Is it rude to just send a 'Congratulations'card for a wedding reception invitation?

I’m sure that’s fine.

It’s perfectly okay to do that according to the etiquette experts. Regrets don’t have to be explained, either

Rude? No. I’d still send a gift, though.

It depends on how well you know them. I think it is perfectly acceptable.

I also think it’s rude to invite someone to the reception and not the wedding.

Unless you’re very close to the couple or to their family, or it’s an important business relationship—neither of which you indicate—I think a simple “Congratulations” is fine, and that you are not obligated to send a gift (a custom which, anyway, should be an “I want to” rather than an “I want to”).

If they are your friends, they will appreciate receiving just your good wishes. If they are not your friends, then why regret being able to offer them only your good wishes?

As we are not close friends, I shall now send a card in good conscience. Great answers, thanks for your time!!

Do what you want. I would send a gift. That’s just me I guess.

I vote gift or gift card, too. Here it would be rude to decline & ruder to not send a gift or money.

Find out where they’re registered and buy something within your price range. And yes, send a card.

@Pachyderm_In_The_Room, did you say this the way you meant to?

(a custom which, anyway, should be an “I want to” rather than an “I want to”).

I don’t see what their income bracket has to do with anything? The question for me would be if your finances make it unwise to send a gift, you should feel no guilt about not sending one. Also, if it seems odd you were invited at all, because you don’t know them well, I think it is fine not to feel obligated to a gift. I don’t think anyone should feel obligated anyway. A card with congratulations and well wishes sounds just fine to me, especially if you don’t know them well. I don’t think they will even expect a card if they don’t know you very well, just your RSVP with regrets that you cannot attend. A card is still nice though.

@JLeslie: Often, if you’re friends of the parents of the bride or groom, you’ll be invited, or business partners of either bride, groom or parents of bride and groom, are just a few examples of people that may not know the bride and groom personally but still be invited.

@jca I know. But, I don’t think when invited that way you have to send a gift. I see no problem with that sort of invite, I hope it didn’t come across that way.

It’s like graduation, they may not expect you to attend but proper form is a gift or money.

@KNOWITALL I disagree. An invite should not automatically mean you have to give a gift. I know that is part of the etiquette, but really when someone is invited because they are a friend or related, twice removed from the actual relatives or friends, then I think it is in bad taste to assume a gift is in order. Then I will just go ahead and invite a bunch of people I know most likely won’t make it, just to get gifts. I hope that was not the intent of the couple. I doubt it was.

Plus, I still am not sure of the financial situation of the OP, but if it is difficult for them to give anything, then why should they strap themselves?

Bottom line is if you can’t do it, you can’t do it. If you can, you can. If you want to, you do. If you don’t, you don’t.