My family is very conservative and religious. They are also broke and live on welfare in another state. Last year my parents moved while my then-17-year-old brother was staying with my boyfriend and me for the summer, and he ended up having to stay with us for a much-longer period. I helped him get his GED, some college, and join the Navy. Two of my other brothers are not speaking to my parents at all. One has written them off after they repeatedly tried to interfere with his wife and kids, and my other brother is gay and so my dad has basically disowned him. I have two autistic sisters and another brother who live with my parents.
I always thought my dad would walk me down the aisle and be at my wedding, but, after a recent fight, I am feeling more and more like I don’t want them there. Plus, I would have to pay for my parents to come and stay with me. It breaks my heart and I feel so guilty at the thought of not inviting them but also strangely relieved. My boyfriend says it’s my choice, but I don’t think he wants them to come either because all they do is try to convert him and start political debates with him. I do want my sisters to be bridesmaids, but. if my parents don’t go, then they won’t either due to their autism. I don’t know what to do. My best friend suggested inviting them but then not offering to pay for their travel or lodging or clothes so it would basically make it impossible for them to show up. I feel like this is kind of passive-aggressive though.
On top of all this, my boyfriend’s two sisters, who are also not on good terms with their mom, think that I need to invite her. Though we are cordial, I am not friendly with any of his siblings and we don’t speak unless we are in the same room. One of his sisters told my boyfriend that, if we don’t invite her, she will just bring her anyway and then I will look bad if I kick her out. This woman has called my son a bastard and called me trailer trash, called me a welfare baby, told me my boyfriend will always be in love with his ex-wife and that I was second choice, and has slandered me in front of my soon-to-be step-kids and son. She even stole my maternity clothes while I was pregnant and then lied about it!
I am paying for most of this wedding. I have a good job and I do well and so does my boyfriend. Despite growing up on welfare my whole life, I now am a homeowner with a career and family. I just want a calm and happy day. I want to enjoy it, and I feel like it’s falling apart before it even gets off the ground. Can I just not invite my family except for my brothers? Can I have my MIL kicked out if she shows up? How would that affect my step-kids since they are close to her (my son doesn’t know she exists and she isn’t mentioned in our house)? — Under Pressure Planning Guest List
You say you want a calm and happy day. You know that won’t happen if you invite various family members. So don’t invite anyone you think will make the day chaotic, stressful, and unhappy. Just understand that there may be repercussions for having a wedding and inviting some family but not ALL family (particularly parents and siblings). Is it worth having a calm and happy day if the aftermath could be anything but? Is having a wedding at all worth this stress? If it were I and I already lived with my partner and had a toddler with him and we each had super stressful relationships with various family members who were all but guaranteed to negatively affect our wedding if included, I’d elope. I’d get the kids together, with maybe one or two adult witnesses, go down to city hall, say the “I Dos” and then have a nice family meal together afterward. Calm and happy — just like you say you want.
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Moneypenny July 2, 2015, 2:18 pm
Yup, the first thing I thought was, “Yikes, just go elope!” The last thing you need on your wedding day is a bunch of unnecessary family drama being stirred up by people who have blatantly been rude at best up to this point. I’d stick to your guns and only invite those who you want to be there to share in your celebration. (And maybe have a bouncer at the door…)
Moneypenny July 2, 2015, 2:20 pm
Or, maybe there’s a venue that only holds 5 people tops? A hot air balloon? Sailboat?
Portia July 2, 2015, 2:57 pm
How fun would a hot air balloon wedding be? If you only have a handful of people, the possibilities are endless.
Moneypenny July 2, 2015, 6:15 pm
I think it would be so fun!!
mylaray July 2, 2015, 3:47 pm
A hot air balloon wedding would be so cool. My old boss gave us a hot air balloon trip as a wedding gift. That was fun.
Cyndi July 2, 2015, 2:18 pm
I agree. With all the problems that having a wedding may cause, eloping may be the best bet. You can still can plan something small & nice. Leave all the drama at the door. Live your life & take care of your little family. Involve his two kids – they are part of the family too. You have overcome a lot. You can do this.
honeybeenicki July 2, 2015, 2:21 pm
I agree with Wendy that you should elope with just the kids and maybe a few adult witnesses. If you choose not to do that, then to answer your questions: You do not have to invite anyone you don’t want to. Its a day to celebrate your life with your partner and if there is anyone who is going to make that unenjoyable for you, then don’t invite them. As far as your future MIL, as long as your fiancé is on board with not inviting her, then don’t invite her. If she shows up, absolutely kick her out. Or hire a private security guard (or use in house security if your venue offers it) to ensure she doesn’t come in. And if the sisters keep insisting they’ll bring her… they don’t need to be invited either.
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I’ll be honest – I’ll go to bat for family every minute of every day, but sometimes you have to cut toxic people out of your life even if they are family. You are not obligated by bloodlines when someone treats you and your child like shit.
Portia July 2, 2015, 2:42 pm
I agree that eloping is the best option here. Inviting some family members and expecting others to keep a secret is tricky and may not actually work in practice. My friend is getting married and decided not to invite her dad and even though she likes some relatives on that side, it was worth not inviting some and risking news going through the family and either him showing up or dealing with the drama that would ensue. There weren’t many family members she really wanted there, so I think it’s worked out OK, but it was a tough choice.
Stillrunning July 2, 2015, 3:04 pm
I’m with the elope crowd. Take the money you’ll save on airfare and hotels for various family members, a bouncer, and a therapist to help you deal with the aftermath, and have a great honeymoon.
Skyblossom July 2, 2015, 3:28 pm
I agree with eloping. Don’t announce your plans in advance to anyone. Get the kids together and a few friends and get married. Have a happy day with the people who will be truly happy about your marriage. Having a formal day with formal invitations will be a miserable event so why bother.
mylaray July 2, 2015, 3:31 pm
I wanted to elope, but my husband was insistent on a wedding. I picked and chose family I invited because most of my family is toxic so it ended up only being an aunt, uncle, and cousin. I don’t think you have any obligation to invite people you don’t want. If they’re toxic people, they’re going to feel hurt no matter what you do, and if they’re not, they should understand why you aren’t able to invite them. If I were you, I would invite just friends for a casual reception. I’m also glad I decided not to elope and still had friends to be there.
TaraMonster July 2, 2015, 3:32 pm
I understand the desire to have a traditional wedding, but take deep breaths and focus on the big picture- spending your life with your fiance. My vote is for you to elope.
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My favorite elopement story:
My oldest cousin married a man she’d been dating for 10 years in a big, beautiful wedding. The were divorced a year later when she found out he’d been cheating on her for god knows how long. A couple years later she started dating an old friend who was also divorced, they moved in together, and had a baby (now they’ve got 2 babies!). When their kid was about 6 months old my whole family (her parents included), got an email from her saying they’d just tied the knot at the courthouse. At the end of the email it said ‘sent from my verizonwireless blackberry’. I was mentally high fiving her for doing what was best for HER instead of bowing to family pressure (my family can lay the Catholic guilt down HARD). Ultimately, though, no one batted an eye. She’s super happy, and so we all are too. And if anyone isn’t happy for you? F* ’em.
Raccoon eyes July 3, 2015, 8:41 am
That is freakin’ awesome.
Dear Wendy July 2, 2015, 3:39 pm
From the LW:
Anonymous July 2, 2015, 5:08 pm
You’re having a baby walk you down the aisle?! This is 2015–walk yourself down!
othy July 2, 2015, 4:31 pm
Instead of doing an elopement, do a surprise wedding. Where you and your boyfriend know it’s a wedding, but none of the invitees know it’s a wedding. Play it off like it’s a housewarming party (but stress the importance of the invitees to come). That way, your MIL won’t try to drop in to cause drama, since she won’t know that there’s a wedding going on.
Portia July 2, 2015, 4:37 pm
1000x yes to this!
kare July 2, 2015, 4:41 pm
I really, really love this idea. Eloping, hot air balloon, and surprise wedding are now my top choices if I ever get married.
Portia July 2, 2015, 7:41 pm
We talked about a surprise wedding. But more that we would be the ones surprised. That would have been interesting, much less stressful.
Classic July 2, 2015, 11:36 pm
Great idea
call-me-hobo July 2, 2015, 5:00 pm
I think that one of the best ways to have a “real wedding” feel with still doing the courthouse style elopement is just deciding to splurge on some of the traditional things that a lot of elopements decide to forgo.
Hire a professional photographer to take pictures (a lot of them offer a discounted courthouse wedding package). Buy a fancy, lacy dress and rent him a nice tux/suit. Get your hair and makeup professionally done. Splurge and get a super fancy bouquet and boutonnieres. Go to a really fancy restaurant for a sit down meal. Look on pinterest for courthouse weddings.
Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean that you can’t have the fanfare that your fiance wants.
Moneypenny July 2, 2015, 6:21 pm
Some friends of mine had their wedding at SF City Hall- and they were able to rent out an area of the inside for a ceremony and have maybe 25 guests. It was out in this marble-lined area with columns and was very picturesque. (I only saw the photos.) Could be an inexpensive option for a small ceremony, if your local city has space and allows it!
Sunshine Brite July 3, 2015, 8:28 am
Agreed! I almost think of that first now vs what’s actually more traditionally thought of as an elopement. I wouldn’t really go outside of the kids and best friends and just do it.