Should you still send an invitation to guests who told you they can't go to your destination wedding?

This post is part of my Destination Wedding Etiquette Q&A series, where I answer reader-submitted questions.

Destination Wedding Etiquette Question submitted by Karen

“If you already know that someone is not able to make it to the destination wedding, do you still send them a formal invitation, and do you invite them to the shower?”

Cynthia @ Destination Wedding Details Says

This is completely up to your discretion. You can definitely still send them a formal invitation to the wedding and shower, especially if this is someone close to you. Although they might have told you they won’t be able to make it, you might be surprised to see them come through in the eleventh hour and actually find a way to make it.

What could be considered in poor taste is to send a shower invitation, but not invite them to the wedding. But you’re sending both, and leaving it up that person to make a decision on which one (if not both), they’d like to attend.

I address this topic on the Destination Wedding Etiquette page.