What JayKay said, quoted below... This is the #1 reason I'm doing a DW. I come from a small-ish town where my parents know A LOT of people, and I knew if I had a wedding at home, it would be 1) SO EXPENSIVE and 2) not intimate. I want our close friends and family.
My mom is really struggling with NOT inviting people, so I told her if she's buying the invites, go ahead and invite all the family, because we know in the end, the ones who want to be there, and the ones WE WANT to be there, will be there. We know extended family won't come, but they can't be offended because they were invited. We are also having 2 AHR receptions (one in California for me, one in Chicago for FI.. and I'm forgoing a bridal shower), they're going to be backyard BBQ affairs, nothing fancy at all! And pretty much everyone is invited! (: This is the best way we can think of not offending anyone, plus celebrating with family friends that have literally known me my ENTIRE life. Sara