How to Word Your Reception-Only Wedding 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 become 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 reception only wedding invitation. 

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.

Featured reception-only invitation: We Said Yes

Reception-Only Invitation Wording Examples

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-six 
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

Want something more casual? Here’s a more casual way to invite to your reception: 

Lucy Ballman
and
Zachary Kleery
will be married in a small 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

For a Reception Invitation after a Destination Wedding

Lucy and Zachary are happy to announce
that they were married in a private ceremony
on Saturday, the sixth of August
two thousand twenty-six
in Los Cabos, Mexico
Join us to celebration 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 Wording for a Wedding Reception Invitation

Lucy Ballman
and
Zachary Kleery
tied the knot
on September 6, 2026
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

How to Announce Your Elopement and Invite to a Reception

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