After the news of the upcoming wedding, my parents felt obligated to participate in the preparations. My mom liked the very idea of choosing the menu and dress. And John’s parents were mostly paying, so they wanted to help us too. And that’s where the disastrous clash happened.
Mom and my mother-in-law do not agree on taste. When one likes gold napkins and tablecloths, the other blue. And they both wanted to choose a dress for me, and they disagreed on that. My mother insists on a tight dress with open shoulders, and my mother-in-law thinks a puffy skirt and huge sleeves would suit me better. My opinion does not interest them at all, though in the end I try to choose either something in between, or not at all, as one of them might like it.
Our fathers have a fight, too. I don’t know for what reason, but John complains about them more and more when it comes to the three of us spending time together.
Two months before the actual celebration, when it came time to print and mail the invitations, both mothers wanted to take it on themselves. I split the work equally for them, so as not to leave anyone out. And lo and behold, my mother messed up the addresses and names, sending some guests the wrong name invitations. For my mother-in-law, of course, this is a joy, but my mother is angry and also wants me to defend her, because we are relatives. So they are already in an eternal quarrel, and they want to drag me into it.
I don’t feel like celebrating anymore, especially when John’s parents remind me that they’re investing more money. It’s as if they are rubbing our family’s nose in it, making us look poorer. And my mom tries her best, but it still doesn’t work out so well.
Anyway, it’s better not to let my relatives anywhere near this kind of preparation. And they’ll fight, and they’ll drag others into it.
