MISS MANNERS by Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS : My family is planning a big holiday party, to take place at my club. My son, my daughter and I are each going to invite our friends.

I belong to a women’s club, and I have a lot of friends there, but I do not know many of their husbands. I intend to invite all of the husbands whom I know, just not the ones I have never met. The per person cost for this party will be high, and if I invite all spouses, I could end up spending a lot of money on these strangers (to me).

On the other hand, I know that it is traditional to invite both members of a couple, and many would think it odd or even rude if I excluded their husbands. But I resent having to extend a party invitation to people I do not know.

If

See Full Page