First Communion - Golden Valley,AZ

I agree. I would just send the invite. They can call and say congrats and feel included in her special day.

I would say send the invitations. You want to include the entire family. But I would include an additional note in each of those long-distance invites saying that you wanted to let them know about this important event, but you completely understand that they cannot come because of distance (or expense, or beliefs, etc.).

I have a similar situation. My family is Catholic and my husband's is not. My family all lives close by, but not my husbands. When we had my daughter christened we had the typical big party at the house. We invited everyone from my side and my husband's parents, siblings, grandparents, and a few aunts/uncles. Basically what I did was call up my MIL and talk to her about my concerns. I was honest with her and said while we would be thrilled to have their family be a part of this wonderful event, we also understood they don't live nearby so it would be hard/expensive for them to make a trip just for this. Also that we are respectful that they are not Catholic so perhaps this sacrament wouldn't hold as much meaning for them personally. I then deffered to his mom on who she felt it was most appropriate to invite. We also didn't want to make it look like we were just asking for gifts. She gave me a list of names/addresses of those she felt were closest to my hubby and who would want to receive an invite. Those she felt wouldn't be offended I didn't send one to. I do always make sure to remember his entire family when I am doing things like xmas cards, pictures of the baby, baby announcements, etc.... That way they don't feel left out. I have always gotten on great with his family so I think it works! I also make sure to take my daughter down to his families for weekends, etc so they can see her and be a part of her life on their turf. Best of luck whatever you decide!

My personal opinion is that I would invite them- maybe write a little note on the invitation that you know they are likely to be unable to attend due to the distance, but didn't want them to feel left out of this special milestone in your daughter's life. My in-laws live out of state and they always receive an invite to the kids' events/birthdays even if they won't be back here during that time. Good luck!

I think it is important to invite the people you want there (and maybe a few who expect to be there just to keep family politics smooth.)

1. Invite everyone you would like to come and let the chips fall where they may regarding a gift. People do like to get gifts for others OR

2. On the invitation indicate NO gifts. There will be those that still give a gift, but it allows others to juszt send a card OR

3. Give the invitees an idea like writing their favorite memory of your daughter for her to put in a book. OR ask that there be no gifts but a book would be acceptable...

I include silly poems in my invitations (b-day usually, we aren't religious) such as..."No gifts please we do plead, your presence here is all we need".

Good luck. I have to be honest. My best friend didn't invite me to her children's baptisms (tho' I was in her wedding) b/c I wasn't religious and it did hurt my feelings a bit.

W.

Hi... my family went through a similar occassion and we came up with sending a annoucement.. we took a pic of our little guy and wrote a small poem and sent them to all families. The families that were local were called with the time/date info.. Everyone felt included and informed.
It is so hard to please everyone...so I just make sure to send lots pic.'s of family events to keep the peace.

We are Episcopalian, but our families are not (we switched). My hubby is in the Army and we never live close to home. Last year my son had his first Communion and we let everyone know, but didn't expect them to come because of distance and different practices. My son did get lots of cards congratulating him.

My family & my husband's family is out of state. I am dealing now with the same situation with Baptism. We too are Catholic - both sides. I would invite your family & your husbands. They can give a gift or not. This is our 2nd child. Being Catholic, they will be offended by not being invited.

My family is not catholic but for other things... baby showers, weddings, etc. we always send out invitations as form of announcement. Who knows, maybe they will be in town?? A follow up phone call or email would be appropriate. They are under no obligation to send a gift just because they receive an invitation. Could you imagine if you had to send a gift to everything you were invited to??? it would be their choice. You could also make a seperate announcement card to send out. I am sure your family (even if you sent an invite) would appreciate a photo and card of your child after.

Our family is the same, mine is Catholic, husbands is not. For my daughter's 1st Communion we are only inviting local family and friends, Godparents, and Grandparents. All of our family is out of state. We'll let the rest of the family know, but not send out an invitation. With our family, if they know something is happening and they want to come they'll tell us they want to be there.

If they are catholic invite them and make sure they understand you don't expect them to travel far that you just wanted them to know they are welcomed. If they are not catholic, the significance of first communion will be lost on them. If they are practicing protestant, they may feel uncomfortable with the invite since protestants have such a strong and differing believe about Christ sacrifice occurring once and for all vs. the catholic doctrine of repeating the sacrifice over and over. If you just want the family together, then invite away and make sure you follow up your invitation to any non catholics that you understand they are not catholic but its a very important event in your family and you want everyone to feel welcomed, but not obligated to come.

Invite all. Then make sure you let those from out of town know that it's ok not to attend and no gift is expected, you just wanted to let them know about an event that is important in your daughter's life. That way no feelings are hurt, no one is left out, and no one feels "obligated". And who knows -- maybe some of them will show up because they want to share in the special times!

Send an invitation to everyone. They are adults and can make the decision for themselves. I think it is always better to err on the side of inclusion, so no one's feelings get hurt. As long as they don't have any animosity towards the Catholic faith, they would probably like to know that you feel they are an important part of your daughter's life and want to include them in her milestones. Just like with a shower/wedding/birthday invitation, it is always up to the receiver to decide whether they want to go or not. I was 99.9% sure my in-laws would not fly out for our daughter's 1st birthday, but I still sent the same invitation to them that I sent to our local relatives. They didn't come, but felt included in her important milestone that way.

If they're not catholic, don't worry about it.
If they are catholic, send them pictures after the fact with a nice note about sharing this important event with them.

Invite everyone all your friends and family if they send presentsis up to them would likebe ex cluded if you dont wantgifts tell them A. no hills

Updated

INVITE EVERYONE ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IF THEY SEND PRESENTSIS UP TO THEM WOULD LIKEBE EX CLUDED IF YOU DONT WANTGIFTS TELL THEM A. NO HILLS

Congratulations to your daughter!.. what a special occasion.
Always invite people. It lets them know they were thought of and you would love for them to be included..

That being said you can put a note at the bottom of the invitation saying you know it is far to travel, but you wanted them to know and if they are going to be close, to please join all of you.

OMG...invite everyone. It's not your decision who decides to come or not. My friend's daughter just did her first communion and she invited us. She lives in New Jersey and we live in California. She knew we couldn't come, but I like that I was invited. I did send a small gift and all parties were good with it. There's no way I'm going to fly 5+ hours across the counrty for a 7 year old's first communion, but that's me. Her grandmother flew from Texas for it. Time, money and insterest all plays a part in those decisions and you shouldn't make that decision for anyone. Invite who you think should be invited and let them decide.

I received my first communion at 7 and without the pictures, I couldn't tell you who was there....but for me it didn't matter, because it was special for me. It wasn't about who came or how many came. it was about the sacrament.

I say send them the invitation. We have been faced with this with my cousin's family, but things did get a bit ugly. Her MIL told her they baptize people everyday in their church and this wasn't important to her (she didn't show up)...hurt my cousin's feelings. As well, we like to celebrate our birthdays and my MIL has made comments about the party I throw for my daughter every year. I just send out the invitations and if they can make it ~ great! If not ~ cool! I wonder how an an announcement as opposed to an invitation would work/feel?

http://www.the-brides-day.com/invitations/invitations-and...

I don't think that an invitation necessarily implies that a gift is expected. If they are not Catholic, they probably don't even know that people give first communion gifts! An invitation lets them know that whether or not they are Catholic, they are all family, and you guys wish you could spend that special day with them. I would (and will, when my daughter makes her first communion!) just invite everyone and leave it at that. Equal opportunity family love :D

My daughter's father and I aren't together and his family isn't religious at all. I invited him and his family to the ceremony and party afterward. Both sides of the family came and had a great time. It's a celebration for your family regardless of the religious implications. Yeah, send pics out to those who can't make it. They will still appreciate the sentiment.

I think that an invite is quite appropriate even if they are unable to come. If you send ot the invites early enough some might actually be able to make it. I have been invited to quite a few things out of state and even if I can't make it, I like knowing I was thought of.