How are you Defining

close or immediate family? I ask because I noticed that many girls in response to the kids question mentioned close/immediate family, but what is that?

For example, I have 1 brother, 1 sister, and 2 half-brothers and 2 half-sisters. I grew up with one of the half-brothers, but the rest of the half-siblings I didn't see between the age of 10-21. To me, they would be immediate family, but not close family. Same thing with first cousins. Each of my parents had two siblings. Dad's brothers had 5 and 2 kids respectively. The uncle with the 5 kids I met once (same with the kids), the other uncle, we vactioned with and I saw those cousins a number of times growing up. Mom's sisters each had one kid. One cousin I saw every single Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving etc, the other only a handful of times.

Obviously, I have to invite them all to the wedding because they are immediate (blood) family - but because they are almost all not close, I feel that it is OK, not to invite their kids. (the one that is close has no kids).

So, when deciding that only kids of close/immediate family will be invited - what's the difference???

Immediate family is parents (including steps unless they aren't married to your parent and you aren't close with them) siblings (half, step, full), Aunts/Uncles, first cousins. That's immediate to me- tho FH has about 20 first cousins- many are in India or FH didn't want to invite them!

Close family is anyone who is blood/marriage realted that you feel close to...maybe a second cousin that you are close to....etc...

It's your call to not invite the kids- I don't know your money/room situation but if it were me I'd invite their kids b/c of the closeness of their blood....but I think I'm inviting too many people! I'm a push over on the invite thing- FH and I just ordered our invites and I still don't have a definate guest list!!

Good luck! I'd talk to your parents and see what they think too....