“How to Handle Aunt Karen, Uncle Bob, and Other Wedding Guests You Didn’t Actually Want to Invite (But Your Parents Insisted)”

Let’s face it—every wedding has that one guest who everyone loves but also slightly dreads. You know who I’m talking about. It’s Aunt Karen. The one who’s fun, loud, and slightly inappropriate, but for some reason, your parents are adamant that she must be at the wedding. You can’t have a wedding without Aunt Karen, they say. She’s a character, they say.

But the truth is, Aunt Karen’s like a walking sitcom. She’ll probably make a scene on the dance floor, share a few too many “funny” stories, and sneak a couple of cocktails in before the ceremony even starts. You know it’s coming. So, how do you navigate the “Karen situation” when your parents are footing the bill and insisting on inviting all of their extra relatives? And what about Uncle Bob, who’s definitely going to be behind the DJ booth, trying to “bring the energy”? Let’s dive in.

1. Aunt Karen: The Life of the Party (But Maybe Also the “Most Likely to Embarrass You” Award Winner)

Ah, Aunt Karen. She’s got that fun, “I’ve seen it all” energy, and she’s always the one to ask, “So, when are we getting shots around here?” while the rest of the family just wants to eat their salad in peace. She’s been talking about your wedding since the day you were born, and let’s be real, she’s probably been planning her outfit for months—and it’s going to be bold. Expect sequins. A lot of sequins.

The trick to handling Aunt Karen? Set her up with a few responsibilities to keep her occupied. You know, small tasks that’ll keep her from having too much free time to make unsolicited “funny” comments about your ex. For example, let her be the self-appointed “official wedding selfie queen” and make sure she’s the one catching all the candid moments. You’ll get some great photos… but you might also catch her accidentally photobombing your grandma during the vows. But hey, memories!

Also, give her a designated “funny speech” moment, like announcing the couple’s first dance or introducing the bridal party. She’ll feel involved and special, and you’ll get a laugh (even if it’s at her expense). Just make sure to have the mic on when it’s her turn—otherwise, she’ll definitely get a little too loud with her commentary.

2. Uncle Bob: The “I Could DJ This Better Than The Professional” Guy

If Aunt Karen is the life of the party, then Uncle Bob is the guy who insists he can run the show, even though he’s never actually spun a record in his life. Uncle Bob will spend the entire wedding trying to convince you that he should be the one behind the DJ booth. “Oh, you’ve hired a professional DJ? Nah, I’ve got this. I’ve got a killer playlist, trust me!”

Uncle Bob, bless his heart, is the guy who thinks “YMCA” and “Sweet Caroline” are the pinnacle of wedding anthems. His playlist is either way too classic or way too left field, and at least three of his songs are going to be out of place, no matter how much he argues. Plus, you can guarantee that when he gets behind the booth, he’ll try to “amp up the crowd” with cheesy announcements like, “Alright, who’s ready for the ultimate dance-off!?” and everyone will awkwardly stare at their feet, pretending they didn’t hear that.

But here’s the thing: Aunt Karen is definitely going to encourage Uncle Bob’s DJ dreams. She’ll be the first one telling him, “You totally got this, Bob! You’re like, the next Calvin Harris!” And before you know it, Aunt Karen will be up on the dance floor, dancing to some random 80s track while Uncle Bob is proudly hitting buttons on the sound system and hoping that no one notices the awkward silence during every song transition.

Pro Tip: Keep Uncle Bob distracted with something useful. Maybe give him a “wedding task” like handing out the party favors or being the one to hand out napkins during the cake cutting. As long as he’s busy, he won’t have time to turn your wedding into the world’s longest “family reunion playlist” session.

The Hilarious Story of Aunt Karen's "Unexpected" Speech at Your Wedding

Alright, let me paint you a picture. Your wedding is going along beautifully—everyone’s eating, laughing, the speeches are heartfelt, and then… BAM. Enter Aunt Karen.

The moment she grabs the mic, you know something wild is about to happen. Aunt Karen has never met a microphone she didn’t like, and she’s about to drop some “words of wisdom” that you definitely did not ask for.

It all starts innocently enough—she stands up, smiles big, and says, “I just want to say, I’m so happy to be here today. I remember when this beautiful couple was just little kids…” and then proceeds to tell a story about you from when you were 10 years old. A very embarrassing story.

“Do you all remember the time I caught “Kathy” sneaking out of the house to meet that boy who wore cargo shorts in the dead of winter? I’ll never forget her face when she saw me standing there with my glass of Chardonnay.” Aunt Karen laughs, and the rest of the room goes completely silent. Your fiancé looks like he’s about to combust. The guests are trying to figure out if they should laugh, cry, or pretend they didn’t hear that.

But Aunt Karen isn’t done. She doubles down. “And you know, I always knew “Mark” was the one for “Kathy”, even though he didn’t really know how to cook or do laundry… but I was happy to teach him a few things, if you know what I mean.” At this point, Aunt Karen winks at the crowd, and your mom’s face turns several shades of red.

Everyone's nervously chuckling, wondering if Aunt Karen will just wrap it up already. But no, the grand finale is about to hit. “But seriously, we all know they’re going to be fine. They’ve got love. And if that doesn’t work, well, there’s always Costco’s return policy, am I right?”

Cue the awkward silence.

You look at your groom, who’s holding back tears—whether they’re from laughter or sheer terror, you’re not sure. Your dad’s face is a mix of pride and “Why didn’t I stop this?” Meanwhile, Aunt Karen is smiling like she’s just delivered the most beautiful toast in wedding history, oblivious to the slightly uncomfortable vibe she’s created.

In the end, though, Aunt Karen does exactly what she does best: she makes everyone laugh, even if it’s just a little bit of cringey laughter. The rest of the evening is filled with everyone trying to recreate the moment she told that story to anyone who’ll listen. So, while you’ll probably spend the next 10 years pretending it never happened, you know Aunt Karen will bring it up at every family gathering for years to come.

3. How to Handle the Guests You Don’t Want to Invite (But Your Parents Are Paying)

Okay, so your parents have been insistent about inviting every single cousin, second cousin, neighbor, and someone they met at the grocery store 10 years ago. You’re not thrilled about it, but hey, they’re paying, so what can you do?

Here’s the deal: just because your parents are footing the bill doesn’t mean you have to invite everyone on their list. It’s your wedding, after all. That said, you probably don’t want to upset the family, so find a balance between your guest list and the guest list that your parents really want to add in the name of “family unity.”

A few tricks to deal with this? First, make sure your parents know that the people they want to invite should definitely be in a separate, designated part of the wedding. For example, if there’s a section for family seating, maybe put Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob at a table by themselves, where they can entertain each other. That way, if things get rowdy, the rest of your guests won’t have to witness Aunt Karen telling the best man’s dad about that time she “accidentally” crashed a wedding in Cabo.

If that doesn’t work, make sure you have a good plan for a “buffer.” This is someone you trust who can quickly step in and steer the conversation away from any awkwardness. Maybe Aunt Karen is about to tell an embarrassing story about you as a kid? Boom. Your cousin Sarah swoops in with a funny distraction like, “Oh, have you heard about Karen’s most recent dating drama?” Crisis averted.

4. Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob: The Dynamic Duo You Never Knew You Needed

Let’s face it—Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob are probably going to cause some chaos at your wedding. But here’s the thing: they’re kind of the dream team. They’ve got energy, they’ve got sass, and they’ve definitely got some questionable dance moves. So instead of trying to fight their vibe, lean into it.

Give Aunt Karen the mic for a toast. Let Uncle Bob play a random 90s hit while he awkwardly tries to get the crowd to do “the Macarena.” Because at the end of the day, these two are a walking party, and their antics might just be the highlight of your night. Plus, who doesn’t love a good laugh with a side of “wait, did Aunt Karen really just say that in front of the bride’s grandmother?”

So, How Do You Navigate the Guests You Don’t Want to Invite?

• Set boundaries. Let your parents know you love them (and their relatives), but your wedding day needs to be a celebration where everyone feels comfortable.

• Assign roles. Give your more “colorful” guests like Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob fun but harmless tasks to keep them occupied.

• Embrace the chaos. Weddings are about love, laughter, and memories—don’t sweat the small stuff (like Uncle Bob’s questionable playlist). Let Aunt Karen shine, let Uncle Bob try his hand at DJing, and just enjoy the ride!

In the end, Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob are part of your family’s charm. They might make you cringe once or twice, but they’ll also give your wedding the sparkle and fun that makes it unforgettable. And hey, they’ll make for some killer stories down the road.

You’ve got this! Just remember, every family has their “Karen and Bob,” and the best way to handle them? With a big smile, some humor, and a drink in hand. Cheers to the chaos!