This is interesting, as I have never had more friends than space. People are going to get their feelings hurt if not invited, and rightly so. I was going to suggest some kind of lottery for attendees, but that's kind of ridiculous. Please note, this is a similar problem as weddings -- they're expensive, you can't invite everyone, someone gets left out, and the hurt feelings can reverberate for a lifetime, affecting everyone.
This is a good, thoughtful question. I struggle with this too, sometimes. It's impossible to invite every friend you have to a party or gathering (especially costly ones, such as the parties mentioned here). This might seem unfair, to some, but I tend to invite the people who've hosted me in the past. I know that "reciprocation" isn't expected as much as it used to be, but when it comes time to invite friends to a party or over for dinner, I first consider the ones who've included me in the past.
This is interesting, as I have never had more friends than space. People are going to get their feelings hurt if not invited, and rightly so. I was going to suggest some kind of lottery for attendees, but that's kind of ridiculous. Please note, this is a similar problem as weddings -- they're expensive, you can't invite everyone, someone gets left out, and the hurt feelings can reverberate for a lifetime, affecting everyone.
This is a good, thoughtful question. I struggle with this too, sometimes. It's impossible to invite every friend you have to a party or gathering (especially costly ones, such as the parties mentioned here). This might seem unfair, to some, but I tend to invite the people who've hosted me in the past. I know that "reciprocation" isn't expected as much as it used to be, but when it comes time to invite friends to a party or over for dinner, I first consider the ones who've included me in the past.