Weddings With No Reception

Tabatha, you can`t invite people to your wedding and then ask them to pay for their own dinners at your reception. (by the way, it`s still a reception whether it`s in a restaurant, hotel, wedding hall or wherever!).

If you can`t afford to pay for dinner, then do something less expensive that you can afford.

I agree, at the very least have a small reception some cake and punch. Keep it under 30 minutes, then your close family
I.e Mom Dad his Mom Dad and any brothers and sisters you and him might have can go out to eat after all your guests have left. Nobody needs to know.

I am guessing that this is not a very big wedding. If it`s just family and close friends, say 20-30 people, hand out invitations to the wedding personally and tell them about dinner afterward. It may be nice to state no gifts since they are paying for dinner. But it`s up to you, you know your family and friends best.

I recently hosted an anniversary party at Cooker for 30 people, it was lovely and everyone understood about covering their own check.

Never, ever send anything with your invitation that says "costs are guests responsibility". That is awful. You can`t invite people to your wedding and then tell them they have to pay to eat. Either do a reception that you can afford, or just invite your immediate families to the restaurant. But never insert anything in an invitation that invites your guest to pay for their own dinner at your wedding reception.

If they are your close family and friends they will understand that your budget doesn not allow dinner. It is up to you how you want to handle it.

Jenice, I think everyone here understands that her budget won`t allow her to pay for dinner. So what we`re trying to point out is that she should serve something else that she CAN afford. It`s much better to do that than to have the people you invite pay for your dinner party.

Another idea for you is to have the ceremony and set something up whether at your own home or at someone elses who would be attending the ceremony, depending on the number of guests(assuming small amount as the others) you can get catered food for much less than a restaurant or banquet hall. You can decorate the place even if it means making the decorations yourself or others helping you make the decorations. I don`t know the area you live in, but you might be able to find things for lowered prices/bargain deals to make things yourself and dress it up a bit. I do agree though you cannot put that on the invitations guests are responsible for their dinner, but by informing close friends and family of the situation, it should be fine. No matter how they feel it is your wedding.

Hey..just a thought..what about doing lasagna`s from frozen? they are inexpenxive and go along way..bake them the day before then just reheat for after the wedding along with buns..and fruit for desert like apples and banana`s with coffee and tea..or maybe see if they can do a simple sheet cake for you?

Why not have a morning ceremony with an afternoon tea. All you need to do is provide some tea and juice, mini sandwiches (just make a normal sandwich, cut off the crusts and cut that into finger sized bits), some fruit and maybe a few squares or tarts. Really simple and inexpensive, yet still a reception.