My daughter's wedding dilemma

by RULES & REGULATIONS 50 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • wanderlust
    wanderlust

    You bet, Oubliette!

    OTWO, you make a good point. I have a friend that recently attended the wedding of one of her daughters, who was being walked down the aisle by my friend's physically and verbally abusive ex-husband. I applaud my friend not only for not making her daughter feel guilty for wanting her father to walk her down the aisle, but also for attending and supporting her on her special day. It was difficult for my friend to see him there, as she still has leftover feelings of fear and powerlessness in his presence, but she managed to make it through. That's life - sometimes things aren't easy and we have to make tough choices.

  • NAVYTOWN
    NAVYTOWN

    My advice is to totally forbid ANY discussion or acknowledgement of anyone's religion. Pretend they are ALL atheists. That takes the entire subject of 'religion' off the table. Invite who your daughter wants to invite, not worrying about what 'religion' they are involved with. Refuse to discuss the matter before, during or after the wedding. People can practice their religion in their places of worship, but that doesn't mean they get to dictate their religious concerns in non-religious settings. If anyone brings up the subject of 'who's coming' or 'why is he here?' simply say: 'I have nothing to say about that matter'. Keeps repeating as often as necessary.Do NOT get involved in ANY discussion about it. Then let the chips fall where they may. You have NO responsibility for what 'Other people' think or do. Have a great wedding day!!!

  • awakenyr2004
    awakenyr2004

    I like the idea of the cousin going in disguise. LOL

    Seriously, I would invite my cousin if I was close to him. I would just inform the dubs he is coming and ask them to decide ASAP if they will attend or not. That way you wont waste money on any idiot who would choose to walk out

  • LisaRose
    LisaRose

    I would invite everyone, but let the JWs know that the cousin has been invited also. Then it's on them if they don't attend, you don't have to pay for meals for them. This is a common problem with weddings, due to divorce or family feuds. The etiquette rule is to invite everyone, it is up to them to decide if they can manage to attend and be polite.

  • DesirousOfChange
    DesirousOfChange

    Well said Wanderlust.

    And LisaRose is right about the rules of etiquette -- you let the individual make their own decision about attending vs you decided who to un-invite.

    Doc

  • Open mind
    Open mind

    A JW relative of mine attended the funeral of his mother at the K Hall. There was a meal that followed at her house. It was a cold, damp, drizzly day. He sat with his plate outside at a picnic table so the religious fanatics inside wouldn't "even eat a meal" with such a man.

    I was a young boy at the time and had to have it recounted to me by my DFed, gay, older brother.

    Chris Hitchens said something to the effect that if you want people to commit GREAT evil, you need to include religion.

    om

  • jwfacts
    jwfacts

    To be practical, if you invite the cousin and JWs you need to let the JWs know. It would be better for them to decline the reception, than walk out and leave a huge and unnecessary catering bill.

  • nugget
    nugget

    Weddings are an expensive business, your daughter does not want to pay for people who then walk out and waste the food provided. If she is planning a sit down meal the costs of a large number of people leaving the venue could be significant and disruptive. Sorry to talk money in a moral dilema but it is a consideration.

    If she wants to invite the Df'd relative she should be free to do so but I would notify the JW relatives she intends to invite that he will be attending, thus giving them the opportunity to decline if their conscience is offended . She can then have people attending her wedding who are thinking about her happiness and not their religious rules. Often at weddings we invite people out of duty when in fact we should invite people who love and care about us and want to share in our happiness.

    It is her day and so she should not have to deal with any dramas on the day, JW relatives causing a scene is an embarrassment and could spoil the day for everyone. The other solution is to take the decision out of their hands and not invite them at all or invite them to the ceremony but not the reception.

    Have you talked to your daughter about this? What would she prefer and how does she feel about her JW relatives, does she want them there or are they being invited because they are relatives. You may be worrying about something that she has already thought about.

  • jwfacts
    jwfacts

    Since the JWs have the inhumane stance, they should be the ones that miss out on the reception, but it depends how important they are to your daughter. Maybe you could arrange a separate room for their food. Or tell them since the cousin will be there and that feel uncomfortable can attend after the food has finished.

  • jwfacts
    jwfacts

    Nugget I see I just beat you to the point about money being as much a deciding factor as the high moral ground.

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