Advice Needed

LitaWB

Soooo as I start to mail out my invitations, out of the woods comes all of these family members that are expecting to be invited.  I have a decision to make: I could invite everyone and cancel/scale back my cocktail hour or 2 just say no to those people. Guest will arrive at 5:00 to the venue and we are expected to be there by 5:30.  Dinner will be served at 6.  If I scaled back, there would only be trays of fruit, veggies, meat/cheese- No real hors d'oeuvres.

[Deleted User]

I would stick to your guns and use the "we couldn't afford to invite everyone we wanted to line" if you are asked about it.  If you are having your reception at dinner time, people will really  expect to be fed or will leave early so they can go get a heavier meal.  I know it sucks to have to tell people no.

ajmom2two

Sorry, I am a bit confused...will you still be serving a sit down meal even if you add these new guests or will you have to cut that part out of the reception?  I thought you meant you would just have to change your cocktail hour.  If that is what has to be done then I would consider adding them as guests if they are people you arent totally against having at the wedding.  If you really dont want them there for whatever reason then just apologize and say that you already have your guest list set and there is no way that you can add any more guests.

LitaWB

There would still be a sit down meal. I would just have to not offer hot appetizers. Most guest would have only been there 45 minutes tops. There's a photobboth and champagne fountain to keep them busy. A few people I simply overlooked. The others are my 20 something year old cousins who I could really care less about. It's sooooo hard making decisions not knowing how many people aren't coming or aren't bringing a guest. If most of our +1 don't actually bring a guest then I can still make it happen and stay within budget.

Nancy00714

I would stick to the original guest list.  If you can add a few people and stil stick to your original plans then invite them but I don't think you should invite so many people that you have to scale back.

Madisonpenny

Well if you can really invite the ones you 'simply overlooked" without having to scale back on your cocktail hour then invites them.  The 20 something  cousins who you "simply couldn't care about" (I'm in the same boat) then don't invite them.  You should only want people who you want there to share this day and celebration with you.