FI isn't here to vent to and this is basically my go-to board. I'd prefer if it isn't quoted in the entirety as I might need to DD later.
For some reason, it seems like a million and one people want to be invited to our wedding or bring extra people with them or request that we invite more people. We wanted 70 guests, it started ballooning toward 250, got it down to 100 and it has risen by 10 in the last couple months for various reasons. So no, people making these requests, we can't just add people willy nilly. Not to mention that most of the invites are printed, sealed and stamped.
We go through lulls where I think the guest list is under control and we've stood our ground well enough, and then it starts up again. I am not looking forward to when invitations go out in a couple weeks because I feel like it is just going to get worse.
My family has always been the "you're invited and bring whomever" type, but that's at parties at the house with DIY food and I think it is kicking my butt now. With OOT family and parents' guests, less than half of the guest list is our close longtime friends. We've cut people we were fairly close to, and some of the people that are being pushed to be added are those that were cut and would absolutely be invited if it were a 150 person wedding, so I feel particularly guilty about it.
I know it's okay to stand my ground and say "the venue can't hold any more" but is it normal to be really frustrated and feel guilty about it? Or am I just supposed to feel loved because so many people want to come to my wedding and bring the crowds with them?
If you made it this far, you are awesome and get a cookie.