<human>: Hello Weddit! 
Longtime lurker, first time on this subreddit.

Here's the situation: 
FH and I have a good-sized (~20+ people and kids) group from college that we'd really like to be there at my wedding. Realistically, with the amount of family FH and I have (ie. a LOT), it is looking like they will be cut from the list. Which sucks, because we really want them to be there, but don't have a budget or venue for over 350 people (which it will be.) These aren't just people we got drunk with or had all-nighters for finals with. These are people who are life friends who will most likely not be included because family get the invite first.

What are some ideas (if any) that respect the want to celebrate with them, but can't invite to the actual day?

Our thoughts: We've been bouncing around having a BBQ/outing a few weeks before wedding day.

Can you succinctly summarize the text in 1-3 sentences?
<bot>: Thinking of having a separate pre/post celebration with people who didn't make the cut but still consider special enough to us as a couple and need ideas for the gathering.