Declining Wedding Invite When There Are Family Issues

There are two ways to approach this dilemma. A similar situation happened to me last year. My immediate family doesn`t speak to me and I was invited to a cousins wedding where I knew the rest of my family was going to be. I held my head up high and went anyway. I mingled with people I didn`t know (and made some new friends), I was civil to those who were uncivil to me, and I ended up having a fairly decent time. If I hadn`t gone it would only have added more fuel to their fires.

So - you can either pick up an inexpensive (though it won`t look it) gift at a discount store and attend the wedding with a smile on your face, knowing you are a better individual for doing so (and no, you don`t have to make amends) or you can just simply check off the line which says "politely declines to attend", no questions asked. You don`t have to ever offer explanations as to why you can not attend a wedding. If other family members ask...you just say you had a previous obligation and leave it at that. But expect repercussions from not attending!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Yes, we are expecting some repurcussions since we will most likely not attend. We will however send a small gift along with a note of "regret" and well wishes in their marriage. Regards, Chris