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In most cases, a church ceremony tends to be an open thing. Anyone can come. Rebekah Send a noteboard - 15/12/2011 10:11:30 PM
Although randoms don't usually turn up. So if you belong to a church then it's nice to have the congregation involved even if you don't want them at the reception. Which might sound horrible but really isn't. :P

People who don't belong to a congregation, but use a church for their service can also have members of that congregation showing up. I've been to a few where this has happened and they don't usually stay for refreshments afterwards. They just like to be involved in the full activity of the church.

Another thing: are their invitations different- is there any indication that they're not going to be invited to a dinner? For one thing, they should be told so that they eat beforehand and for another thing, wouldn't it affect their expected gift obligation?

You'd usually say something like:

"So & So invite you to celebrate their wedding on X date. Ceremony at X church (etc), with refreshments afterwards, then a dance at X place at X time."

If you're invited to the entire day then your invitation would show the extra bits.

Gifts are always at the giver's discretion so there's no kind of obligation to it.

But if it's normal in NZ I amagine people are used to it and act accordingly, I'm just kind of curious how it all works out.

I think that it's more of a British culture thing. Dutch as well. Hospitality doesn't play as big a role in most (white) British cultural groups (except in very small and remote communities) so there's less expectation that you'd invite all and sundry to everything. NZ is basically Britain 50 years ago so it applies even more there.
*MySmiley*

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So it turns out that weddings are expensive... - 12/12/2011 04:24:17 PM 1964 Views
I am looking to drop about a grand on my son's rehearsal dinner *NM* - 12/12/2011 04:42:53 PM 531 Views
It is avoidable, but people will treat you like you're a nutcase if you don't do most of the things - 12/12/2011 05:02:14 PM 1004 Views
my first wedding was in church with a pretty dress and a preacher - 12/12/2011 06:12:02 PM 939 Views
We had a pretty dress and a notary public in the courtyard of the B&B. - 12/12/2011 09:36:52 PM 989 Views
If I had it to all over again I would have formed a Rock Band and dated supermodels *NM* - 13/12/2011 04:20:28 PM 508 Views
*NM* - 22/12/2011 10:15:04 PM 518 Views
Heh. - 12/12/2011 05:29:19 PM 1110 Views
Re: Heh. - 12/12/2011 06:02:44 PM 977 Views
Re: Heh. - 12/12/2011 06:44:30 PM 1118 Views
Re: Heh. - 12/12/2011 07:27:16 PM 1071 Views
We kept it to about $5000 also (including cost of rings). - 12/12/2011 06:06:54 PM 1012 Views
I would say our wedding was about that. - 12/12/2011 06:45:46 PM 1164 Views
I feel like they only have to be expensive if you let them be. - 12/12/2011 07:07:59 PM 1057 Views
I got married two weeks ago for less than that. - 12/12/2011 09:56:43 PM 1149 Views
Congrats - 12/12/2011 10:03:35 PM 952 Views
Thanks! - 13/12/2011 02:53:11 PM 935 Views
You've been holding out on us. Congratulations. *NM* - 13/12/2011 12:02:39 AM 562 Views
Honestly, I didn't think anyone would care. - 13/12/2011 03:08:44 PM 924 Views
Congratulations, my friend. - 13/12/2011 03:21:22 PM 918 Views
Thanks. - 13/12/2011 06:38:59 PM 996 Views
Acceptable... - 13/12/2011 06:40:29 PM 913 Views
OMG! Congratulations! - 14/12/2011 10:43:05 PM 925 Views
Thanks Danu. *NM* - 15/12/2011 11:08:51 PM 517 Views
i had 500 people at my wedding....... - 13/12/2011 12:05:38 AM 1117 Views
Yes they are. We're planning ours and... - 13/12/2011 02:19:42 AM 1016 Views
Some people just don't seem to think outside of the box - 13/12/2011 09:15:49 AM 1086 Views
And several items on that chart are soo unnecessary *NM* - 13/12/2011 09:41:10 AM 542 Views
They're only as expensive as you make them. - 14/12/2011 10:38:37 AM 922 Views
I'm so glad we went simple. - 14/12/2011 03:08:45 PM 1075 Views
As someone who had a smaller wedding than was expected by certain people... - 14/12/2011 10:36:57 PM 1059 Views
These seem kind of extreme. - 15/12/2011 06:03:15 AM 1085 Views
because of your history you might find a cash bar lame... - 15/12/2011 12:59:39 PM 1098 Views
Not my personal history, but culture. - 15/12/2011 03:53:12 PM 1096 Views
I agree that there are better cuts to make than refreshments - 15/12/2011 04:35:13 PM 1052 Views
Re: because of your history you might find a cash bar lame... - 22/12/2011 01:08:00 PM 1076 Views
It is lame to expect the father of the bride to shell out tens of thousands for a party - 15/12/2011 02:00:54 PM 1064 Views
seriously. who cares if people think you're "cheap". - 15/12/2011 04:41:33 PM 975 Views
What my family tends to do (because it's huge) is this: - 15/12/2011 02:16:31 PM 1151 Views
That's what most German weddings do too. Reasonable. *NM* - 15/12/2011 03:38:40 PM 519 Views
If they're not close enough to invite to the reception, are they really needed at the ceremony? - 15/12/2011 08:18:18 PM 1071 Views
In most cases, a church ceremony tends to be an open thing. Anyone can come. - 15/12/2011 10:11:30 PM 1110 Views
Apparently it's becoming more common over here to do weddings on a weekday. - 15/12/2011 02:13:57 PM 946 Views
I can't imagine someone in America announcing their wedding was on a weekday. - 15/12/2011 10:07:55 PM 1184 Views
People not in America have way more vacation days... *NM* - 15/12/2011 11:56:22 PM 506 Views
That was part of the logic in my thinking, yes. *NM* - 16/12/2011 12:46:53 AM 490 Views
Fridays are actually becoming more common. - 16/12/2011 04:51:41 PM 906 Views
Why does the band get more than the photographer? - 16/12/2011 04:30:29 PM 869 Views
well they do have to split it 4 or 5 ways - 16/12/2011 04:38:36 PM 964 Views
The thing is... it's NOT a night's work. - 16/12/2011 09:27:30 PM 1266 Views
My advice based on what I've done so far. - 22/12/2011 01:27:29 PM 963 Views

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