Invitations to the Reception

Wedding ceremonies and receptions do not necessarily have the same number of guests. Many couples, especially those in which the bride is a second-time bride, have small, intimate ceremonies with larger receptions afterwards. Since more people are invited to the reception than the ceremony, the invitations are for the reception. Guests invited to the ceremony are sent ceremony cards with their reception invitations.

Reception invitations always "request the pleasure of your company" since the reception is not being held in a house of worship. The word "and" is used to join the names of the bride and groom. The phrases "marriage reception" and "wedding reception" are both correct. "Marriage reception" is the more traditional of the two but many brides prefer "wedding reception," arguing that a wedding is the act of getting married while marriage is the result of that decision.