Any other Ph.D. students?

alliesono

Hi there,

I'm in grad school working on my Ph.D. in environmental science currently, and I'm getting married in May 2011. I'll still be in school for about 2 years after I get married. Just a quick question to other Ph.D. student brides:

Did you invite your committee members to your wedding? I am planning on inviting my major professor, but I'm unsure of the other 3 members. My wedding will be halfway across the country from where I go to grad school, so I wouldn't expect them to come. Should I send them an official invitation as a courtesy? Or just send them an announcement since they're professional contacts? Or do nothing at all? Confusing!

Thanks for the input!

LauraT25

Hi there!  I a biochemistry PhD student in my 3rd year, there are a few other PhD students on here as well (though this board isn't very active).  I invited my PI (major professor) but not my committee members.  I don't even think it's necessary to invite your PI, but our lab is pretty tight-knit. 

Think of it like you would any of the rest of your guest list - are these people that you are close to and want to have there to celebrate your wedding with you?  Then  invite them.  Usually that's not the case with committee members, but maybe it is for you.  But rest assured, they will not be expecting an invitation.  I don't think the announcements are necessary.  If you're changing your name, you may want to address it in the next e-mail you have after the wedding.  Just "Our next meeting is Wednesday, June 4th blah blah blah.  And just in case you weren't aware, I was recently married and my name has been changed to Jane Smith."

weisscv

I agree, I don't think you have to invite them.  Of course, if you want to invite them (and want them to be at the wedding), then go for it.  I am in the same situation.  I will be getting married in IL but I go to grad school in CT, so I might invite more people (such as those in my research group) that I am not as close with because I'm sure that they won't make the trip to IL anyway.

vlknox

I'm inviting my advisor and one of my committee members.  I'm close to both of them so I thought it would be nice.  Plus, they're both friends so I figured they would enjoy each  others company at the reception.

LauraT25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_other-phd-students?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:684Discussion:7a6f994a-63be-432e-8346-2b55c4f2e80aPost:23c32d42-7c0a-4096-9462-a1d55f8f6e80">Re: Any other Ph.D. students?</a>:
[QUOTE]I agree, I don't think you have to invite them.  Of course, if you want to invite them (and want them to be at the wedding), then go for it.  I am in the same situation.  I will be getting married in IL but I go to grad school in CT, <strong>so I might invite more people (such as those in my research group) that I am not as close with because I'm sure that they won't make the trip to IL anyway.</strong>
Posted by weisscv[/QUOTE]

I would only do this if you want them to come, and have the space/budget for it.  Never count on people not coming.    Also, I don't really like the idea of inviting someone because you don't think they'll make it (as opposed to in spite of the fact that you don't think they'll make it) because it doesn't make sense to me.  You may just have mis-worded, but if you truly meant it that way, at best it doesn't  make sense, and at worst it's a bit gift-grabby.

rjtutter

FI is in his PH.D. now, and has the same group as for his M.Sc.  We're inviting his supervisor and the other graduate students in the lab, because he's close with them, and we do hang out with all of them (supervisor included) occaisionally.  Their lab is really social for a group of physicists :P

lynniearudner

I'm just finishing the PhD part of my MD/PhD. My wedding was a couple of weeks ago. 

I invited my PI and one other mentor whom I am very close with (and their spouses). I did not invite any of the other committee members (we have 5 on our committees here). I certainly dont think you need to. 

My wedding was also all the way across the country, but I was honored that those two folks came (though they opted to come alone). And, as far as I know, they had a very nice time. 

meeko84

Hi! I'm getting my Ph.D in Rehabilitation Counseling, and I'm in my 1st year. I'm getting married in May 2012 , I'll still have one year left after I'm married and I was thinking of inviting just my advisor and one other mentor I;m very close with. I go to grad school in IL and I'm getting married in VA so I'm not even sure if they will even come. 

danahahn

Hi!  I'm so glad I found this board!  As for your question, I'm getting married June 2011 and I'm inviting my major professor and her fiance and one other person and her family that was in our group (she recently graduated and got another job).  I'm not invinting anyone else in our group as I'm not that close to them.  My major professor, the one other person and my mom all show horses together so it makes sense to invite them.  Plus, I'm going to school in the town I'm getting married in, so I'm not going to send out curtosy invites because I know those invited will come. 

Hope this helps and good luck with your studies!

Dana

garcias1

I'm in my 5th year of my Ph.D.  I probably won't be finished for another year and a half.  I'm inviting my thesis advisor and her husband as well as lab members.  I'm not inviting my thesis committee, because I only meet with them once a year.  I have more contact with one of the professors on my committee, but we never discuss our personal lives, only school-related stuff.