at a wedding. Come on, What you can do casue you are young invite the closes ones somewhere for a gathering after but my opinion is weddings should be all out receptions are some of the best times. Believe me im only 22 ive been to about 10 weddings in my life and you dont understand how much fun your reception will be. Try to figure out how to do it, Good luck but if you dont or are not able to have one its still acceptable .i just love the drunkeness at the reception
you can but its not traditional and most people expect a party after. You could cut costs and just do finger foods or jsut do cake and drinks. Just be sure to plan it opther then meal times and let people know on the invitation so they eat before. there is always a way around it! You should have your day, just find cheaper ways to do it!
It is your day and you can do what you want. But why feed them yourself? Book a venue which will allow you to have your own food, and get everyone to bring something. You can circulate a list of what you would like, or ask certain people to bring starters, others mains, some drinks and the rest deserts. All you need to do is provide the cake!..Will be like a giant picnic...how romantic...and much more fun!!
yes you can have a ceremony without a reception its your wedding and your budget you can do as you want!
Ok, Nickle, think of this one: Go out of town, and take along your two friends, who might be sweethearts, who will stand as you witnesses. Of course, you will have an advanced notice to the judge ( a civil wedding), or the pastor, or minister, or rabbi, or priest, who is going to officiate the wedding ceremony. At the end of the day, you end up with only four people around, you're married, and you can go to the beach to enjoy yourselves. Why not try going to one of the world's beach paradise, Boracay, in the Phils. I tell you, it will be an unforgettable experience. We have so many Europeans, and Asians coming over to do just that. Mabuhay !! welcome to the Philippines !!
Hi we were having this problem before we booked for Cyprus next year. My partner is from a large family, so if we were to do it over here we would have the wedding late on in the afternoon say 3.30. After the pictures are taken etc, you and your day guests would go to the reception say for about 5? We was then going it have a finger buffet for the day guests along with say a glass of wine, champagne for each guest, once people have ate the food and the speeches have been done it will probably be about time that your evening guests would arrive say 7.30. Then what we were going to do was have another Buffet for the evening and day guests that way all the day guests have been fed and watered and so have the night guests and also the day guests again!!!! This will save you so much money. if we was to go with this choice we would of saved over 1,200 pounds!!! and you could also get all your family to muck in together the night before to help with the buffet again that will save you a lot of money or you could get outside caters in. Good Luck xxxx
The quick answer is no. You need to have something, otherwise you are going to seriously offend your guests. It doesn't have to be a big formal dinner, just make sure it is the same formality as your ceremony. Honestly, if you can't afford to feed all those people, you only have two choices: Cut your guestlist, or postpone your wedding date so you can save up some money.
Yes you can.. but you could also do a snack type of reception... or seem your family is so close you could do a potluck type.. have your immediate family all bring a dish to pass and do it in someone's back yard.. I am just afraid you would regret not having the reception later on in life and unfourtantly there is no redos for the most important day of your life..
It's your wedding so discuss and do whatever you like best. Just do it.My sis just signed the papers, treated a few good friends and took wedding pictures.That's all.
You can't have a wedding without any celebration whatsoever. Even if you serve punch and cake, it would be better than absolutely nothing at all.
It's your wedding and that's fine. The only concern would be is if people have to travel far. But really it's your day and do what you want. Congratulations! How exciting.
You can have a late morning or early afternoon ceremony then afterwards do a cake & punch reception, say between 1-4:00 pm.....serve cake, coffee, tea, pastries, cookies, cupcakes,maybe simple finger foods ...this way guests can tank up at home on a hearty breakfast....go to the wedding/reception, and get out in time to have dinner......cake & punch receptions I understand are more common in the south while full blown sit down receptions are more popular up north-don;t know where you are but why stick with one regional custom?.....if you elect to do so make sure there's champagne for the toast but I wouldn't serve alcohol...too early to let a bunch of overly happy people loose on society lol...goood luck.
A cake and punch reception is totally fine. You want to have some sort of reception so you can greet and mingle with your guests! If you're getting married in a church you might be able to have the reception in the church social hall. Congratulations on not going into debt for a big fancy wedding that you can't afford!
While you don't have to figure out a way to feed all those people, I think a small reception - even in the church hall - with cookies, chips, cake & beverages would be nice so that your family doesn't just go to the service and feel like they have to leave. Let them have a little time to speak to you, congratulate you, and take some photos. It doesn't have to be costly, but I think you should do a little something!
Wait until you can afford to host them, or get married very quietly with your immediate family (parents and siblings) but it would be unfair to expect people to dress, purchase a gift, travel and possibly pay for accomodation, and not to feed them!