Cutting down the guest list

Q: My fiancee and I have a fairly large wedding party, but we are trying to keep the number of guests down as it seems our guest list is getting out of control. We intend to invite the parents of some of wedding party attendants, but only those that we are close to and have come to know as our "second set of parents". Do we have to invite the parents of everyone even if we don't really know them?

A: My suggestion would be that you not invite the parents that you do not know! Keeping a wedding guest list down in numbers is no easy task. Eventually, you'll have a huge list that you'll need to minimize! I would suggest that you eliminate the people that you don't really know very well, including the parents. It would be awkward for all involved, anyway! If they don't really know you very well, it will be difficult for them to decide on what type of gift to buy you, and they may be uncomfortable at the wedding anyway - or worse, they could feel as though they're obligated to attend and bring a gift! On the other hand, on your wedding day, when you look around at your guests, you don't want to be surrounded by people you barely know, you want to be surrounded by people that you know and love.