Ask Liz:

Dear Liz:
What do you do when you don’t want certain members of the immediate family at the wedding, but they’re expected to be present? My fiance’s mother is a not-quite closet racist — I’m mixed race, and the first time we met she lectured me on why she thinks interracial relationships are bad. My father, on the other hand, is one of those people who sits around in angry silence and sucks the joy out of every occasion. Both of them have created unpleasant situations for us and others, and there’s a very high chance they’ll do the same on our big day.
My fiance and I have talked about it, and both of us are completely all right with not having them at the wedding. I want to have my mother walk me down the aisle, and he would rather have my mother present and completely comfortable, than let his mom spread her awkwardness. 

Trouble is, most people expect to see the mother of the groom and father of the bride for all the pictures, dances, and traditional wedding fluff. How do we explain to the more traditional crowd why two of the typical wedding VIPs aren’t there without going into family drama? Or would it be better to ask the parents in question to act like functional members of civilized modern society and hope for the best?
Signed,

Minus Two

Find out what I told her, and what to do when your catering company screws you over AGAIN, by clicking here. 

See you at the end of the aisle,

Liz Coopersmith
Silver Charm Events
www.silvercharmevents.com
323-592-9318
liz@silvercharmevents.com