Just curious to know if people here attend functions such as weddings or other parties where the person inviting you is someone you are not friends with or even related to in any way (for example, an acquaintance or even less than that). My in-laws have known a family for many years (they are relatives of one of their relatives) but they have no milna julna with these people. They may have met them WAY back in the day (like over 20 years ago) but really do not see or talk to these people unless their relative has a big party where this family and my in-laws both have been invited. Anyway, this family has invited my in-laws to their son’s wedding. They also invited me and my husband and SILs. My husband has NEVER met the guy who is getting married ever in his life. I’ve never met this guy or this family either. I told my hubby that I think we should start only accepting invites from close friends or family. It seems silly for us to attend every tom, dick and harry’s wedding (especially because we don’t even know them). I know for a fact that white people don’t go to weddings unless they are close fam or friends but brown people have this thing of inviting everyone and their brother to every function. What do you guys think? I personally do not want to go and I know if I say so my in-laws won’t mind and will still go themselves…but my husband INSISTS we go. sigh I’m curious to know if others have politely declined an invite because they didn’t know the person well enough (giving some excuse like they have some other place to go that day or something).
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
As long as the food is good, who cares who you know and who you don't, or even whether you were invited or not
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
I've never attended any wedding that's not family or really really close friends but then again, wasn't invited to one either. So idk what I'll do. Probably decide last min.
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
Because I'd rather attend weddings or parties of my close friends and family, whom I'd actually be THRILLED to share such a joyous milestone with. Also, it can become very costly after a while. I am a generous person when it comes to my family and friends but find it silly that we would now have to fork out $150 or whatever the minimum norm now is for weddings for a couple that I will never see again in my life. I just wanted to know if people are actually "selective" about which invites they accept, based on their relationship with the person. I wouldn't even mind as much if these people were an acquaintance of mine...but neither my husband or I have ever met the guy being married!
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
There are so few weddings here in the west that I am thrilled to attend any such invite!
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
^ LOL....I am in Canada...and I find there are enough weddings to attend.
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
We normally get lots of these.i only tag along because I am with my mother. I don't know how much things change since your a married couple. It's all about the food for me, sorry to say.
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
If you're worried spending on a gift, you should know they'll be spending on making arrangements for food and seating for YOU. Is spending the only criteria?
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
They don't want you either.....just out of formality and rakh rakhao. Nothing is going to happen if you don't go....better to not go...especially if someone from your inlaws is going.
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
Never miss the opportunity to eat some food, whatever the occasion or acquaintance.
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
Hubby and I would not attend if we didn’t know either the bride or groom OR one of their parents well. I can’t remember ever attending a wedding where one of us didn’t know the bride and/or groom well. Recently we were invited to a wedding by one of my hubby’s nurses where we don’t know the bride/groom (nurse is gori; its her only daughter’s wedding). The wedding in our city and this is someone my hubby works with on a daily basis so we will attend.
As for cost…yes, like you we also don’t go empty handed to weddings. $100 is the minimum we will spend on a gift and that amount can easily go up depending on how close we are to that person. I find it ridiculous to spend $100 to attend the wedding of a couple where we don’t know the family at all. For that money, hubby and I can go have a nice romantic dinner with just the two of us. 
And for a good desi buffet, we can also easily go to a local place and spend about $30 to eat as much as we want.
Question: Why does your husband think he MUST go?
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
If someone has invited me like that, then I'd go unless I have a good reason not to.
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
well nth wrong going, and actually making friends with the couple and other people around :)
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
I don't go unless I know the couple or the couples' families. There are enough weddings happening here, we primarily give cash unless the couple is registered somewhere and we find something we'd like to gift them on their list. It adds up and it ain't pretty to budget $500 a month for presents for people - not mention other things that might pop up like birthdays, housewarmings, etc.
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
or you can give the gift....with value equivalent to khaana+hosting cost +20% ......Technically you won't be losing out financially :D
Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
If the invitation is from your inlaws side and hubby feels like you guys should go then just go. They may or may not see each other often but maybe you don't realize the extent of the relationship. They were invited after all. These days people are starting to cut down on their guest lists. For us, we assess how many close events that we must attend are happening at one time and if its to much to handle we usually decline random invites. If we don't have much going on then its just curtesy in my opinion to attend, no harm in it. Sometimes to many events hit you in the same month and its not only expensive but quite exhausting from having to get ready and figuring out outfit situations..but decline in advance not last minute.
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
I guess it depends upon where you live and your social circle. In Pakistan, I couldn't care less about going to someone's wedding if I didn't know them well, but here in the US I have attended very few weddings and frankly I am flattered if someone has chosen to invite me. In our circle, people give normally $50 if its a not too close a friend
Re: Attending functions hosted by people you hardly even know
Sometimes every Tom dick and Harry attending makes a huge difference to the host. I think u live in Canada and I am sure u know that ppl living abroad already have little acquaintances. So if you are being invited its because they really want to share their big day with others be it strangers or well known acquaintances.