Guest list dilemma

3tails

This is one of many dilemmas i'm having at the moment.
We are getting married in May, a small registry office ceremony followed by a reception for family members (mums, dads, siblings etc). We limited the numbers to 25 because we thought that a) it would keep the cost down and b) that included all immediate family.
Now my brother has asked if children are invited, i.e my neices and nephews, none of which are really children as the youngest is 15. i wasn't planning to include them at the reception but invite them all to the evening do. He says he won't be able to get there if his daughter dosen't bring them, and he doesn't want to have to rely on anybody else to bring them. I really don't mind my niece comming but it wouldn't be fair if i invite her and not the others (an additional 6). The OH isn't much help because he doesn't have any nieces or nephews, but does say we'll stretch the 25 limit 'if we have to'.
Any thoughts about what i should do, i'm planning to write the invites over the next couple of days and i'm unsure of who i'm supposed to be inviting

clearing_out_my_pockets

How far would your brother have to travel? Could he not get a taxi?

3tails

He lives about 60 miles away, has no money for a taxi and his daughter is the only one in the family who drives, i think they rely on her to go anywhere.

roses

Could you pay for his travel (train then taxi)? Would that be cheaper than inviting the other 6? How offended would the others be if you only invited one if they understood that you realy couldn't afford to invite more?

Magicboo

I've been the "niece" in your situation before, I ended up taking my parents to the wedding bit, hanging around the town for the afternoon, then went to the evening doo.
It wasn't a problem, especially as we knew they were tight on cash so there were lots of people only invited to the evening. Could you speak to your brother & niece and see if something like that could be done?
x

kazwookie

I'd stick to your original plans, and additional 6 is a large number.

The niece / rest of the family can go to the local town for the day.

If your brother says anything, just say money is tight and we only want a small wedding.

vickietm

I might sound a little daft here but do they have a minibus? I'm just wondering how they are going to get your brother (and his wife?) the driver and 6 others in the car? Surely some of them would be relying on someone else or getting a taxi anyway?

It is a lot to add on to your numbers, increase of around 25%.

Hope you get it sorted.

floss2

Can you not buy him a train ticket? Should be cheaper if you buy in advance...

Sparkle80

I'd also stick to your guns - could your neice could go off and do her own thing for the afternoon?