Intimate wedding with almost no family

Is there a reason that parents are not invited? You do not have to share. Here are my thoughts, it is your day and it is what you two want and who cares what others think. I am eloping with two of our friends, no family and at the end of the day it is our decision and even if people do not like it...they need to respect it.

Neither me nor my partner are super social - we're the type to have a few close friends rather than a ton of semi-close friends. My family is all like this, but my partner's family is not at all - they're all more for lots of friends all the time. So we're more worried that they will look at us weird for having a smaller wedding with fewer friends, but we're not really thinking much about it. It's our wedding day and we get to choose who's there. We're not even inviting all of the family on both sides, so there will be some people upset. At the end of the day, it is what it is and we're not changing our desires for their satisfaction.

We too have a DW (vow renewal) with just with our 2 adult kids, our younger son, and our adult-son’s girlfriend. We eloped due to pregnancy 23 years ago, and I always wanted a destination wedding. I am okay with my family, but I no longer have any relationship with his family. To be sensitive to DH, I didn’t invite my family because I don’t want his to be there. No drama. With this pandemic, there are a lot of micro weddings, and many older people and kids prefer to stay home.

Yes, I’m sort of in the same situation Kinda. I only have five actual family members attending. Everyone else is our friends and all of my FHs family. I’m not inviting my mother for reasons mentioned in a prior forum discussion. At first I was worried about what they will say if someone asks where my mother is or when there’s only five of my family members in attendance, and my FH’s family is going to have like 30 people. If anyone has the audacity to ask any questions, just say we decided it was for the best. The advice someone on WeddingWire and gave me was basically that people are generally aware and won’t press the issue too much. If someone does ask you can just give them a quick nonchalant well we came to the decision and it was for the best and we’re glad everyone that’s here can be here. And just leave it at that. I don’t think anyone will press that any further

If you want something to appease people, you can try to live stream it? But don't feel guilty. I'm not super close with family and it'd feel more awkward to have them there than not.

When it comes to weddings you honestly can’t appease everyone. Someone is always gonna have an opinion about something, ya know?

We only had 15 guests, my hubby’s parents are deceased and my parents were there (divorced but civil). All families are different and I don’t think guests assume family members will be there. I’m sure they’ll just be happy to be there to support you both.

It's your wedding, you have who you want there.

Plenty of people get married without family there (my entire mother's side of my family refused to come, because her name wasn't on the invitations). As Melle said, people will always have an opinion. What matters is yours.

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much everyone for this validation. I’m genuinely excited for what we have planned and this helped me know I can let myself enjoy it!

Only someone very sheltered who has never left their home, does not realize that some families are close, and some not. A lot of people saying, oh, your family is not here? Are really gently inquiring if some emergency blocked their coming, or some illness, something that would be weighing on your mind. . And they would want to be consoling, or reassure you. But they don't actually care, except as it relates to you right now. And, socially, they do not wan't to say something inappropriate. Polite conversation usually includes, how are you, and how is your family. In my experience, when someone says,
"Since I grew up and left home, my family and I don't see each other. We think differently about everything, and don't enjoy each other's company. " That pretty much shuts down the questions, without invading your privacy or giving those who love juicy gossip any topics.
Who really cares, it is a common story that some families don't get along. You will have a ceremony and a nice dinner party, and I hope it is wonderful. That is what matters.