Almost everyone has a relative or two who causes more trouble than needed. Whether it’s the uncle who can’t stop talking about politics, the aunt who gets loose lips when she drinks, or the distant cousin who never seems to approve of your life, these individuals are usually around for better or worse. When the time comes to make your wedding guest list, you may feel like you are obligated to invite all of these individuals to share in your big day. Still, it might pain you to include these people in an event that matters to you.

While there is no simple solution, there are a number of different ways you can handle problematic relatives before the day of your wedding rolls through. Give yourself a moment to consider these suggestions and determine whether or not you absolutely need to invite these people to share in your joy.

Mending the Past

Some relationships go through more than others. When the worst trait a relative has is being a bit too honest, you may not feel like you need to outright ban him or her from your wedding. However, there could be some people in your family who are very difficult to deal with. If someone has spent your entire life criticizing you, insulting you, or doing anything to wrong you, then you may need to see if you can do some work on the relationship before the invitations go into the mail.

Try to repair any relationships you can before your wedding. This isn’t a requirement, of course, but working on shaky relationships can be a positive first step in the right direction. Mending the past can help you move forward with a clean slate and a wedding guest list that doesn’t give you concern. Naturally, not all relationships can be salvaged. Should the relatives in question prove resistant or not worth your effort, there is nothing requiring you to invite them to your special day.

Understand the Risks

Not inviting someone to your wedding is a choice that you and your significant other will have to make together. This special day belongs to you, and you don’t need to do anything you don’t want to. Still, there may be repercussions. You may be fine with leaving some relatives off of your guest list, but it could easily create some family drama that you have to deal with for the rest of your life. Before you go off and exclude specific people, be sure that you are not creating a more problematic situation for yourself.

Still, there may be times when these lasting ramifications are worth it. You may have a relative who is more disruptive than others. Perhaps someone who is related to you tends to get a bit handsy when he or she has a few drinks. Since you don’t want to make the other guests at your wedding uncomfortable, it might be better for all involved to keep this particular relative off the guest list. Use your own discretion and weigh out whether or not the repercussions are worth it before making your final decision.

Your Costs, Your Call

Often, couples who are planning their weddings are getting some kind of financial assistance from relatives. This can complicate the guest list, especially if whoever is helping pay for the festivities is requiring you to invite particular relatives. Unless you’re paying for the entire wedding yourself, be sure to check with the relatives who are assisting you in order to please everyone involved.

Knowing who to invite to your wedding and who to leave off the list can take a bit of time. Think over your options and see what decision will help you walk down the aisle without worrying about who is in attendance.