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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to keep our wedding tiny even if it upsets his family?

32 replies

pe0ny · Yesterday 14:48

Me and my fiancé have ended up going round in circles with this so thought I’d ask on here because I honestly don’t know if I’m being selfish.

He’s from Brazil, we’ve both lived in the UK for years now and got engaged this year. We finally sat down to actually talk weddings instead of just saying “we’ll sort it later” and it turns out we’re completely on the same page. Which is we don’t really want a wedding 😂

I know that sounds odd because obviously we do want to get married. It’s just all the big wedding stuff neither of us are bothered about.

If it was completely up to us we’d probably book the registry office, have our parents there maybe a couple of close people then go for something to eat after. I’d honestly be quite happy with that. Part of me feels that’s a bit unreasonable though because it is a wedding and maybe I should make more of an effort?

His mum and sister don’t agree anyway. They’ve got this idea now that we should get married in Brazil because that’s where most of their family are and every time we speak it gets a little bit bigger.

It’s things like

• big church
• huge reception
• loads of family
• proper wedding dress
• photographer
• videographer
• loads of flowers
• music all night
• people I’ve never even met apparently

None of it’s horrible. It just isn’t us. I keep getting sent pictures and videos and told you’ll only do this once, you’ll regret keeping it small, everyone wants to celebrate with you.

I get where they’re coming from honestly I do. I know weddings are a much bigger family thing there than what I’m used to and I don’t want anyone thinking I’m looking down on that because I’m really not.

It’s more that I’d rather spend the money on literally anything else if I’m honest. We’re hoping to buy somewhere bigger eventually, we’d like to travel, we’d rather have money sitting there than spend loads on one day. I don’t even care about the dress that much. I know some people have dreamed about that since they were kids but I never have.

My fiancé keeps saying to them that it’s what HE wants as well so it’s not like they’re blaming me to my face or anything, but then a few days later it’ll be another message with another venue or another idea.

Now I’m wondering if I’m the awkward one. Part of me thinks just go along with it because it’ll make everyone happy and it’s only one day.

Then I think but it’s our one day isn’t it? I don’t want to start married life feeling like we had a wedding for everyone else.

I know people will probably say compromise but I genuinely don’t know what that looks like here because even what I’d call small probably sounds disappointing to them.

AIBU to stick with what we want even if it means upsetting his family a bit?

OP posts:
AzureLurker · Yesterday 14:56

Not unreasonable at all. Meet up at some other point and have a much cheaper party perhaps. I would be in the same boat, I have a tiny family and my partner's family is huge and really involved in each others lives.

whippersnapper55 · Yesterday 14:56

You don't owe anyone a wedding. If you want to nip down the registry office and just do it, then do. If it's what you're both happy with then it's fine! I had a pretty small wedding 36 years ago and we've never regretted it. I wanted a marriage, not a wedding!

Loulou4022 · Yesterday 14:58

Your wedding day is the one day when everything should be all about you and your partner and your wants! It would be awful if you give in to everyone’s demands and in future regret it not being what you wanted. Stand your ground and have the day YOU want!

AbzMoz · Yesterday 14:59

You (dp and you) do your wedding for you. Maybe have a honeymoon and big party close to there, or an anniversary, or don’t… but do what you want to do for you.

katgab · Yesterday 15:01

Stick to what you want. It’s your day, it’s about you not anyone else, though everyone will have an opinion. The bigger it gets the more room for upset. Ultimately for all of that, your wedding is one day and it’s the marriage (relationship) that counts. I wish you a happy day and a long and peaceful life together.

OvernightOats101 · Yesterday 15:04

You both agree on the wedding you want, just do your own thing!
You should be happy you are on the same page. Just ignore the others?

Why should you even have a big wedding in Brazil, maybe your family would want a big wedding in YOUR country. You are the bride, it's traditional to marry in your home.

You don't have to compromise at all. Elope, have an intimate registry office wedding.

You can always go to Brazil after the wedding to celebrate with them.

looselegs · Yesterday 15:05

You won't regret keeping it small, you'll regret nit having the wedding you want though if you go along with what everyone else wants....

WaltzingWaters · Yesterday 15:05

Do the wedding you want. I’m planning my wedding at the moment and there’s so much to do. It’s not even that extravagant but seems to be so much planning and of course expense. If it’s not even what you want you’ll really resent and regret it.

Johntaylorschin · Yesterday 15:05

We had a tiny register office wedding with two friends as witnesses, no family so we couldn’t be accused of favouring one side over the other, didn’t tell any family members until after the event so there was nothing they could say really, it suited us fine.

Arregaithel · Yesterday 15:06

Could you have a small UK wedding then tell MiL and SiL they're free to organise and pay for a huge Brazilian version which you and your husband will happily attend?

MeNotYouJustMe · Yesterday 15:09

We had a tiny wedding - we eloped! Married 30 years and never once regretted it. Some friends who had massive weddings long fell by the wayside. The size of your wedding is not related to the strength of your relationship - other people just want a party on your dime 😀

Meadowfinch · Yesterday 15:09

Yanbu.

This is your day, you are the bride, and you won't enjoy it nearly as much if you have a stressy, big event. Start your marriage as you mean to go on.

Do what you want, the registry office and a few friends sounds fine. Then the next time you visit, your in-laws can throw a party for you if they wish.

DanceMumTaxi · Yesterday 15:10

Do what you want within reason. I sort of feel like some people take the ‘my day’ thing a bit far on here sometimes. But being talked into a huge wedding in Brazil would be a no from me. What would your family think about that? How about a smallish wedding here, but later on (say 4pm) so then straight to an evening do, with simple food. Somewhere relaxed. I’ve been to a few weddings like this and they were lovely. Probably a lot cheaper too.

OVienna · Yesterday 15:11

Arregaithel · Yesterday 15:06

Could you have a small UK wedding then tell MiL and SiL they're free to organise and pay for a huge Brazilian version which you and your husband will happily attend?

I really think this is what the OP and her DH should do.

DahliaDelights · Yesterday 15:14

My immediate reaction is its your wedding. Do it your way.

My response to them would be "are you paying for it? If they say they will then this falls on its arse...

ShakaWhenTheWallsFell · Yesterday 15:15

Isn't it lovely that his family are spending your and your partner's money for you. How wonderful that two adults starting out in life have to put everybody else's needs ahead of their own.

Have exactly the wonderfully tiny wedding that you and your DP want to have. Don't comprise on what you two want for anyone. Save all your money to spend it on your future together. Have a well funded marriage, not a blow out wedding day. If anyone else wants a party, let them organise and pay for it.

grumpygrape · Yesterday 15:24

A wedding is one day. A marriage is (should be) forever. Where would you rather
waste spend your money?

FlapperFlamingo · Yesterday 16:46

Do what you and your DP want to do - if that’s a small wedding then do it and it’s done. The family, in my view, don’t get to decide or create havoc on
what they want, it’s your money and your day. I honestly think a lot of big weddings with travel etc are a waste of money!

DH and I had just our 2 adult sons for witnesses as we married after 25+ years together. Wonderful meal for the 4 of us then we had a family holiday - perfect. We didn’t tell anyone til we’d been married about a year or so, there was no need.

BowlingSunflowers · Yesterday 16:59

If it was completely up to us we’d probably book the registry office

Do what you want. We had the wedding we wanted and we did get backlash for it from PIL. They had this view in their head of what the wedding would be and it wasn't what we wanted at all.

We compromised on something which we still get annoyed at ourselves for doing it and it was almost 30 years ago. If you give on something they think you will give on more things so you have to have boundaries. It is my one regret because it isn't just about the wedding, they then tried to get us to change our minds over many things later on after the wedding.

A wedding is a one day party, a marriage is hopefully forever. We chose a beautiful honeymoon location which dictated when we could have the wedding and spent more on that than the wedding. My dress was custom made for me and cost £270. We had parents, siblings and a few close mates. We spent money on good food and photography.

Have the day you want. You cannot live your life to please other people as you will never please everyone all of the time.

user293948849167 · Yesterday 16:59

Put your foot down now, you both want a small wedding so that’s what you should do.
Why don’t you have a small wedding here then honeymoon in Brazil where you can have a party with his family to celebrate the wedding?

SeriousTissues · Yesterday 17:02

Most definitely do what you two want. Do not be influenced by his family!

OnlyUsername · Yesterday 17:03

Book it here (soon) and do it and then the pressure disappears. You can have a reception/party/gathering in Brazil at a later date.

IronEverything · Yesterday 17:04

Weddings are bloody expensive. You've got to really want one to justify the cost these days.

SunnyRedSnail · Yesterday 17:09

And will they be paying?

Could you compromise and do a small wedding then a party in Brazil?

We had just us, parents and siblings for a registry office wedding then an amazing meal in a lovely restaurant afterwards with a handful of friends also invited to the meal. Perfect.

Its YOUR wedding. Do it your way.

hahabahbag · Yesterday 17:13

You don’t owe them anything but there’s a compromise, quiet low key wedding in uk, just how you want it then a big party in Brazil, with or without a blessing, as for a dress, there a compromise there, off the shelf dresses are available from places like monsoon for modest prices compared to bridal shops or choose a lovely special occasion dress. Have any little nieces as bridesmaids with off the shelf pretty dresses, no need for adult bridesmaids etc. buffet dinner and dancing not sit down … compromise do it’s still you but they aren’t completely left out