No, you don't have to invite your cousins, or your partner's cousins to your wedding, if you don't want to. It's your wedding day, and you and your partner should feel free to invite only the people you really want to share the day with.
There are no hard and fast rules, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you want to invite children to your wedding, then have them. If you would prefer an adults only celebration, that's fine too. Remember, this is your big day and it's your preferences that matter.
You have to do what you're going to be comfortable with and you should only invite whomever you see fit to be on your guest list and, sadly, that may not include your mother. On a day as important as a wedding, you would hope to have the support – and company – of your family.
Don't Assume You're Definitely Invited to Anyone's Wedding
Immediate family, sure. Extended family, probably—but even still, your cousin could be having an intimate ceremony and reception far away, and you shouldn't be offended if they can't expand their close-knit guest list.
The last thing you want is to offend anyone by leaving them out, but who you ultimately include in your special day is a personal decision. Most couples opt to have their closest family members and friends serve as the members of their wedding party, but there are no rules that you have to follow.
The short answer to whether or not you have to include anyone, even a family member, in your wedding party is no. This is your wedding, and you and your partner should do whatever feels right.
The most common way to include siblings in your wedding is to have them in the bridal party. But if for whatever reason they aren't bridesmaids or groomsmen – they have small children to attend to, you have too many to choose from, etc. – there are some great alternatives to make them feel special and included.
According to the traditional etiquette, it is absolutely okay to invite a small number of guests to the wedding ceremony and have more guests attend the reception. On the other hand, everyone who's present at the ceremony should also be invited to the reception.
A private wedding, or a confidential wedding, is one that is performed without any guests or public attention. This type of wedding is attended only by the couple, the officiant, and if you prefer, a photographer. If you opt for a private wedding, you will still need a witness.
You may suffer from insecurities or social anxiety
Sometimes you feel like being left out, but it's just an illusion that stems from your low self-esteem or mental health issues. Social anxiety, in particular, can distort your self-perception and trick you into feeling rejected and excluded.
Again, it's totally up to you how much (or how little) you want to involve your parents in your wedding, and there's no right or wrong in this regard. It's all about coming up with a plan that makes you feel comfortable, and hopefully minimizes any hurt feelings on either end.
However, as long as you have a good reason for missing the ceremony and share that with the couple, it's permissible. Be sure to communicate to the bride and groom, as well as the bride's parents (since you are close friends) that you hate to miss the ceremony and briefly explain the other commitment.
"It really depends on who is estranged from who," Dwight explains. "If you or your fiancé are personally the ones estranged from the family then we believe you're not obligated to invite them if it would create unnecessary stress or drama for you on your wedding day.
Why do I feel no connection to my family? Disappointment from unmet expectations is typically the underlying cause of feeling no connection to family. Mental health therapist Amira R Martin, LCSW-R, explains that some of the signs of a dysfunctional family include: poor communication or conflict avoidance.
Social exclusion can occur at any age. The main reasons people exclude others are because of a perceived threat or personality clash. Feeling left out can be distressing, but you can self-soothe by: being kind to yourself.
You may feel left out because you have been excluded and/or rejected by a group of friends or coworkers. It is normal to feel pain when you are excluded or rejected because we are all in need of social belonging. We are social beings and when our needs are not met, we experience pain and sadness.
It is absolutely normal to have the feeling of being left out and serves a beneficial purpose. The urge to be a part of a group and be included means you are wanting connection, emotional support, laughter, friendship, joy, love, or happiness. The yearning for those positive feelings and experiences is a good thing.
“However, it is never an exact science,” she said. “A general overall percentage between 75-85 percent of wedding guests usually attend.” The breakdown: 85 percent of local guests, 55 percent of out-of-town guests, and 35 percent of destination wedding guests will show up, Buckley said.
A Closer Look at Elopement
Here are additional reasons an elopement is an attractive choice for many couples: The guest list is small—usually under 10 people. In fact, some elopement ceremonies have no guests except for the officiant and witnesses.