I just joined and I have a question about invitation etiquette for families
I am giving a surprise 70th birthday party for my husband at our timeshare later this month. I have 3 stepchildren and my husband adopted my 2 children when we were married 38 years ago. There is one stepson that causes so much tension when he is around that I decided not to invite him. It is only a 3 bedroom house and room is at a premium. The other two stepdaughters invited him without asking me, even they knew of the problems. I thought when you are the hostess of a party, even if it is a family party, that the hostess is the one who decides who is invited. Am I wrong about this. I was told it was not MY party and that it was my husbands and that ALL his children should be there and I did not have the right to exclude him. They did not ask me if they could invite him even though they know the history of this relationship. I feel like I am setting boundaries so that the party will be one that is fun, and not filled with tension for everyone. Am I wrong??