We got engaged this past summer, and because of Covid, we have been planning a small, intimate, immediate-family-only wedding for this May. I was devastated about not being able to have my two best friends there. I also have quite a few close friends that would have been bridesmaids if we had been able to have more guests. I let all of my friends know that we were planning a family only wedding for safety purposes, and they were all understanding. Fast forward to today. Because of the vaccine, we have decided to each choose our two best friends to join us for the wedding. I have two clear best friends (one from high school, and one from college), so it was an easy decision to make. However, I am worried that it will hurt the feelings of the other girls who won't be invited. I asked one of my bridesmaids today, and will be asking the other soon, so I know eventually the other girls will see via social media posts (one of my bridesmaids is in the same "friend group" as the the others who won't be invited). How do I let them know that I decided to invite the two other girls, without making it seem like they are less important? I do plan on having a bachelorette party, and a big vow renewal once things are safer, and they know they will be included in those! I just don't want to hurt their feelings now.
Re: Help! How do I tell my close friends that they aren't invited, without hurting their feelings?
However, one thing you should not do is to invite people to a bachelorette party if you're not inviting them to the wedding. This is both rude and cruel, as if you're giving them a consolation prize.
I know Covid makes things tricky, so go ahead and have your smaller wedding, and then, once this is over, have a big "no gifts" party and invite all of your friends.
Agree that you shouldn't have a bachelorette party. You shouldn't invite anyone that isn't invited to the wedding to a wedding related party. It's quite rude and will just rub salt in the wound.