Have you ever not attended a wedding you were invited to?

That I can think of, the only wedding I was invited to that I missed was for my cousin Bernie (Bernadette) because it was on a Friday and I couldn't get off work.

Yep, I sure have. The last time I was invited to one and did not go was back in 2008. In a way I wanted to go to it. It was for a family member (on my side of the family), after all. As I hadn't seen any of them in years, I figured it'd be a good time to reunite with them, especially with it being so close to home. However, my husband didn't want to go. Nor could we. At least not all of us anyway, and I for one wanted to go as a family. During that time we were having problems with a car that we had (it needed a new engine) and the only other vehicle we had was a single cab pick up truck. Kind of impossible to take a family of four in that. We had been planning for months to get the car fixed, which I was hoping to do so before the wedding. That way, I'd still have a chance to change my husband's mind. But a couple of weeks prior to the wedding my father-in-law fell ill and passed away, so any money we had put aside for the car was used to send my husband on a much needed trip to see his mother instead. So, that pretty much decided it for us right there. We wound up not going to the wedding. I guess it was just as well. We didn't know the bride or groom anyway.

Let me first say that your friend took a very very correct decision…in any case, I feel the hosts are extremely rude, insensitive and unsympathetic people…I mean if you really know a family close enough to invite them, you’d obviously know that they have a disable son and it’s bound to be a sensitive issue…the best gesture would have been to welcome the family alongwith the son and just behave normal…otherwise they shouldn’t have invited at all or mentioned in the invitation card itself that kids were not welcome! Other than that, yes there have been quite a few occasions where I’ve not attended a marriage inspite of the invitation. Distance was the main reason…as you know, most of us here don’t have cars and public transport is so overcrowded that it travelling by one really takes away all the fun from attending parties. So if its close by, then only we make it a point to go.

There isn't a wedding I can think of that I was invited to but didn't attend. I haven't been invited to that many weddings though. Oh wait, now I thought of one. My friend Scott got married a few years ago but I wasn't able to attend his wedding. He lives in florida and it would have cost us way to much to go down there to see his wedding. Plus we had 2 small children at the time. Perhaps the people should have specified no children in their invitation instead of waiting till after wards to say no children. And 14 is hardly a child. I would think they could make an exception. Unless him being disabled is why they aren't letting him come.

That's kind of a crumby thing to do - I understand the appeal of an 'adults only' wedding but to not make in known before hand is pretty rude. I haven't gone to the majority of the weddings I've been invited to. The secretary at a place my husband worked invited us to her wedding a few years ago and we didn't go. He didn't like her and I didn't know her so that was that, lol. His cousin is getting married next February in the Dominican and we're not going to that one either. My husband has school in April so it isn't the best time for us to take off and I really don't want to waste a holiday going somewhere I don't really want to go and for someone's wedding who I've only met once. Those are the two that immediately spring to mind.

Well we have skipped a few weddings for various reasons. They where too far away, we didn't agree with the marriage, so on. Now as for the people who do not want to attend without their son that is their choice but I believe it is a bit ballsy to expect to be able to bring someone not invited. Honestly I don't care whether they are a child, adult, disabled or purple if not invited they are not invited. These people probably have limits on how many they can afford to invite and if one person can bring their kid everyone will want to and then they get stuck with a wedding too big for them to pay for. Not to mention it is rude to just invite anyone along to a function that was not invited.

katsmeow1213, This just show how humanity has degraded and the new couple here is just deplorable. They are just outright callous and way insensitive. Your friend is right, deciding against attending this wedding. This new couple should have either made an exception for this wheelchair bound child attend or not invite at all. Shame on them.

well,i live with my parents so whenever somebody does invite me for a wedding they invite me indirectly through my parents.my parents do attend all the weddings but i am very reluctant to go.and in many cases i don't even though my parents do force me saying that what will others think.i give them the reason that the ones who are getting married or their families don't have any direct relation with me then why should i go for it.they may not even know me.

Yes, and there are different reasons why I haven't attended the wedding. Last December 2010, I was invited to my fiend's son's wedding but I did not attend,, the reason was the reception was held in a five star hotel and guests were required to use formal dresses. I have no dress to wear so i did not attend. There are people who do not include children in invitations. One reason could be that they are sometimes unruly but what ever the reason they should be respected. But regarding especial cases, it should be an exemption. It is mean not to invite a 14 year old who is in no condition to be left at home. For me, it must have been an exemption to the rule.

Many times I didn;t attend the wedding of own relatives. I was busy and I didn't find time to attend the wedding. I really feel bad at those times. Its not in my ahnds. MY busy is so busy that I don't find time even to enjoy my life. I think this will have a bad effect on my weddin day.

Of the 7 wedding invites I received, I was only able to attend one. All too often, I couldn't get away from the office which is why I wasn't able to attend. Although, now I find that I don't want to miss these events especially if my daighter is invited to be a flower girl. I guess most people don't mind children in these events because they serve a purpose. However, I think we should respect the wishes of the bride and groom if they don't want to invite children. It is their party after all.

I have only gone to a couple of weddings myself. The one I am attending in two weeks should be fun because my husband is going to dj the event. I think the people who are getting married and said that children are not invited should have stated that first thing not after your friend RSVPed. I think your friend did the right thing by saying that if my son is not welcomed then I am not attending.

i have been invited to a wedding of my friend,i'm one of the bridesmaids back then.i also am a bridesmaid on my cousin's wedding.that makes two weddings.well,i have not yet invited to other weddings,that makes me unable to attend! as of your story,you have no choice back then but to not attend. for sure whoever invited you may understand,well,if they do know the reason why you did not attend!

I have yet to decline to a wedding invitation; the ones I have had were for my sisters, brothers and mother in law. Of course, I was going to attend those. When I married, EVERYONE was invited. My heart is not a cold stone that would decline a child! Especially one with MD! How heartless; the child will feel rejection over and over again; how irresponsible. How sad.

Yes, I have also faced similar situations few years back. All these are circumstancial as well as person centric with me! Hope this must be minimised to benefit

I have.....or haven't I should say. There are a few that I haven't went to...people I didn't really feel close to or because of other reasons like conflict in scheduling.

Yes, I have skipped various wedding where I have been invited as there were some major reasons for its. I never do it intentionally, not to attend wedding, it is a great opportunity to let the bride and grooms feel they are special and I always try not to do so. But there were some major prob. with my company and due to that I didn't attend my niece wedding and she got angry with us. Later we make her understood and clarify the reason. I know she will always be hurt for that, but it was not ours intention. I wish all those whose wedding been missed by us, be happy and prosper today and always.

For me it is the feeling you got of tiredness but when time would come how very appreciated you are to attend then it will be great both of you.