Marrying The Pastor's son..

Close friends and family only. I don't know anyone who can afford the entire congregation. What does FFIL suggest?

HELL NO! Don't invite the entire congregation. These are friends of the father...not your FH

Unless the Father is paying for all of them, then NO, you do not invite them.

And no, you do not invite them to JUST the ceremony and NOT the reception either. That's not fair or kind. Good luck!

Is this a troll??

If not, then no you do not need to invite the entire congregration (unless you are leaving out 1 girl). It is your wedding, invite who you want

Woah, no way! Don't invite everyone just close friends and family members.

My dear friend married a pastor's son. They invited everyone to the ceremony (I believe FIL made an announcement after church the sunday before). But since the reception was off-site, they only sent invites with reception included to those guests they wanted there. But, they DID do a recieving line after the ceremony, which ended up taking an hour for everyone to say hello, and then pictures took another hour, so the reception started an hour late.

Ooh Marisa that is a wonderful idea. that way everyone can feel included, they can come to the ceremony if they would like. Thanks a whole lot. we are recently engaged and I wasn't sure what to do.

Everyone be nice, this might be real....

Megan, unless you're planning on having your wedding during church time on a sunday, there's absolutely no reason to have the entire church there. IMO, it's rude to invite guests to the ceremony but not the reception, so please dont do that.

Welcome to WW, please change your avatar so we can recognize that you are a new bride.

Churches are a little different though. I think its ok to put an announcement in the church bulletin and not invite everyone to the reception.

I hope it's not a troll!!

Usually with some churches, the entire congregation is invited to the ceremony, as it's a church service. But the reception is a whole different ball game. Marissa's suggestion is pretty much that.

Welcome to WW, Megan! I hope you'll stick around and update that avatar to ANY unique picture from Google we can remember you by. This post tells you how: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/welcome-to-the-weddingwire-forums-please-read-if-you-are-new/b433c40c1a62b96a.html

Basically anyone under the sun can come to a ceremony...if its in a church, its kind of public domain. So feel free to invite whomever you want to the ceremony. But reception is a different story. We are having coworkers that we are only inviting to ceremony and dance.

I definitely think it's fine since he is the pastor to invite them to the ceremony and then maybe spend a little time there with the church and head for your reception with only close family/friends

Also, it's not an invitation, necessarily, more of a church bulletin that the wedding will be happening. Totally different than sending invitations to the ceremony and then not inviting to the reception. Fairly common in some churches/areas.

I knew a girl in high school that married the Pastor's son. Yes, high school. She was 18. Anyway, they invited the whole church & then had a cake and punch reception. They had a full reception at a later date and only invited close friends.

@Reenski, you are exactly right!

And woah really @Samantha? 18? That's interesting

Yeah they are still married too! Going on ten years...

@Samantha oh wow! at least it worked out well!

Hey guys, thank you for all the great advice and please keep it coming. (trust me not a Troll) just a very new member who's question has been plaguing me. Thanks =)

SHES REAL!!!! YAY MEGAN! Welcome to WW!