We have said from the moment we got engaged that we wanted a "smaller" wedding. We realized that we needed to invite immediate family & close family friends but my fiance & I were able to come up with 145 of our combined family & friends. Factoring in the10-20% of the guests that may reply no, we would be down to a number that we both feel comfortable with.
Now, my mom is "insisting" I invite certain family members who I rarely see & do not personally keep in touch with, pushing our guest list up to a little over 170 people. My parents are graciously footing the majority of the bill but they HAVE set a price limit. We now we have more people than we wanted AND if more people say yes than we are planning, my fiance & I would have to foot the bill!
I do not want to offend my mother, but I do not want this many people at my wedding, especially when my fiance & I barely know these "family" members. Any Advice?