Husband and I have been invited to a wedding in Manhattan this summer, and we're trying to figure out what to do with the little one. She would be welcome at the wedding should we choose to bring her.

Question: 1) Which is likely to be the cheaper option and 2) which would you choose if the difference in price were minimal?

The options are:

1) fly everyone LAX-NYC-SEA and fly grandma from STL-NYC-STL
2) fly myself and little one LAX-STL, drop off little one with grandparents, fly STL-NYC. On the return, I fly NYC-STL, pick up little one, and fly STL-SEA with her. Husband flies LAX-NYC-SEA directly.

Little one will be almost 4 by the time we go, and I think she'd enjoy running around NYC a lot. Grandma isn't too keen on going there, though, and lodging could be a little cramped with 3 adults. (Working on borrowing the 2br apt of a friend's brother on the upper west side, but no guarantees there).

Thanks in advance for the input.