Weddings close together - bride invited to one and not the other

[MimiDaisy11]

I’m getting married a few weeks after a friend. They’re having a big ceremony (100s of guests) and I’m having a small one (under 20 guests -just family). They’ve invited me. I feel I can’t invite them as I’d have to invite the whole friendship group and that would increase the numbers a lot and also beg the question why that group of friends gets favoured over other friends. Plus we do just want a small wedding. It’s just registrars office then a meal. Nothing fancy.

Anyway, if you were the friend with the big wedding would you be annoyed at not being invited? Would you go to the big wedding if you couldn’t invite them?

I don't think I'd go to the big wedding in that case but I don't think you'd be unreasonable to go either.

I'd speak to them and tell them the situation.

Just explain that yours is family only and it'll be fine! You're having completely different weddings and it's not like you're excluding her and then inviting other friends. You're probably overthinking this. Congratulations!

Could you not have a celebratory meal with your friendship group too - on another day?

No. Just talk to the bride and explain why you said here.

Speak to your friend, I doubt they have invited you just to get return invite? Otherwise have they only invited the married couples whos wedding they attended?