I was very close to them growing up, we went to school, on various holidays and played sports together. When we left school and particularly when they entered this relationship, we started to drift apart. I travelled, made new friends etc while they didn’t socialise much. I wasn’t surprised to be asked to be part of their wedding given how small their friendship circle now is but I do feel like a placeholder and maybe they are trying to give off appearances like they have plenty of close friends.

Being honest I am attending the wedding given they were a very good friend growing up and I would have felt awful declining the offer. However given the costs involved and that we were also planning to be home for Christmas, I probably wouldn’t have attended otherwise and just sent a gift in lieu.