[ad_1]
A big part of the wedding is families coming together. It is supposed to be a time of joy, but sometimes the family issues can be challenging. Blending families is not always easy, and sometimes there are second and third marriages that can really complicate things. Balancing everything to run smoothly can require careful thinking and planning.
Traditionally, the bride's parents are the first to be told that you are getting married, followed by the groom's parents. However, if either of you have children, they need to know immediately. The parent should be the one to tell them, alone. Sometimes children will need a lot of reassurance; sometimes they already know and are comfortable with the idea of a new dad or mom. In either case, it is a good idea to include them in the planning process as much as possible. If there is one or more ex-spouse, they should be told next by the partner who is remarrying. Do not let them find out by accident. At that point you are now free to start spreading the good news to other relatives and friends.
Considering the Groom's Family
Modern weddings now find the groom's family contributing to the wedding expenses as well. How implied they are and how much they will contribute should be determined as soon as possible. It is very important that the groom is the one to approach his parents about sharing the expenses. However, it is up to the bride's parents, if they are planning to pay for the wedding, to decide if they want the groom's parents to help host it.
Sometimes mother-in-laws want to be very involved in planning the wedding because they do not have any daughters. Having good communication directly with your future mother-in-law can make your wedding a lot more fun. It's okay to say no as long as you do it nicely. Even if you do not get along well with your mother-in-law, keep in mind she did one thing right: she raised your future husband!
Considering the Divorced Parents
Whatever your parents are divorced or not, you will want to consider everyone, as it is important to not show any favoritism. If the divorced parents are remarried and / or are on good terms, things are a lot easier. If two parents do not get along with one another, you will need to sit down with both separately to ask them to put aside their differences for this one special day. Usually that works. Assure them that they can have a hand in the seating arrangements as well as any family photo sessions. At the reception, you will want to give each set of divorced parents their own table with their friends and relatives.
Considering Children
Including children in the wedding plans from the beginning will make them feel better about this dramatic change in their lives. Inviting them to help in the planning, shopping and some decision-making can smooth the transition. You will need to decide if you want the children to be included in the actual ceremony as part of the wedding party– flower girl, ring bearer, bridesmaid, and best man. But if you invite them to participate and they do not want to, honor their decision. This can be a great time of adjustment for children. Having their parent marring someone new can be traumatic. It can be a very warm gesture to include the children of the bride or the groom in the ceremony.
The key to happiness in these blended family situations is communication and respect for everyone's feelings. When you pay attention to that you will have a wonderful wedding with beautiful memories for everyone.
[ad_2]
Source by Robin R. Buckley
