Wedding/reception Invites

How new are we talking? The husband definitely gets invited no matter what; he and the wife are a social unit and should always be invited as such. Do his daughters live at home still? If so, I would probably extend the invitation to them. If not, I don't think it would do any harm to not invite them.

My best friend’s dad passed away in 2011 and her mom has since remarried. While I know her husband and the 3 kids from his previous marriage, I am not inviting the kids (who are all teenagers) because our guest list is pretty tight and I really don’t know them all that well. I am inviting her and her husband because her mom is like a 2nd mom to me, and her husband is pretty cool too. They understand, and it hasn’t been an issue. If it was family though, the situation would be different and I would invite them all.

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Thank you so much. His daughters are college-aged...sometimes at home, sometimes away at college. Thank you for your thoughts.

A 19 or 20 year old never need be added to their parent's invitation. They get their own, or none at all. And one reason it is always done that way is so people who regularly see an adult and have no relationship with their grown children, can not-invite the grown kids. And if you know the grown kids, you are never obligated to invite parents or younger siblings you do not know. If you wish, you may issue on invitation to the mom you know and her husband. And, separately send an invitation to the girls you know. And no invitation to his kids. This makes it clear it is not up to or about the parents. You are not, inviting her kids not his. You are inviting the couple. You are inviting the young adults you know. Okay at their ages. And that you did deliberately invite them because you know them, not as part of their parents family, makes it clear parents cannot add them on, or make a whole family issue out of it. You should always invite those over 18 on their own invitation. But you may invite them on their own, at earlier ages. If they are old enough to attend concerts, or be dropped off for a school dance or activity , unchaperoned, then you may invite young adults separately . ( This covers inviting the 17 yr old with her sister, not with parents. )

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Thank you.

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Great insight. Thank you.