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Mrs. Pineapple, Pittsburgh Age and Occupation: 24, Graphic Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Student Affairs Administration Engagement Date: August 4, 2007 Wedding Date: October, 2008 Blogging Since: April 14, 2008 Venue: The Rivers Club About Me: Being a transplant from sunny south Florida I am learning to live with all four seasons while playing with our cat collective, line dancing, and doing a ton of DIY projects for our wedding (seriously, like a thousand)!
About Mrs. Pineapple

It is Just a Wedding.

June 19th, 2008 @ 12:37 pm by Mrs. Pineapple

That’s right, I said it. Just.

Just a wedding.

Not the “most important day of our lives,” not our “big day,” not an extravagant party where we have to please everyone. It is just a wedding.

When it comes to planning our wedding I have asked for little advice from our friends and family. When I come up with an idea about a detail our of wedding I share it with Mr. Pineapple and he generally has one of two responses “sure, great!” or “yeah, I don’t think so.” It is a pretty simple system. This method works for us, because I get to be swept up in all the little details that I think are great fun and Mr. Pineapple doesn’t get overwhelmed with 10,000 typefaces.

Before we make any wedding related choice you can bet I have googled the heck out it first. I check Weddingbee archives, discussion boards and browse Martha and the knot galleries. I tear pages from magazines and bookmark dozens of blogs. I fill our DVR with episode after episode of “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?” (I swear, that show is on almost as much as Law and Order - which is a good thing!) After collecting as many ideas as I can and racking my brain for more, I choose one and ask for the opinion of my partner in crime. Each decision we have made, we are very happy with and we think it is the best decision we could make. After all, what is the big deal? It is just a wedding.

Whenever I imagined planning our wedding someday I always pictured lots of friends and family involved. The more we have gotten into the thick of things the more I prefer just going at it with internet and print resources. I don’t want my near and dear to feel that the only thing I ever talk about with them is the wedding, so I often only bring it up when asked.

This has backfired on a few occasions. A couple people have felt left out of the planning process, assuming I think their opinions don’t matter. They do matter, and I would love to hear ideas, but I don’t know where to draw the line with wedding talk. In the end I am confident that Mr. P and I won;t make any “bad” choices, so we don’t get approval before purchasing DIY materials or booking vendors. It’s just a bouquet, just a cake and just a wedding.

One choice we made early on was to have an adult-only wedding. I know there is some controversy on this topic, but I also know we are not alone in our choice. We love babies, we want to have a few of our own some day. However, for many reasons, we feel that an adult-only wedding really is the way to go. Because of this choice I have been told “I am going to bring my son to your wedding and I will make a scene… I will ruin your fancy wedding on the river.” Tears have been shed, family members have jumped down one another’s throats, we have yelled and hung up on one another. When in reality, it is just a wedding.

After these very real and very probable threats from a family member who has acted outrageously selfish in the past, I had to tell him and his wife that they were no longer invited. If I thought there was any chance that he was just faking it to scare me into changing our decision, or if he had accepted any of the compromises I offered, then maybe I could give him another chance. Unfortunately, I know this person is all too capable of making me cry and making my family fight in public. I would prefer tears of joy only please, thanks. Of course, there are other family members who want me to give him a second chance. People who really want him to be there. I don’t understand why. Why take the chance of something really bad happening just so he could be there? It is just a wedding.

This type of drama threw me completely off guard. I would have never imagined, in a million years, that someone would want to make a scene at our wedding. Or that someone would get angry about the design of our invites. It is just one night without your child, it is just stationery, it is just a wedding.

I wish I could issue a blanket statement to everyone that says:

“Mr. Pineapple and I are going to become a family. Our wedding day is the day that it will become official.

We would like you to come because we care about you and thought you would like to 1) see Miss Pineapple in a poofy dress and 2) see Mr. Pineapple cry.

So sorry if you don’t like our invitations and think our food is gross, we love it and had hoped you would too.

Thanks for coming.

Love,
The Pineapples”

The wedding is not our big day. The wedding not the most important day of our lives. The wedding is not what is really happening on October 18th.

October 18th is the day Mr. Pineapple and I become a family. It is the day he becomes a husband and I become a wife. It is the day our family doubles in size with additional moms and dads, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. It is a happy day for us, because it is the first official day of the rest of our days together.

Has anyone else had a hard time describing to friends and family that the wedding doesn’t really matter?

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66 Responses to “It is Just a Wedding.”

1.
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Brooke

Beautifully said! It’s hard whenever some people try to inflict their selfishness over the crowd as a whole. Good for you for sticking to your guns! It doesn’t sound like you’re being prissy or insensible, in fact, I think you’re taking a realistic, levelheaded approach. I chose not to have any children other than the ones in the wedding party, and it provided a stress free afternoon, and their parents could relax and enjoy themselves. Good luck with the rest of your planning!

 
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fallgirly

I’ve bee ostersized for a few things so far, starting off with the no kid policy so I completely feel your pain. At first it wasn’t just a wedding, it was this huge deal in my head but after disapointments and reality setting in, I’m with you now, it’s a party that we’re throwing and we’d like to do it our way!! Still though I’m less than 2 months out and still getting heat for things. I’m ready to be on our honeymoon, I’m so thankful to leave the day after and veg. Keep your head up and if you need to talk I’d gladly be one to listen since I too refrain from talking wedding to anyone since I don’t want to bore them and would rather someone care enough to ask, sadly it doesn’t happen often at all.

 
3.
suzanno
Hostess
suzanno (message)  2,694 posts, Sugar bee

Oh - I’m so sorry your family member is such a jerk. How could anybody think you should have him there after that? What frustrates me about the wedding is that somehow it’s like family holiday dinner times ten… with so many expectations. I think that’s what you’re seeing in your relatives who want you to give this guy a second chance. Somehow the wedding “aura” will make everybody get along, make everything go perfectly, reunite estranged brothers and sisters and parents and children - NOT. It’s just a big party. Anybody who can’t be pleasant and behave at Thanksgiving dinner is not going to be any better at your wedding. At some point you have to step into the real world and ask why everyone tolerates behavior from certain family members that nobody would every tolerate from a friend. And that’s the point, IMO, where you stop hanging out with those family members. Cheers to you for disinviting him, and don’t let anybody make you feel bad about it. He was completely in the wrong, and you did the right thing.

 
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misschickie (message)  170 posts, Blushing bee

You did the right thing Ms. P.
I have a big, loud, extended family and my mother & her 6 sisters are always fighting and forming alliances. They are looking at my wedding as THEIR family party. My mom had already told me before I started planning that we should just take our immediate families and skip down to the Bahamas, but FI’s family said NO WAY. So now we are in the middle of similar stresses. FI is getting close to saying Screw It and telling his family we are going to the Bahamas–come or not, it’s your choice. I wish people would get over themselves for one day and just be happy for the couple. I understand that the bride & groom should throw a nice party for their guests, but the guests should reciprocate and make the planning as easy as possible on the couple. Too bad it doesn’t often go that way….

 
5.
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Lauren

What a beautiful reminder! Even though I’m not engaged yet (soon to be), I have to keep telling my boyfriend (and I might be alone in this statement, haha), it’s not about the ring. It’s what the ring means.

You’re right, it’s not about the wedding. It’s not about the other people (esp. if they chose to act that way!). It’s about you two. :)

 
6.
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Emily

Having people feel left out of the planning really resonates with me. We have used the internet to research because it’s the cheapest and easiest (and usually the only) choice. Both sets of parents have been upset that we haven’t “involved” them. But I send them links and ask their opinions.

I just don’t know what people expect to be involved in. We invited them to the tasting, gave them the cake, took them to the appointment with the florist.

There’s also something to be said about being proactive.

I’m so sorry you have to worry about people making a scene. That’s not fair to you both and I think you did the right thing. Don’t worry too much about people pleasing, because as you say, this is your first lesson in starting a family that is separate from all others.

 
7.
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sweetvenus (message)  97 posts, Worker bee

Well said!

 
8.
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caribqueen (message)  170 posts, Blushing bee

This is an excellent post, Ms. Pineapple.

 
9.
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invisiblyrose

you just wrote everything i haven’t been able to verbalize for the last few months. thank you!

 
10.
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jessica

Cheers to you (ahem… ya’ll)! Couln’t have been said any better. Remember what’s really important and (hopefully) your family will follow your lead.

 
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GetMarried4Less (message)  915 posts, Busy bee

thank you.

 
12.
rzblna
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rzblna (message)  265 posts, Helper bee

Wow, that was very eloquently written. You did the right thing; hang in there!

 
13.
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AKPM

You rock! I wish I could send a similarly worded note to people. Throughout the planning process, I’ve realized that EVERYONE has opinions on weddings and people forget that being invited as a guest is just that. People forget that they are they to witness an amazing event in two people’s lives. They forget that the main focus is not the food, the drinks, and whether or not the cake was good.

 
14.
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Katy

Honey, I feel your pain. I know that doesn’t make either of our pains less by having that in common, but it helps that we’re not alone. Sometimes I felt the wedding planning process was something I had to endure, rather than be able to enjoy. I could go on and on about stuff that sucked that shouldn’t have, but in the end, you’re with Mr. P, and this really is all that matters.

I’d come just to see you in a poofy dress.

 
15.
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e.beth

Ugh, what a jerk to react like that. I understand when my kiddos can’t come along to grown up functions. I look at it as an excuse to get a sitter, put on a pretty dress and have a date with my hubby! Don’t lose any sleep over someone else’s lack of tact.

 
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Erin

Oh, Miss P! I’m so sorry to hear all this, especially with everything else happening in your personal life!

While we haven’t had the fireworks that you’ve experienced (knock, knock), I am surprised by the level of pressure, tension, and expectations associated with our wedding. We are also two easy-going people who want “just a wedding” to celebrate our vows - so it’s so strange to think “I’m having one of THOSE weddings…” How did that happen??

 
17.
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MissPotterBear

Lovely and so very well put.

 
18.
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Erin

Oh - and my curiosity is killing me! What complaint did someone have on the invitation design??? Short of naked boobies (which I wouldn’t expect you to use…), I can’t think of anything on a wedding invite that would offend. If it’s not too painful, please fill us in!

 
19.
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Christina

I don’t think everyone’s realized that my wedding is adults only yet, but after the fiasco when we first announced our original wedding date that was on a Thursday, I can only imagine what will happen next. BTW we ended up changing the date to a Saturday and had to change our venue as well, due to family quarreling… :(

 
20.
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lou

Ok, that post just totally made me tear up.

I love your ‘just a wedding’ approach, and you know why? It’s not because you don’t care, it’s because you do care … about the important stuff.

And that family member who threw a hissy fit because he couldn’t bring his kid … good on you for uninviting him. Sure, some people want children at their wedding, some don’t. But you know who none of us want at our weddings? A Class A butthole, which he clearly is (pardon my language Mrs Bee … that was the edited version :) )

 
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mingaling (message)  28 posts, Newbee

This is the best post I’ve ever read on here. FWIW, I’m glad you stood your ground.

 
22.
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Linda

perfect. I wish I had looked at my wedding the same way. Instead, I tried to make everyone happy, including inviting people who shouldn’t have been invited.

 
23.
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Ms. Frou

I hear ya, I feel ya, this post made me cry. Something I have been doing a lot of lately b/c of the very issues your post addressed: folks making fun of invites (letterpress calligraphy), folks saying they will look like Barney the dinosaur in the bridesmaid dress color I have chosen (J crew, royal violet, any damn style they want), and folks telling me the food sounds “too avant garde” (6 course tasting menu) and BBQ would be better. AGH!

 
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indecisivebride (message)  337 posts, Helper bee

WOW - great post Miss Pineapple!

 
25.
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Cassandra

I feel your pain Ms. Pineapple. Congrats for standing up for yourself and your soon to be new family. I hope that I have the same courage when I am faced with crazy family members.

 
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jnicholea/thatbride (message)  116 posts, Blushing bee

I still haven’t figured out how to let myself plan this wedding I really live without everyone around me telling me that “I don’t really understand what this is all about, I am so focused on the wedding that I forget about the marriage.”

Quoting Monica “I can think two things.”

I want to plan this wedding because planning this wedding makes me happy. But I can still get excited about what the centerpieces will look like, and spend hours a day looking for bridesmaid dresses, while still remembering what it is all about.

If I buy lots of baby clothes and spend hours decorating the babies room does anyone accuse me of forgetting what the event is really about?

Obviously you touched a nerve for me. Great post Miss Pineapple, it’s nice to hear that others are in the same boat.

 
27.
tea
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tea (message)  2,616 posts, Sugar bee

aha! i am so glad you said this because now i can point to you and say that you completely agree with me that it’s JUST a wedding and not something serious, like brain surgery.

i don’t know why other people get so worked up about the details…it’s beyond me. but i am glad you stood your ground with the family member. how incredibly rude that he would insist and then threaten poor behavior like that? but kids and weddings are the two life events that people get really kooky about.

 
28.
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Jen

Miss Pineapple, I am so glad you posted this today. I had a fight with my mom this morning about her inviting more guests and it really got to me because we haven’t fought in 5 or 6 years. On one hand I was upset and then I was even more upset that I was upset because it is just a wedding.

 
29.
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MayBride

LOVE this post! I just got married 3 weeks ago and this is the exact approach my husband and I took and we were also met with a LOT of resistance along the way. In the end everyone LOVED our wedding, we kept hearing over and over how “personal” it was and how it was so “us” and all the things people thought were ridiculous or “un-wedding like” were the exact things they loved the most.
Thanks for posting this!

 
30.
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pammietee

Bravo, Miss Pineapple!

 
31.
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Mrs. Tulip (message)  615 posts, Busy bee

Lovely post, Miss P.

In the end, I *would* say our wedding was the best day of our lives. (To date, anyway!) But it wasn’t because of anything we planned, and certainly not because of any purchased details … it was because all our family and friends showed us such incredible amounts of joy and love.

 
32.
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bumble

Thanks for writing this, definitely agree with you. I was starting to regret some of the decisions I made based on peoples reactions. However, now I feel good about our choices as it is our wedding and in the end, it is going to be only day in our lives together. Thanks again, great post!

 
33.
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Tara

I think the wedding should be one of the best days of your life. But for me personally, I always felt that the best day of my life will be the day I give birth to my child or children.

I think too much emphasis is spent on the consumer aspect of weddings. “If you didn’t spend $50,00, then it’s not a party worth having!” I watched a recent episode of “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway” where the bride was an obnoxious prat and had the tackiest $100,000 wedding I’ve ever seen, so money does not equal an amazing affair in my book.

Anyway. I’m sorry you have such a crappy family member. I think you did the right thing in uninviting him. If I was a parent and the invitation was for adults only, I’d find a babysitter or decline. It’s just that simple. Don’t make someone feel bad because of their choice.

What matters most to me is that I have finally found the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I honestly thought that I would never find him, so I do try and remember that it’s about us, and that our love is bigger than just one day.

 
34.
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Miss Pomegranate (message)  956 posts, Busy bee

Well put, my dear.

 
35.
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linzerella (message)  41 posts, Newbee

Too true, Pineapple! Isn’t it amazing how the “crap” of wedding - shoe colours, menu choices, decor choices - are what people consume themselves with?

This post reminds me a lot of Miss Hummingbird’s post about people getting crazier the closer they get to the wedding.

You’re totally right - this is one DAY. If my BM wants to wear certain shoes on the wedding day, that’s her choice - who am I to dress her? (it’s bad enough she’s wearing a dress that I picked out!)

And I hear you about the wedding planning via Internet - my friends, BP and family have lives going on beyond the wedding - I’d like to share that with them rather than just talking wedding stuff ALL THE TIME!

Sheesh.

 
36.
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jenniferb (message)  168 posts, Blushing bee

Great post. I am sorry you are dealing with this. I agree with several of the other posters, good for you for standing your ground! Hope things get better.

 
37.
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danielle

Hooray for this post. I love your little letter- would make for quite the invitation…

I think that the way that FI and I are dealing with it is really by… not dealing with it. We’ve sort of just made all of our decisions and shared them with no one. I think that in keeping our wedding “top secret” we’ve really let our guests and family know that they are guests at the affair and that we have it under control. While we have had to encounter questions on occasion, we generally try to handle them with tact without giving our decision either way. I think that this has been instrumental in keeping the wedding about us and our guests “at bay”. I salute your approach and think that you are doing a lovely job at keeping it “just-a-wedding”.

 
38.
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alohakt (message)  5 posts, Newbee

thank you ms. p for sharing. i totally teared up at the end. it is just a wedding. it is the day you become a FAMILY.
i am so glad to hear your thoughts and the other comments on this website, that it is just a wedding. there is so much more to life and the marriage than just the wedding day. even though i faithfully read the bee and want a wonderful wedding, i too feel it is just a wedding. i am still totally enthralled by all the things i would like the day to be but in the end i will be most happy when we become one.

much mahalo:)

 
39.
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sept08bride

i loved ur comments at the end so much i wrote them and posted them over my wedding board…lol
ive had the opposite reactions with my family in which since we are the first wedding no one makes any effort to even talk about the wedding…its been a sobering experience to say the least BUT ur words made me feel better…thanks!

 
40.
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brendalynn (message)  154 posts, Blushing bee

Spot on.

Sometimes it seems like family & friends expect drama in wedding planning. And if they don’t see it in the bride (ie she’s an obvious “bridezilla” or spending a ton of time “stressing” about details), then they take it upon themselves to add some drama into the mix.

Best wishes that your celebration on the day you & Mr. P become a family is super!

 
41.
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Miss Watermelon (message)  21 posts, Newbee

What wonderful words of advice and a great mindset to have! Thank you for your eloquent and inspiring post!

Now I must wipe my eyes and get back to work… ;-)

 
42.
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Aja

Thanks for sharing your well written post!

You were able to express everything I have been thinking and doing in preparation for my wedding. Some days I get so caught up (for example, reading weddingbee blogs) and other days it’s just a wedding.

On the other hand I will be inviting children to my wedding. Not many of the guests have children and those that do are excited to get a sitter for the night. I should be thankful that there is not a lot of drama amongst our friends and families.

I feel better knowing there are other people out there experiencing the same scenarios.

 
43.
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Miss Pineapple (message)  676 posts, Busy bee

I knew you girls would understand! If I were to say “Family Member X, it’s just a wedding” they wouldn’t understand and would assume I didn’t think getting married was important, when it is the exact opposite. I’m glad (and frankly, shocked) that I was able to put into words what many of you have also been feeling.

@Erin: Originally I had written that portion in more detail, but I didn’t want to offend the offender… Basically they didn’t agree with my design because it wasn’t what they were used to seeing

@Ms. Frou: nothing is ever good enough, is it?

@jnicholea/thatbride: exactly, yes it is possible to spend hour after hour on wedding planning and still understand what the wedding is all about. why not have fun while making so many “big” decisions. it is just a wedding, but that doesn’t mean you can’t obsess over it if you want, heck obsessing can be fun (as long as it is pressure free).

@Mrs. Tulip: I hope, in the end, we feel the same way

 
44.
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jaime

Can I just say, this is a great post and exactly how I feel. Thanks for sharing

 
45.
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mrswhitetobe

i’m in the post-wedding phase now, and yes… your perspective is perfect!!! THANK you for writing this post!

 
46.
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yaiAnn

Bravo! You couldn’t have said it more beautifully or eloquently. Thank you for writing this as I start to grapple with planning my own wedding.

 
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eva

well said!

 
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MelissaB
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MelissaB (message)  414 posts, Helper bee

I’m always baffled about why people get so worked up when their kids aren’t invited to a wedding. When I was a kid, I *loathed* going to weddings. I thought they were the most boring things ever. When we got wind of an upcoming wedding, my brother and I would beg to be left home with a babysitter rather than be dragged to an extra church service (i.e. the ceremony) and then dragged to a late-night dinner where adults talked about us like we weren’t there. The only good part as far as I was concerned was the cake!

So if your reception isn’t kid friendly, I really do think it’s perfectly OK to not invite the little ones. Like you said, it’s just a wedding — why get so upset over whether or not your kids attend? The kids themselves probably couldn’t care less.

I think “just a wedding” is a great phrase for brides and grooms to know. What is it about weddings that makes everyone feel entitled to an opinion, and causes people to act like a choice they disagree with is a personal insult? Odds are the bride and groom didn’t pick chocolate cake just to make you mad.

 
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Jess

By the way, on the kids… we made the same decision, and it was helped in part by the fact that nobody in our family has young children. There will be one 11-year-old, one 14-year-old, and the rest of voting age if not drinking age. But we do have a few friends with small children, and we don’t want those kids there. However, we never formally announced our decision. We made sure to clearly address the save-the-dates to just the adults, and will do the same with the invitations, as well as specifying the number invited on the RSVP card. And when people ask (and a few already have), instead of telling them that kids aren’t allowed, we say, “It’s not really going to be a kid-friendly wedding. We can’t imagine your child would enjoy the experience much, and we think you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more if you leave your child with a babysitter.” So far everyone has reacted positively and agreed with what we’ve said.

Of course, we’ll see if anyone actually creates drama about this when it gets closer to the day!

 
50.
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reader

i’m sorry about the horrible experience you’ve had with a family member! there is nothing funny about his jokes or threats.

i do have to say though, as a person with kids, it is not always easy to just be away for your kids for one day. depending on the wedding location (most our friends live over 2 hours away from us), availability of a babysitter that can actually watch for that long (4 hours plus, including driving time!), and the ages of your kids (including newborns) it is not always easy. i can understand a couples’ desire to have a no kids event, but at the same time, i think it silly if they are upset with me if i am unable to make it because of that fact.

 
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Miss Pineapple (message)  676 posts, Busy bee

@reader: i completely understand if guests with kids can’t make it and would never hold it against them, it’s just a wedding

 
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ArtichokeHeart
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ArtichokeHeart (message)  149 posts, Blushing bee

So well-written. Wonderful!

 
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miss elgirl

it’s refreshing to know that there are other ladies (brides to be, wives to be, etc) that share the same sentiments about weddings! we aren’t trying to be obsessive bridezillas, but this is a truly special day - and we want to make it great. and it’s about the bride and groom, in the end - not “mr. i have to bring my kid or i’m unhappy”. THANK YOU FOR THIS POST! A-MAZ-ING!

 
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Judy

I do agree that as it gets closer and closer to the wedding…people around you (esp. family) become more persistent about what they want, their needs, and expectations–regardless of the fact that YOU and your hubby to be are planning and spending hours to make it a day to remember.
I too, did the same and spent a lot of time researching on the internet, referring to weddingbee, and the like. I agree that it is just a wedding—but to the couple, a wonderful day to begin their lives together…and the ONE day to celebrate with friends and family…I think it is absurd that others would consider their needs for that day more important than yours.
Yes–as a “good” bride, we do take into consideration how we can accommodate to silly requests..however, your family member who complained about the whole situation sounds more jealous and wanting to cause problems to possibly get more attention on him?
You’re not alone sista!
and I totally agree with all the other comments….nicely written and honest post!
I do enjoy honest and open posts such as this one! No wishy washy-written to please others..but true honesty!

 
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Cynthia

I love this post. Every thought I have had about the wedding process you have been able to write it down. I am close to tears reading your post because I can relate to how you feel. I am so glad I am not the only one out there! Ugh. ESPECIALLY the kid thing. We are also having an adult only wedding (not even any ring bearer or flower girl) and everyone thinks I am the wicked witch of the west reincarnated! You are so right. It is just a wedding. It is just one night.
Thank you for writing this. :o)

 
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nh

excellent post. great perspective. :-)

 
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wen

this is really well written. i got married 2 months ago and it was just a wedding. my parents didn’t like what we planned for the wedding so we withheld details from them. it’s harder to deal with others’ negativity then to keep them in the dark over the details of our wedding. do not get consumed by other’s suggestions, opinions, etc. it’s YOUR wedding. when it’s their turn, they can have it just the way they want it. and if they’re already married, well, that’s just it, they had their’s already so i’m glad you stood up to the bullies. you can’t please everyone and in the end you gotta do what you won’t regret. congratulations and try to enjoy the ride.

 
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CharlestonBride (message)  54 posts, Worker bee

Great post Miss Pineapple! Well said. Thank you for sharing this, it really made me feel better.

I have a big crazy family and I love them all, but tempers flare at family events. So we’re having our wedding 600 miles from where I grew up. Those who are willing to travel won’t make any scenes. But I still feel guilty about not having it back home…. Thanks for reminding me that it’s just a wedding and having peace worth not having everyone there!

 
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Perspective - A True Story » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] like the Pineapples and many readers, encountered resistance with the ‘no kid’ policy for our wedding. I had a recent [...]

 
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reality

i don’t want to be negative nancy here but.. if its truly “just a wedding” mentality you are embracing here then why not allow people to bring their children.. afterall, it is just a wedding. you can leave the option open to parents to either choose to bring their children or not. i understand that family member was extremely out of line by threatening to bring his child and create an uproar and you have every right to be upset about that.. but.. just let the kids come and party on.

 
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Miss Pineapple (message)  676 posts, Busy bee

@reality: it is a decision we made in the same way we have made all others, we considered the venue, the food, activities, our budget, the kids in question and we decided to have a kid only wedding. Just as we decided to have an ipod and salmon we decided, no kids. It really hasn’t been an issue, except this one case. We have to make decisions that we think are best, or else it is no longer just a wedding, it is a struggle to please everyone.

 
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Mary

You are channeling me….my husband now and I have went through a year of hell with both our families. Everything from both mothers on numerous occasions saying “If you dont do XYZ I’m not coming to the wedding!” and gobs of family drama. We ended up just eloping and having a party on our original date (this coming October). We still got a TON of drama from family regarding getting married early but it was so worth it. We don’t regret it one bit. My aunt had some great advice, “Weddings and funerals bring out the best and the worst in people.” Have fun!!!! Please, just have a great time and know that its one day. The rest of your marriage is long….

 
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Tina

Oh geeze. I remember this. Everyone has an opinion about how your party should go because it’s a WEDDING. Pete and I talked alot about those issues and sometimes felt like we were the only two people in the world that really got what our wedding was all about. When it comes down to it-we were the only two people that really needed to get it. It makes me so happy to see your views on this “big day”. You and Mr.P are already leaps and bounds ahead at starting off on stable ground after the wedding dust settles just for understanding that “it’s just a wedding”. I have been to many weddings were there is no sense of what the day is really about. I can’t help but feel a little sad for those couples. Way to keep things in perspective….we will appreciate any type of party you choose to throw to celebrate the first day of your new life together. Hope this helps.

 
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Miss Pineapple (message)  676 posts, Busy bee

@Tina: thanks Tina! I am glad to hear that you two “will appreciate any type of party you choose to throw to celebrate the first day of your new life together,” because Mr. P and I have decided to have our wedding in your backyard with a wicked cornhole tourney instead of the whole Rivers Club thing. Really, those are the best parties. OK, maybe I am kidding - sort of. ;)

 
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Tiffany

I would not agree with you more. In my wedding planning experience, everyone has their own expectations for “the day”, and my wonderful fiancee and I have our own vision. Compromising, especially when my parents are footing 95% of the total bill, gets tricky. But the be-all end-all of it is…it really is JUST a wedding. Just like you said. It’s really not about the dress, the cake, the food, who comes, who doesn’t, who loves it, who hates it. It’s about us, joining together, becoming man and wife. If no one is there, if everyone is there, if there is no cake, if the food stinks, if the dj doesn’t show up, if there are no pictures…if nothing else, we are getting married that day. And that’s all that matters to us. And that should be all that matters to the loved ones we’ve asked to attend that important event. All of the other details, it just doesn’t matter. I love your opinion…and I couldn’t agree with you more.

 
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Tips for Staying Calm on the Big Day « The Wedding Lens - Blog

[...] calm, wedding day First of all, stop calling it your “big day.” It is, after all, just a wedding. And no, it does not need to be perfect. What is perfect, [...]

 


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Mrs. Pineapple
Mrs. Pineapple Mrs. Pineapple, Pittsburgh Age and Occupation: 24, Graphic Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Student Affairs Administration Engagement Date: August 4, 2007 Wedding Date: October, 2008 Blogging Since: April 14, 2008 Venue: The Rivers Club About Me: Being a transplant from sunny south Florida I am learning to live with all four seasons while playing with our cat collective, line dancing, and doing a ton of DIY projects for our wedding (seriously, like a thousand)!
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