HOME >> WEDDING ETIQUETTE >> Q & A

Wedding Etiquette Questions: Ask the Etiquist

Is it rude to exclude distant relatives from your guest list?

Q. I'm working on putting together the guest list for my wedding, and I only want to invite our parents' immediate family- grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins - as well as some close family friends and a few co-workers who we are friends with.

My mother is worried we'll offend some more distant family members. Is it rude to not invite these people, most of whom we haven't seen in years?

A. Consistency in your choices can prevent offending distant relatives - if you don't plan to invite second cousins, and consistently exclude all second cousins from the list, you are within the bounds of good etiquette.

Do you have a question on wedding etiquette? Submit your wedding etiquette questions to the Etiquist