This is going to be a post and run (for a bit) because work is going to be crazy today.
TL;DR: My aunt asked if her kids could come to a luncheon they aren't invited to.
My mom's boss is hosting a fancy pants bridal luncheon for me. She's very wealthy and likes to entertain and have formal sit down dinners/etc.. She requested that I invite 11 people so that her table of 12 with 12 place settings will be full.
I chose my mom, 2 grandmothers, 2 bridesmaids (the only local ones, I didn't just pick them over the others), my FMIL, FI's 2 Aunts, FI's grown cousin, one of my cousins, and then myself makes 11.
I called FI's aunts last night to invite them because for some reason, the lady isn't doing formal invitations? One of my aunt's said, "Great! I'd love to come. I assume the girls can come too?"
She has 2 girls ages 11 and 13 I think. I was really caught off guard because I wasn't expecting the question, AND I'm super awkward anyway, so I kinda stumbled through an explanation of how I could only have so many people and I was at that number already, but that I would let her know if some people couldn't come.
After talking with my mom, she said that the lady is only expecting adults and will be serving wine, so it really wouldn't be appropriate for the girls to be there.
How do I eloquently explain this to FI's aunt? I feel like I was so friggin awkward the last time she's going to think I was just lying and don't want them there, which is not true. I love those kids. They are SOOOO much better and well-behaved and FI's niece and nephew. So yeah, how would you wise lovely ladies handle this?