Would You Invite Your Boss to Your Wedding?

Here's an interesting question:

Would you invite your boss to your wedding?

The WSJ asked this question and, as you can imagine, got a lot of different responses.

I was married over 15 years ago and my boss and many of my co-workers were there. And if I was single now and decided to get married, I'd invite all of my current co-workers including my boss. We're a small company and more like family than co-workers. That said, I've certainly worked in places where I would NOT invite my boss to my wedding.

How about you? Would you invite your boss to your wedding? Why or why not?

Comments

[Kevin]

I didn't invite my bosses when we got married because we had a small chapel and reception and tried to keep it to family and very close friends. I would probably invite them now since I've been here 5 years and it's a pretty small office like yours.

[rdub98]

Not only did I invite my boss, but he was my best man.

[Paul]

Yes. Then I'd take him into the coat closet and punch him right in the vagina.

[Mark B.]

7th post today. I guess you decided that you do not post too much.

Anyway, I would invite my boss if I worked at a small company or in a small group where I could invite everyone, otherwise, I would not invite anyone from work.

[FMF]

Mark --

Ha! That seemed to be the general opinion, though I'm still deciding how to proceed long-term.

[Jo]

I would definitely invite my boss, most of my coworkers, and even the "higher ups" (I work for a parish so that would be the priests, who would most likely be presiding).
But I could see where people wouldn't invite bosses and coworkers, especially in a big company or if you're having a small intimate wedding.

[guinness416]

Absolutely not. I don't spend time with coworkers outside office hours (unless the drinks are on expenses).

They still gave me a nice gift though, which was thoughtful.

[Heidi]

I need to make a decision on this - I just transitioned from a team of three to a team of over 60. I may just tell the the invite fairy to skip over the whole lot...

[Lauren]

I invited my boss and the two women I work most closely with. But my boss is an eccentric, well-known psychiatrist and I like my job and I like the people I work with. My boss couldn't make it due to a patient emergency but it was really fun to have my coworker there.

[mapgirl]

I was invited to a co-worker's wedding this past spring and our boss was there. The three of us worked at another company before and so I knew them for 5 years and they probably knew each other for another 2 years before that.

The three of us are pretty tight and loved working together. Our 4th sidekick couldn't make it. (I left the team for another company and opportunities and there are days I regret it. So be careful what you wish for.)

Our boss is a great guy. He was the boss of the groom at two jobs, and my boss at one place they work now and a peer at another. (I recruited him to be my boss.) He's always tried to do the right thing by us with great honesty and sincerity, so there's no question I'd invite him to my wedding. When we were peers, we worked for another great boss, and I'd invite her. And maybe one other guy I worked for.

Any other boss, no.

[Scott]

Several years ago my boss eloped and didn't tell anyone in the office until after the wedding. Funny, because she had been dating the guy for over 10 years. I still felt obligated to buy them a wedding present. And yes, I would have invited her to my wedding.

[BigBoy]

My first marriage - we did not invite her boss/owners of her company but they gave great gifts. About 6 months later she left the company and took them to court as they owed her commissions. At the court hearing they wanted the money back for the wedding gift they bought for us - what an honest bunch of people!

When I get married again (NOT YET FMF!)I will invite all co-workers & boss.

[Alexandria]

No, we didn't because we had a rather small wedding. We just kept it VERY close friends/family.

I think we also wanted to avoid the whole invite some co-workers, but not others thing. So we just invited no one from work.

I had a co-worker invite the whole office to his wedding though he made it well known he hated most of us. LOL. I think he just wanted the gifts or the head count (no one else to invite); I found it kind of strange.

[FMF]

BigBoy --

Oh yeah! I'll be there with bells on!!!

You'll be serving BBQ, right? ;-)

[BigBoy]

Oh you know it - BBQ w/ extra kick :)

[Lissa]

We were just married earlier this year and I did not invite my boss or co-workers, but my husband did since he works for a very small company. I had only been at the job for less than 2 yrs and never did anything social outside of work with them. Before I made the decision I did ask a coworker if he invited anybody there to his wedding and he said no, so I followed his lead.

Nobody at the company gave a gift and the wedding was barely acknowledged. Apparently the people at my company only care if a child is born, as I've since received notices for two baby showers. Grrrr.

[Caanan]

I invited a few coworkers (who were good friends) to my wedding, but not the boss. Didn't get along too well with him, so sure didn't want the drama. Husband didn't really have a boss at the time. I think it all depends on the relationship--if you get along or they give really good gifts, invite the boss. If you can't stand them or are keeping it to close friends and family, then don't.

[Michele]

Heh. My boss came to my wedding. He neglected to mention that he was going to let me go (due to layoffs) the day I returned from my honeymoon.

[DivaJean13207]

I invited my boss to my wedding 14 years ago. She was a (closeted) lesbian and my partner & I never thought she'd come to the ceremony or reception- for fear of being linked to us- but she did come. And then a few years later she and her partner had their ceremony and invited us. When my wedding was happening and in the immediate time afterwards, my partner and I were local media darlings and I ended up needing to take extra time from work for interviews, etc. Thankfully my workplace was cool with letting me go.

Doctors that I worked with in the hospital (at the time, I was a discharge planning nurse- getting patients everything set for going home) were upset we didn't invite them- because gay/lesbian weddings didn't happen often then- and not around where we lived. I had never thought to consider inviting the doctors- and probably missed out on some seriously good $$$ and presents.

[Ggrrl]

I work for my father - so yeah. But in general, I think that it depends on the size of your company, how much you like your boss and how big the wedding is. Unless your boss is your father or a very close friend, he's going to feel a bit awkward at the close family wedding.

[Kamantha]

No I wouldnt invite my boss or co workers.

[Jen]

I invited my boss. She's a great lady and we still keep in touch sporadically even though I left that company over 7 years ago. I also got her husband (a pastry chef) to make us an awesome wedding cake! :)