Inviting people you’ve never met?

We invited FH’s aunt and uncle, and their adult son and his wife, because FFIL requested it. FH has met them once or twice (his extended family is not close) but not since he was a kid. I guess the aunt asked FFIL for an invitation, which ultimately is fine because it’s only 4 people.

A few years ago FH and I got invited to a wedding for the daughter of one his moms friends. He’d met the daughter once. We both thought it was an odd invitation to receive and declined. Personally I don’t get wanting to go to a strangers wedding.

I heard a conversation in a waiting room today that is something I have heard before, but find incredibly rude each time. One guy was saying to another that his girlfriend and he were ready to elope, so angry that their families tripled the size of their wedding with extended family and parents friends they did not know. Over 250. And both sets of parents screamed and carried on to claim more and more seats. And the other guy told #1 guy, don't you see, just say the more the merrier, doesn't matter if you do not know anyone. Your parents are paying the venue, meal, and bar for that huge number of people. But everyone is giving you a big present more than their meal and drinks cost, so parents pay like $30K more, you get 30K more in gifts. Weddings as a crass monetary transaction. Delightful people.

My mom insisted that I invite one of her coworkers (and his wife) just because my parents have been invited (and went) to this couple's kids weddings. I have never met this person. I am secretly hoping they don't come to my wedding.

We aren't giving anyone the option to invite people we don't know. The people that will be at our wedding will be people that are related to us, or have been there for our relationship. There are a lot of people who haven't made the cut that I'm sure thought they'd be invited. Might sound harsh, but we also have limited space. Still having a fairly decent sized wedding.

I say if you and FH don't care, then awesome! Just know you may be forking out the extra cash for people who don't even know you and probably don't really plan to.

The first time I got married, there were a few people there I didn't know, my grandmother invited some of her friends. My second wedding, I invited total strangers of my own choosing, just a couple of guys I met in my hometown, which to my surprise my husband was ok with. I liked the goth style one of them was sporting, offered them a ride home (they lived on my side of town so it wasn't an inconvenience), got to chatting and discovered we had things in common, and before I know it I invited them, And one of them actually showed up, it was great