Wedding Etiquette Forum

Uncle wants to bring college friends if kids don't come. How to tell him no

We sent out our invites a few weeks ago and started receiving RSVPs last week. We sent them so early because my mother in law was bugging us about it because some of her brothers were bugging her about it since it's across the state from most of the family.
This morning my fiance's uncle from Nevada (we live in Illinois) called to say 5 out of the 6 we expected from his family were coming. Okay, no big deal. I was at work so I couldn't stay on the phone to ask who wasn't coming. My fiance texted him to ask, so we have the seating chart right.
The uncle said his two oldest children are a maybe because they're 17/18 years old so it's up to them whether they want to come. Okay, no big deal. But he said if the two oldest kids don't come he wants to bring his two college friends who live in a town 70 miles from us, who said they could stay at their house instead of staying at a hotel. So he's basically already invited these friends.
How do I politely say "you may not bring your college friends. The invitation was for your family. We are not inviting people we have no relationship to when our guest list is currently 150 people." We gave plus ones to 99.5% of guests, just not the teens in high school (mostly kid free wedding other than first cousins and newborns), and most of the guests are my fiance's family because he has a large Mexican family. We only invited aunts, uncles, first cousins, and a few friends, and the uncle's nine siblings plus their spouses will be at the wedding, and his wife too, so it's not like he won't know anyone at the wedding. 

Re: Uncle wants to bring college friends if kids don't come. How to tell him no

  • "Oh our apologies for any confusion.  The invitation is for you and your kids and we hope all of you can make it.  If the older teens are unable to attend unfortunately the invitation cannot be extended to the college friends." 

    Who does that?  It's an invitation and not a Taylor Swift concert.    Just be clear that the invitation is for the people on the envelope.  
  • Agree with what @banana468 stated.  Additionally, it sounds as if the uncle wants to “treat” (on your dime) his college pals as a “thanks” for the free lodging.  
  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    edited February 2024
    I would say, "We look forward to seeing you and (names of guests who have accepted). But our invitation is only for them and unfortunately, while we look forward to making the acquaintances of (guests he wants to bring), we can accommodate only those persons whose names are listed on the envelope. I'm sorry for any confusion."
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