Separate Invites for Ceremony & Reception?

[lucy love]

HI everyone!

I''m designing the invitations for my friend and they want to do separate invites for the ceremony and the reception because the space for the ceremony isn''t big enough for their whole guest list. They''re getting married here in Hawaii and maybe 1/3 of the guests are expected to be flying in. They already have a list of who they want to invite to the ceremony.

Has anyone done this? Any thoughts, suggestions and ideas you have are greatly appreciated!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I'm sure it's been done before but I can't think of anyone at the moment here on PS (FrekeChild is somewhat similar, but not really). In my opinion this situation needs to be handled with care. I would do one standard invitation for people going to the ceremony AND reception and then a separate invitation for people just going to the reception. For the people going to both I would put some sort or wording on it like:

"Please join us for an intimate ceremony followed by a celebration with dinner and dancing"

and then for people just going to the reception something like/;

"Please join us for a celebration in honor of X and Z's recent nuptials."

 

[teapot]

That's very common in my culture. We would print one announcement for the wedding and two small invites/rsvp cards one for the ceremony and one for the reception. Those folks who aren't invited to the ceremony only gets the reception cards.

ETA: I should clarify. Only the date is on the announcement card, the times and location are on the other cards. Those cards come in their own envelopes. So you have announcement A7/A9 sized, invite to ceremony in it's own smaller envelope, and invite to reception/rsvp card for the reception in it's own envelope and everything in an inner envelope with the outer envelope. Also, since everybody is invited to the reception, you could consider putting the reception information on the announcement card as well.

 

[meresal]

Agree with H_H.

Also, I would think the part that needs to be handled with care, is making sure the "reception only" guests know that before flying to Hawaii.

Maybe add a personal note card to let them know that the ceremony is a small family gathering only. I'm not sure how I would read an invitation that was to a Destination Party and not the wedding. I might assume it was the entire thing. If that makes sense?

 

[lucy love]

thanks for the tips everyone... hopefully nobody''s feelings are hurt by this. it is hard!!!