Who the heck do we invite?

[GerddwrEryri]

DP and I have talked about getting married but every time I think about the guest list I get so stressed.

My parents pretty much went no contact on us last year. They've recently wandered back into our lives (via social media, not even in person) and i don't think I can cope with the stress of them being invited.

I'd love my one Aunty & Uncle to come. But I know if I invited them, I would have to invite some of the other family and they'd be really judgey about me not inviting my parents. But equally I wouldn't want to upset my other Aunt and Uncle (the ones who'd judge) by not inviting them.

What on earth do we do? I feel like it's ruining the whole mood of it all! Part of me just wants to elope!

Then elope. Sounds perfect. And you don't have to tell anyone!

Just elope or go abroad on holiday and do it then. Don’t invite anyone.

You could elope to somewhere in the U.K., maybe a nice hotel in the Lake District or Cornwall, or up to Gretna Green - ask nice Aunt and Uncle to be your witnesses, so they get to go, be involved, but as you "eloped" no one else would expect an invite. (Make sure you swear aunt and uncle to secrecy).

There are options! Elope then have a big party and invite everyone - family don't get a bigger role than the people you actually get on with.

Have a wedding way abroad so it's a massive pain for anyone not fully committed to you both. That way you can invite everyone knowing most won't come.

Have a tiny registry office do and a meal in a pub afterwards ( invite the parents and judgy ones) and then have the wedding of your dreams somewhere else for everyone else ( the people you like). No one can complain about being invited to the official wedding .

I eloped and it was fantastic. I’d say do it, we just came back and said we got married. Done deal!

As others have said elope and take the aunt and uncle you want to be there as witnesses. Go somewhere wonderful.
The others may grumble when you announce you got married but it would be all done by the time they are told about it.
It's your wedding. Do it the way that suits you.