So FI and I were chatting and I told him that I've been thinking more and more about not having my nieces in our wedding as flower girls. So they would just be invited as guests and that's it. He agreed that it really isn't necessary and that if we do include them they would both have to be designated as the same thing or else there would be fighting (one will be 5, the other almost 9 at the time we get married). The other reasoning for not including would be that my brother and SIL aren't made of money, and while we wouldn't expect them to spend a ton on the dresses for the girls - there was a bit of a shit fit thrown this year for Christmas as we tried to organize a $50 cap secret santa among the adults as that was apparently something they couldn't afford.
The issue with doing this is that we can see some members of my side of the family getting upset over not including the girls. So I guess my question is do we include the girls (well ask if they wish to be included when it's closer to the date - we are a year and half out) and risk issues that come with trying to organize, set up appointments, financial issues etc, or do we not include them and risk even more relationship issues with my family?
Re: Flower girls and family relationships
Its entirely up to you, but it's sad to me that none of your thoughts are about your relationship with the little girls.
I say ask the parents first - don't mention costs or appointments. Just say, "We would love for Jane and Susie to be flower girls and wanted to check with you before asking them."
I think you might have missed Starmoon's point. It's not about if your nieces will hold grudges but more about if YOU want your nieces in your wedding, without thinking about family drama that may occur if you do or do not ask them.
For me, I love my niece (I have a 2nd one now!) and nephews so much that I couldn't imagine not having them present at my wedding and in the WP.
So without thinking about any fallout that may or may not occur, answer this question, do you want your nieces in your wedding? If its a yes, make it as easy as possible to get them dresses. Easter and Christmas dresses can be bought cheaply after the holiday. Give your sibling and/or their spouse a neutral color that goes with your wedding colors and have them buy any dress in that color. They don't have to spend big money for official flower girl dresses from a bridal salon. Or ask Starmoon suggested, you can purchase their dresses for them during a fun niece and Aunt afternoon. But always ask the parents privately about having the kids in the wedding first.
If you are set on either having matching flower girls or nothing, then I'd offer to buy the dresses and any necessary accessories for them, when you ask.
But you don't need to ask. I love my niece to death, but I didn't want any kids at my wedding. Including my niece and nephews. So she wasn't a flower girl. No big deal. (OK, actually it was a big deal to her mother, who created drama for months before the wedding about all kinds of things, but I didn't care).
Your decision to include them as part of your wedding party or not has NOTHING to do with how much you care for them as your nieces.