Help! Guest List Struggles

"We've had to carefully curate the guest list and make some difficult choices"

the end.

If you don't see them as you've stated it can't really get that awkward for you. "Budgetary reasons don't allow you invite everyone you'd ideally want." "Venue space doesn't allow you invite everyone you'd ideally want."

Only address it if you 100% have to, other than that move on. There are plenty of people DH and I didn't invite to our wedding that I believe thought they would be invited. No one said a word to us. There are always going to be people out there that think they should be invited to your wedding, that doesn't mean they have to be.

"Nearest and dearest" If you haven't talked to them in over a year, cut. Invite people you cant imagine having a wedding without them there. Don't worry about people getting mad or upset. Its your wedding and its who you want there with you.

Celia you are so good! I needed this a couple of months ago lol

FH & I kinda have a rule of thumb of if one or the other hasn't met said family member then they don't need to be invited to our wedding. I'm not really too worried about it, if they haven't spoken or talked to me in the five years my FH & I have been together than they probably 1) don't know i'm engaged or 2) even really care that i'm engaged and aren't expecting an invite.

The only exception to this rule of ours is his dad two sisters (they probably won't come anyway) and my dad's birth father, step mom, and half brother. (My FH and I were both invited to my dad's half brothers wedding even though we had never met his FW. Nor had FH met him)

Having a small wedding made it easier for us. We spread the word early and quickly that we were planning something very small and simple before anyone even had a chance to ask about invites. With family, we drew the line at first cousins. No random greatest great aunts and third cousins. Once we decided where we anted to draw the line with family and friends, we haven't had any guest list drama.