Comments on: Need info on wedding etiquette when it comes to invitations?

By: duopanther

duopanther — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:15:59 +0000

You don’t have to invite everyone to the ceremony. I’d suggest wording the invitations something like this:

Together with their parents,
Julianne Ella Marquez
and
Derick John Paulsen
request the honor of your presence
at a celebration of their marriage
Saturday
the ninth of June
at seven o’ clock
etc…

This wording also implies that the ceremony has already taken place. I don’t suggest going around telling everyone that there were financial issues or anything… instead, if anyone asks about it, you can just say that you were limited to a small family ceremony, but you’d be honored if they would join you in celebration at the evening reception.
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By: Cherries and Cream

Cherries and Cream — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:55:59 +0000

If you are inviting certain people to the evening do only then you wouldn't invite them to the church. You can get separate invitations for people you intend to just invite to the evening part than from the people you are inviting for the full day.
References :

By: Seafret1412

Seafret1412 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:15:59 +0000

I was lucky to have quite a smallish wedding, so I could invite everyone to the day and the night so they all went to the church.

However, I believe in your situation, you could make a note on the invitations to friends, or even just hand them the invitation, but say "although we’d have loved to invite you all day, unfortunately, we just couldn’t stretch to it financially, however, if you would like to go to the ceremony, you’re more than welcome and let them know the church and time". They will in all likelihood come.
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