Wedding Reception clash!?

I would really send my regrets for the other reception. You really won't be able to relax and enjoy yourself at either if you plan to attend both. While you were with your family you'd likely be wondering if your other friend was upset you weren't there yet. And when you left you'd be wondering if your cousin was upset about you leaving, or was anyone else in the family upset. If they were spaced out in the day that would be a little different but they aren't so really send a nice gift if you like to the second person but don't attend.

No one has to be invited to a wedding ceremony unless it is at home. It is a public event, anyone can come. People are invited to the ceremony and reception or just to the ceremony. There are no rules that say anyone has to be invited to both. The cousin in this question is not being rude to anyone. The bf is invited to the reception so he is also welcome at the ceremony. Cousin is being more than nice to accommodate this person who doesn't even want to be there!

The problem here is how to go to both receptions. You are committed to the former. If you accept the latter, your friend will have to pay for two extra dinners that you will not be there to eat. End of friendship.

What you should do is phone the friend and tell friend you have another wedding but will TRY to drop by after dinner...or make a note on the reply card. Take bf to cousin's ceremony and reception. After dinner, have a dance and leave quietly. Attend the friends reception to wish the happy couple well. That way, if you get tied up in your hotel room and don't make the second wedding reception the friend will know you tried, even though you didn't. In any case...gifts are in order.

I would go to your cousins wedding, wait for an hour into the reception, then hot foot it along to your friends. All the important bits of a family wedding will be over by then and you wont be missed. Why can't your boyfriend not come to the first hour of the family wedding, then he can drive you to your friends wedding? If the second wedding is in a hotel, they usually do special discounts for people staying over!

I would say go to both, just don't stay at the first reception too long. Your cousin shouldn't be upset since you will be attending the wedding also, but just in case let her know you may have to leave the reception a little early as you have another engagement.

If I had accepted the invite to the cousin's wedding first I would politely decline the invite to the work mate's wedding, you can't be in two places at the same time and you know how some family get, my mother would be annoyed at me for leaving my cousin's wedding and going to another one, then coming back, if you have accepted one then go to just the one. You have to decide which one is the most important to you.

Why wasn't your BF invited to your Cousins wedding?I think this as rude of your cousin only to ask him to the evening do. One more meal wouldn't have cost that much! I think you should do both - go to your cousins ceremony excuse yourself later leaving enough time to go with your BF to your friends evening reception. That way you please both and why shouldn't you go to best friends wedding? As for the drink, well you don't need to drink to enjoy yourself, I always drive when going out and find that I don't need a drink to enjoy the parties, I usually have cranberry and lemonade,but whatever I drink, from tonic water to bitter lemon I have in a wine glass, that way I'm not hassled to have a drink, it looks like I'm drinking spritzer! Enjoy yourself at the weddings and have a lovely day.

"my bf is invited to the second reception too. so i was thinking when he comes to join me in the evening we could go to the second one for a while then go back to my cousins?"

I think this is perfect, and what I would do, except that my BF would stay where we were enjoying ourselves the most....but def make an appearence at both. I think it sounds perfect, go to the early thing, he meets you at the recepption, you all enjoy and mix and mingle, move on to the next, the bride and groom should be so busy they won't even miss you! Then decide which to stay at...which are you both having fun at? and just enjoy....you've completed your obligations for the day!

If you've accepted one invitation you're morally obliged to attend the one you've accepted.

Thank the former colleague most sincerely and explain that you'd have loved to come but you had previously accepted an invitation to your cousin's wedding and reception that day and are unable to attend.

When you give the former colleague he gift, go in person with your bf to deliver it. Ask her when it would be convenient to call round.

Tell your cousin you are bring your bf to the 1st one, Because you have plans later that day. That it wasn't right for to invite him to only the later one. Believe not everyone she invited is going to come. You are family you come before friends. Also you could to the co works a little late later. Since you won't need to eat since you went to your cousins.

I think it would be best to stay at your cousins reception, especially as you BF is coming along in the evening - if your ex-colleague is female perhaps you could go along to her "hen" night instead.

It will also save all the hassle of driving back and forth.

Tough how it works out - always the way !