Small weddings have become more and more popular over the years. For many couples, deciding on a having a micro-wedding is a tough choice because there are so many people that support and love them.
Typically, we advise couples to only invite wedding guests to pre-wedding celebrations such as your wedding shower and bachelorette party. However…if you’re having a very small wedding, with just a few witnesses, it’s perfectly acceptable to celebrate with friends and family who won’t be at the wedding.

How to Word Bridal Shower Invitations if Guests Aren’t Invited to the Wedding
If you’re throwing a bridal shower and inviting people who aren’t invited to the wedding, be transparent and upfront about this. It’s an excellent way to communicate that the couple is having a small wedding and avoid hurt feelings.
Here’s a great example of how to word a bridal shower for a family-only wedding:
Megan and Trevor will be married
in a small, family-only ceremony
please join us to celebrate and
shower her with love!
May 4th at 1:00pm
492 Oak Street
Hosted by: Savannah and Miriam
RSVP to savannah412@gmail.com
And here’s a way to word a bridal shower invitation if the couple eloped:
Sarah and Matthew Eloped!
Please join us for a Bridal Shower
to celebrate their love
04.14.22 | 11:00am
The Tea House
143 Main Street
Edina, Minnesota
RSVP to Alyssa: 612-342-9321
How to Word Bachelorette Party Invitations if You’re Having a Small Wedding
Even if you’re having a small wedding, or having a destination wedding with a tiny guest list, you might still want to have a bachelorette bash with all your besties. And regardless of if they’re coming to the wedding, they’ll want to party with you!
Here are a couple examples of how to word your Bachelorette party invites when you’re having a micro-sized wedding:
The Fling Before The Ring!
Vanessa and Robert
are having a tiny wedding
but we’re throwing a
mega-huge bachelorette party!
Join us on September 8th at 8pm
Meet at Henry’s on 10th Street
Text your RSVP to Isa at 392-221-2434 by 9/2
And here’s a way to word a bachelorette party invitation if the bride has eloped:
Our Girl Got Married!
Priva and Sam Eloped
On September 4th and
we’re gonna celebrate with a
Bachelorette Party!
Join us on June 14th at 6pm
at Mario’s
172 East Plano Drive
RSVP to Sunni: sunfun41@gmail.com
We hope this wording advice was helpful! If you have any extra questions about wedding stationery etiquette, our experts are here to help.
Loved your article! Not planning a bachelorette party correctly is like not planning for the wedding! This is where the horror stories come from.
Thank you for this article. My share of the invites is 60. My fiancé has 60. My family,family friends and friends used those 60 invites. I am a part of a church that is large and people I’ve known my whole life wanted to celebrate with me however, I can’t invite them to the wedding so I’ve opted to having a pre wedding garden tea party for the ladies in my church. I’m not looking for gifts. No registry info will be given this is simply celebrating with my sister in faith. I’m looking forward to spending time with them and having them wish me well. I think that as long as you make it clear you’re not gift hungry people don’t mind celebrating with you even though they aren’t invited to the wedding. Unless you’re wealthy there has to be a cutoff and someone will be left of the list. Why not have an alternative? I’m happy about my choice. I understand the reason for the rule but just because everyone is doing it doesn’t mean you can’t do something different. Just make sure you avoid the pitfall( i.e. Expecting gifts.) keep your motives pure and you won’t go wrong.
Wedding etiquette says you should not invite guests to shower you with gifts that are not invited to the actual wedding, it’s very tacky.