Popa – it’s a good thing you’re not from England. Over there, that is routine. Chuppah is in the afternoon and then everybody goes home and comes back around 3 or 4 hours later for the meal. Whole thing probably lasts 6-8 hours.
Joseph – I think you have it backwards, he’s NOT inviting for the ceremony, just the simcha.
CT – I would call it something like “Simchas Chosson V’Kallah”. Here in EY a lot of people are not invited for the meal but since there are no RSVPs over here, people just write the above phrase to indicate that there will be a bar set up (not alcohol, just a variety of food) at the time indicated and they hope that friends and distant family will come from that point forward to joint in the simcha. Nobody is insulted in the least.
If you are worried about what Popa points out, which is a chassanah of extended/tiring proportions, consider making it a 2 o’clock chuppah rather than 11 or 12, and I would order a limo for the chosson and kallah to take them to the simcha in NYC in style and perhaps if they aren’t too busy with each other, they will have a chance to rest up a bit before the big affair.