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Nieces and nephews not invited to wedding.

129 replies

EugenieGreen · 06/06/2025 18:04

I want to ask my brother why he hasn’t asked my children to his wedding, not ask for an invitation for them, it is his wedding but I want to know why they are not invited and if he considered them. What does he think of them?

Right I have three children, almost adults, youngest is 16. My sister has 2 who are slightly younger. All well behaved.

I was very upset when my husband’s brother did not invite my kids to his wedding 17 years ago.

Now my own brother is getting married for a second time ( SiL’s first trip down the aisle). His children are obviously invited who are same age as mine give or take).

No money is being spared and space is not an issue.

Who they invite is up to them so all I want to do is ask him why he doesn’t want his nieces and nephews there. Do they mean nothing to him?

OP posts:
tammienorrie · 06/06/2025 18:33

An extra 5 people then - your 3 adult kids and your sister's 2? Plus partners/boyfriends/husbands? Maybe the person he's marrying has loads of nieces/nephews?

I am not close to my aunt/uncle and never was. We saw them on family occasions only, my parents had relationships with their siblings but apart from polite enquiries about how I was doing at work/school my aunt/uncle knew nothing about me.

Family bonds like that are not terribly important to some people and for every family who are all bestest buddies and socialise with each other regularly, there are other families who are cordial and polite and spend much more time with people outside the family unit. Neither is right, neither is wrong.

You would be very unreasonable - and downright rude - to question your brother about his guest list.

crumblingschools · 06/06/2025 18:31

Maybe they weren't invited as brother just assumes they will turn up as OP has history for that

EugenieGreen · 06/06/2025 18:22

Fingerpie

I was actually invited to my cousin’s wedding, it was my mum who wasn’t! I didn’t know I had a running theme.

Spies

Yes my children - the youngest is 16 - are upset. They like weddings, especially my daughters. They would like to be with their family, especially their cousins.

Sister’s children 14 and 11 are not invited but I don’t know if other kids from her side are going.

My brother knows my children and sees them reasonably often. His children are particularly close to my elder two.

LlynTegid

You know him then? Yes!

OP posts:
Coffeeishot · 06/06/2025 18:19

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:16

And there’s a 4th too!

Yeah I might just scroll away .

Merrygoround8 · 06/06/2025 18:18

What response would be acceptable / unacceptable for you?

They don’t want kids there excluding their own, presumably. Most I would ask is “so are yours the old kids?”

if every other Tom dick and Harry had their kids invited and yours not I would perhaps have concerns that warranted an explanation (eg does he have an issue with their behaviour) but otherwise I think you leave it - it’s their wedding.

NewPeaches · 06/06/2025 18:17

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:12

All of OP’s last threads are about her not being invited somewhere

a memorial
a cousin’s wedding where her mum isn’t invited
and now this
all a bit odd!

Edited

Oh dear

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:16

Coffeeishot · 06/06/2025 18:16

Ah ok!

And there’s a 4th too!

neverbeenskiing · 06/06/2025 18:16

Is there any answer he could give that would satisfy you? If not then I really don't see the point in bringing it up. It will create drama, or at the very least awkwardness, and you still won't get what you want.

Coffeeishot · 06/06/2025 18:16

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:12

All of OP’s last threads are about her not being invited somewhere

a memorial
a cousin’s wedding where her mum isn’t invited
and now this
all a bit odd!

Edited

Ah ok!

Spies · 06/06/2025 18:15

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:12

All of OP’s last threads are about her not being invited somewhere

a memorial
a cousin’s wedding where her mum isn’t invited
and now this
all a bit odd!

Edited

Oh that is really odd. Confused

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:14

oh and a 4th thread about not being invited to attend a lunch between her dh and BIL

bloody hell op. You and getting pissed off about not being invited somewhere…. 4 threads!

babystarsandmoon · 06/06/2025 18:14

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:12

All of OP’s last threads are about her not being invited somewhere

a memorial
a cousin’s wedding where her mum isn’t invited
and now this
all a bit odd!

Edited

They can’t be the black sheep for everyone surely?

MammaTo · 06/06/2025 18:14

I’m not a massive fan of kids at weddings, but I do think nieces and nephews should be invited and it’s up to the parents to decide if they want to bring them or not. Most weddings I’ve been to kids have been picked up or taken home after the meal and before the evening guests arrive. How old are the kids?

wizzywig · 06/06/2025 18:13

Don't all these men just say that it's their fiances decision?

babystarsandmoon · 06/06/2025 18:13

If you can’t ask your own brother why then it might explain why they aren’t invited. They mustn’t be close.

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:12

All of OP’s last threads are about her not being invited somewhere

a memorial
a cousin’s wedding where her mum isn’t invited
and now this
all a bit odd!

GreenClock · 06/06/2025 18:12

It’s probably numbers. Even if you think it isn’t. Is anyone from that generation who aren’t the bride and/or groom’s kids going?

Spies · 06/06/2025 18:11

Do your children actually care they are not invited?

As you say it's up to him and his wife to be who is invited so not sure what asking would do other than cause a scene. Are you hoping to guilt them into inviting them?

LlynTegid · 06/06/2025 18:11

You can ask, be prepared for an answer you don't like or an evasive one. Unless he has done the dirty old man thing of dumping his first wife once aged 40 for a younger woman, I think you ought to accept the invitation.

Coffeeishot · 06/06/2025 18:11

I think you should ask him, even if it's for your own piece of mind, it might be your new Sil has more guests because it's her first wedding?

Cornflakes44 · 06/06/2025 18:10

DarkForces · 06/06/2025 18:07

What do you think asking him will achieve?

Exactly. You say it’s up to him but then clearly want to antagonise him about it. He may just want an adults only event as that’s what will make him most comfortable on the day, nothing to do with how much he likes your children. Like you say, it’s his day up to him.

Fingerpie · 06/06/2025 18:10

Who they invite is up to them so all I want to do is ask him why he doesn’t want his nieces and nephews there. Do they mean nothing to him?

talk about a contradictory fruitcake

Ponderingwindow · 06/06/2025 18:08

There is no point in asking him this question.

By all means, use a thread like this to vent your frustration. Then as long as there are no serious logistical barriers to attending your brother’s wedding, be the bigger person and rsvp yes.

Agix · 06/06/2025 18:08

We are not having kids to our wedding because it's extra heads, extra money extra complications re: amenities and food and drinks.. And once we invited one person's kids, other people will feel it unfair if their kids arnt invited. And suddenly we have a bunch of kids running about at an event they don't even bloody care about and will probably be bored at. And we just want a nice, relaxed, adult orientated day.

QuickFawn · 06/06/2025 18:07

You can ask but what’s the point?
do your kids even want to go, mine would be so bored and I’d enjoy a night off tbh