Reader Questions: Tricky Wedding Invitation Wording

Yvette writes:

Hello! Can you help me with wedding invitation wording for a second marriage of the bride and first marriage of the groom. It will be an informal outdoor wedding with only close relatives invited. A large reception will be held afterward for all friends, extended family, etc.

Reception-only invitations, while gaining in popularity, are still the exception to the rule. So you need to find a way to express that the invitation is for the reception only, without being rude.

Here are a few examples:

Destination Wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Fielding
Invite you to join us
In celebrating the recent marriage of our daughter
Alice Pearson Fielding
To
Arjun Gangadharan
Which took place March 25, 2008 in Dubai, India

Come toast the happy couple
Saturday, August 19, 2008
Grovers Country Club
Plano, Texas

Or

Reception a month or two after the marriage
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Fielding
Invite you to join them for a dinner honoring
Mr. and Mrs. Arjun and Alice Fielding Gangadharan
Saturday, August 19, 2008
Address, etc.

Or

Reception the same day as ceremony, but some only invited to reception.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Fielding
request the honor of your presence
at the wedding reception of
our daughter
Alice Pearson
and
Arjun Gangadharan
Saturday, August 19, 2008
Address, etc.

Or

Alice Pearson
and
Arjun Gangadharan
will be married in a private ceremony on Saturday, August 19, 2008.
Together with our families, we invite you to join us afterwards at a reception to celebrate our marriage.
Six o'clock in the evening
Grovers Country Club
Plano, Texas


Hope this is helpful! For more tricky wedding invitation wordings, click here.