Invites vs Announcements

lovelybride614

I'm super torn. We have a small list of people that we aren't sure how to handle. My FI & I would love to have them come to our wedding. Some of them have been a part of making our relationship what it is today. However, we haven't really kept in touch with them like we had hoped to. A couple are college professors and former co-workers. Should we invite them or just send announcements? 

This won't really affect our numbers for the reception so that's not a factor in our decision.

We don't want them to feel obligated to come or give a gift since it's been a couple of years since we've seen them, but we don't want the potential hurt feelings either.

AddieCake

If you would love to have them come to the wedding, I think you should send them an invitation. 

banana468

Ditto.   If you'd like them to be there then just invite them.

lovelybride614

You don't think it will look weird since it's been awhile since we've seen or spoken to them? Do I send out engagement announcements first so they're not just like whoa, where did this come from?

jessicabessica

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invites-vs-announcements?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:608d6001-0ea6-4ba2-ae92-f38d3b85e53cPost:ef5f946c-65ac-4b88-a9f4-29eb0bb170f1">Invites vs Announcements</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm super torn. We have a small list of people that we aren't sure how to handle. My FI & I would love to have them come to our wedding. Some of them have been a part of making our relationship what it is today. However, we haven't really kept in touch with them like we had hoped to. A couple are college professors and former co-workers. Should we invite them or just send announcements?  <strong>This won't really affect our numbers for the reception so that's not a factor in our decision. </strong>We don't want them to feel obligated to come or give a gift since it's been a couple of years since we've seen them, but we don't want the potential hurt feelings either.
Posted by lovelybride614[/QUOTE]

<div>What does the bolded part mean?  If you invite them to the ceremony, you need to invite them to the reception, so how does it not affect your reception numbers?</div>

nda8414

I think announcements are out dated...like from the days way before the telephone and internet.  If you want someone to know you're married, send them an e-mail to say hi and share your news or if you really want them at your wedding, invite them.  I don't think I'd know what to think/do with an announcement if I got one

lovelybride614

Thank you for all of the advice. What I meant by not affecting the numbers is that it's not going to make a huge impact. We are already having a smaller wedding and 5-10 invites won't matter.