Small Wedding, Big Reception-Unoffensive

Be honest and explain to people that the ceremony is intimate and family only but you want them to be apart of the ceremony. Also, at the reception, maybe someone can show a video of the wedding (my cousin did this, I video taped the wedding and she had a DVD/TV and they showed it, because she got married at a small chapel). Most people were more than happy to make it to the reception, they got to eat, drink and dance and party with the couple so it wasn`t bad at all.

You should consider having two invitations made. One for the close family members and friends who are invited to the cermony and reception and the second invitation announcing your marriage and asking them to attend the reception at... I live in So. California and we have a lot of friends who go to Las Vegas to get married and come home for the reception. Not everyone is invited to the ceremony, and all turns out well. It will be in the wording used on the invitations that will make the difference.