I like that idea too! Also trivia contest sounds fun… can be informal, shout out answers
Trivia is definitely fun to do if your crowd is into it. There are lots of online places you can get questions and answers. You could also do some type of a themed trivia.
I did that at my goddaughter’s shower, and it was fun. Not sure I want to do it here but will think about it. I think the two hours will go by really quickly and may not have time.
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I think MOST times we tend to overdo. It looks like a cool venue. Leave it at that re: “decor”.
If there is any type of check in area or spot people will stop (like a bar they will walk up to?) you could have a nice framed photo of the couple. Or if the venue will allow it, a bowl of custom mints/mini wrapped chocolates or m and m’s at each table.
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Daughter is off to Las Vegas to be a bridesmaid. This is her fourth time as a bridesmaid, with probably one more in the next year.
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I like abasket’ idea of a pretty bowl, filled with personalized candies. Perhaps a mixture of M&ms, mints, etc. On the tin case for the mints, I used “Mint to be” with names, and in the green color theme. Mostly, I used beer themes or names and date. I also ordered gummy bears, which came in small packages, and I had them arrive just a few days before the wedding. You can order shapes and colors and flavors. I used 2 companies, but you could just pick one. I had a ball shopping on line (obviously).
Is it common for parents of the B/G to include the parents’ friends (who know their kid since the kid was a baby) in the guest list? Our good friends seem to think only friends of the B/G are supposed to be there if B and G are fully launched adults. MOB’s feelings are somewhat hurt after that conversation. 
It really depends. In our wedding ages ago, both sets of parents wanted to invite people, as did H and I. We said fine, as long as the person who invited pays for their guests. That’s exactly how we handled it.
We have been invited to a wedding as parents of my D, who is a friend of the family. We have also been invited as a friend of the family when we didn’t even know the bride or groom and honestly didn’t know parents of bride or groom well but knew grandparents and aunt of bride.
I certainly can understand hurt feelings when the marrying couple refuse to allow parents to invite anyone to the wedding. Hope you guys can work this out.
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I think this depends. We have lots of family friends who have known our kid since she was a baby. The ones invited to the wedding were folks she has seen recently and/or have seen both she and son in law recently. We invited no friends of parents who didn’t fit the above.
Let me add a few details. The parents of the bride are paying for everything in this case as a wedding gift to the adult kids. The friends of the parents who think it is weird will be receiving the invite from the couple. The couple is the ones who would be thrilled to have these friends of the parents there.
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Son and DiL made up the guestlist entirely on their own. My son asked for a “who might we be forgetting” list, and I included only a few of our longtime family friends, and I included “please invite this great aunt even though she can’t come”.
They invited the ones they feel close to, the “can’t come but want to be a part of it relations”, ignored the others, it was fine. It was their wedding. The idea of “should” is the beginning of all unnecessary angst. S2 seems headed to the altar and I suspect as he/she are established adults, parents won’t have much input on a guest list if at all.
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I’m confused. The couple is receiving an invitation to attend…so what is the issue?
In our case, the bride and groom made a guest list and each set of parents also made a guest list. The wedding couple had final approval on who actually got invited (there were no issues).
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Just asking for opinions. Same as in your case, everyone made a list. The list is agreed upon, and the couple asked everyone for their availability to make sure the date is OK for the majority of the invited. Parents were asked to confirm with their friends their availability. The friends (who are like family to the parents) thought it was absolutely inappropriate for folks like them to be invited to a wedding IF the B/G are fully “launched,” independent adults.
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So, they’re actually upset they’re getting invited to a wedding involving people they seem to know well? That’s certainly an interesting response to a nice invitation. Maybe they just don’t want to spring for a gift!
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Oh they will gladly spring for a gift! Lol. They went to the wedding of the B’s sister “because she was a student.” So gathering everyone’s opinions whether it is not OK to include the parents’ generation in the celebration of their child’s special day when the child has been an independent adult for a little while.
It’s the wedding couple and families decisions….not a guest. If they feel they shouldn’t have been invited, they can choose not to attend.
I understand your question now…and I think it’s not the guests’ business at all!
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There is a Reddit sub forum that is titled “am I the a**hole”. People respond to dilemmas with YITA for yes and NTA for no.
The parents of the bride, who are doing the inviting can invite anyone they agree with the bridal couple to invite. And it’s very customary for parents of the bridal party to invite their friends that know one of the bridal couple.
The couple who was invited should shut their mouths and accept the invitation graciously.
So according to me, the couple invited and told the parents of the bride that they shouldn’t be invited are a**holes! YITA! 
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Totally, agree . Not the guest"s business and seems pretty rude to tell the family that it was “absolutely inappropriate” for them to have been invited to the wedding.
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In our case we invited a few friends who my kids have known their entire lives.
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We have invited two couples who have known my son since he was five years old and have also met the bride. Also, a few family members.
Bride"s father and stepmom are inviting 4 couple friends who know the bride well, and have also met my son. No family.
Most of the guests will be friends of the couple and that’s fine with us.
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