Inviting childhood friend’s parents?

You aren't obligated to invite all of the parents of your childhood friends, you can invite whoever you want! If that means some then that is perfectly fine!

Are you inviting those friends? I don't think you need to invite their parents at all, but it would definitely be weird to invite just the parents and not the actual friends you grew up with. If you want to make cuts it would be perfectly fine to cut people you haven't seen in several years.

View Quoted Comment I was going to invite my friends but just hung up on the parents part. I’m also hung up on the other circle of friends (2 girls) but I haven’t seen them in forever or really spoken to them but I almost feel bad for not inviting them? I really would love to see them! But it’s also not like I would make a special trip to visit them either so I’m also hung up on that too. They just live out of state and we used to visit when I would visit home but they don’t live in our hometown anymore.

I don't see why you would invite the parents of your friends unless you are super close to them also. I'm inviting my MOH's parents because I've met them and they're super nice. I don't have any childhood friends I'm inviting but I wouldn't invite their parents unless they were like a 2nd set of parents to me.

View Quoted Comment I felt like they were a 2nd set of parents to me back then but as an adult it’s not like that anymore. That’s where my confusion comes in.

I wouldn’t invite any of those people unless I had a really special relationship with them, and still actively kept in touch with them.


I went to my high school bff’s wedding when I was about 28. It ended up being a kind of awkward experience for me realizing how much we drifted so that I didn’t really know any of the people currently in her life. So the only people I knew were her, her husband, and her family …so I figure, go talk to her mom of course! I used to spend lots of time at her house, got rides all over back before we could drive, etc etc. Went to her HS graduation party … and realized retrospectively the last time I had seen her mom was prob that party. I realized this when I went to say hi and she was very polite and said hi and then asked how I knew the couple/if I was a friend of the bride or the groom 🤦🏻‍♀️….awkwaaarddd. I still like her and she’s wonderful, just realized we may not be as close with all our friends parents than we thought 🤣

I'd only invite the parents if your family is close to their family AKA your parents and your friend's parents are friends as well. Otherwise, sounds like it's been a while since you've seen them, so they shouldn't feel slighted if they don't get an invite but your actual friend does.

Conversely, my other high school bestie definitely considered my parents 2nd parents …and, she still does. We’re mid 30s now and all live in different states, and she doesn’t visit town without stopping in to visit them….even if I’m not around. My mom also sends her Christmas presents 🤣. Now THATS a friend’s parent example where I’d say definitely invite. If you have some relationships with the parents like that and not others, it’s definitely cool to invite some not others !

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They can be on your B invite list if people decline and you have room

View Quoted Comment Wow this really helps put things in perspective! Thank you! How awkward tho! Sorry it ended up that way!

View Quoted Comment This is a great point! My mom actually passed away right after high school so things may have been different with them still being friends! My dad definitely did not and really wasn’t ever friends with my other friends parents. I guess I will just not invite them since they didn’t really keep up with me either. And that’s fine but it helps with making this decision. Thank you!

View Quoted Comment Aww I love that! That’s so sweet! I guess I don’t really have a relationship like that except with some family friends and they are definitely invited! We see them every holiday even to this day!

View Quoted Comment Haha it ended up okay — she knew who I was once I said , she just hadn’t recognized me. I decided to take it as a compliment that I didn’t look like an awkward teenager anymore 🤣🤣, but, was definitely a good perspective shift for me. I got married in our hometown, if not for that moment I probably would’ve also been hemming and hawing about inviting them !

I’m not inviting those people because I drifted apart from the childhood friends. If they are not on your must have invite list of those who are currently nearest and dearest then don’t invite them. People do understand that life moves on.

View Quoted Comment It’s a sad truth. After reading these comments and thinking about it more it really is true and I’ve decided not to invite them. Thank you for your help!