Hello everyone!
I used to frequent this board a lot, but eventually I got tired of saying the same thing again and again of "it's okay if your bm is pregnant" "it's okay your bm dresses don't match" "No, satan will not pop out of the floor at your wedding if you have uneven parties."
I'm glad to see so many of you still around and holding down the fort!
I ventured back here today and thought I'd share a story about DH's grandmother. DH has a cousin that he hasn't seen since he was maybe 8 or so. Long before our weddings (so Dec 2008) cousin calls to make a visit to her grandma and to see her brother that lives in the area. Grandma doesn't contact us at all, but tells the cousin "Oh, the weekend of July 18 would be perfect for you to come out!" Plans are made, flights are booked, again, no mention of this to either of us (cousin was not invited, DH doesn't know her at all).
About 3 weeks before the wedding, we have our final count for the most part and we still had room due to those who were unable to attend. Grandma calls up my MIL and says "Oh, what a coincidence! Cousin is coming out that weekend and would really like to come to the wedding!" MIL calls us and like I said, we were under budget enough that it wasn't a problem for the cousin to attend. I always wonder what would have happened it we had said no, DH thinks his grandma would have brought the cousin anyways, and that would have been interesting!
Anyways, just a funny story I thought I'd share!
Oh, and I know theknot has an article that says you don't have to invite your cousin's gf because she will make her way into every photo, well it's true! This cousin that I didn't know existed until 3 weeks before the wedding and that DH didn't even recognize is in almost all of the reception photos! Theknot was right about something!

My Grandparents on their wedding day.
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Repeat this to your self: My Wedding Party is made of my family and friends and I should treat them as such.