How to word your reception-only invitations

If you’re planning to have a small wedding, or even elope, you may still want to have that big celebration with your friends and family. Choosing to have a wedding celebration after a private ceremony has becoming more and more popular over the years.

Some couples jet away for a small destination wedding and throw a huge party when they return.

Others just want a private ceremony with only their closest family members, but still want to have a traditional wedding reception with everyone they love most.

If you want to send an invitation to just your reception, you have options. You can send a traditional wedding invitation, and adjust the wording to make it clear your ceremony is private. Or, you can send an invitation designed especially for reception-only celebrations.

Both have options to include an rsvp card. If your reception is large, and you want to keep your rsvps organized and headcount accurate, we recommend including a card with your invite. If you’re not worried about an exact headcount, you could skip the rsvp card or opt for an online rsvp.

When you’re ready to word your reception-only invitation, you have lots of fun options! Here are some samples to get you started…

reception-only wording examples

traditional wording for a reception after a private ceremony

Lucy Anne Ballman
and
Zachary Joseph Kleery
will be married in a small ceremony
on Saturday, the sixth of August
two thousand twenty-two

please join us in celebration
at our wedding reception
following the ceremony
at seven o’clock in the evening
1824 House
2150 Main Street
Waitsfield, Vermont

casual wording for a reception after a private ceremony

Lucy Ballman
and
Zachary Kleery
will be married in a sma
ll ceremony
on Saturday, August 6th Please join us to celebrate
after we say “we do!”
at 7pm in the evening
1824 House
2150 Main Street
Waitsfield, Vermont

wording for a reception after a destination wedding

Lucy and Zachary are happy to announce
their marriage that took place in a private ceremony
on Saturday, the sixth of August
two thousand twenty-two
in Los Cabos, Mexico

Please celebrate with them at a reception
on Saturday, the sixth of September
two thousand twenty-two
at seven o'clock in the evening
1824 House
2150 Main Street
Waitsfield, Vermont

simple wedding reception wording

Lucy Ballman
And
Zachary Kleery
tied the knot
on September 6, 2022

Please join us for a reception
to celebrate our new life together!
Saturday, September 6th, 2022
at seven o'clock in the evening
1824 House
2150 Main Street
Waitsfield, Vermont

wording for a reception after you elope

We Eloped!

Lucy Ballman
And
Zachary Kleery
eloped on September 6, 2022

Please join us to celebrate
Saturday, September 6th, 2022
at seven o'clock in the evening
1824 House
2150 Main Street
Waitsfield, Vermont

We hope you found this advice helpful! Give us a shout if you need any help as you customize your own super-cute reception invitation! xoxo