> If the intent was for whatever reason tp have a very small wedding and then a reception later.

I think your confused about one fact — to my knowledge there was no intent to hold a reception later. Prior to the wedding, there were several communications between family members regarding the wedding, and not a single mention was made about this reception. The first time I heard about the reception was several weeks after the wedding. I assume word got out that several people were upset and he's playing clean up his mess.