As you plan your wedding, there are many different aspects to take into account. One of the most difficult parts is often dealing with parents who can’t seem to understand why their daughter or son would want to get married in the first place. Fortunately for you, we have compiled a list of tips that will help make this process run smoothly- whether it be how to deal with overbearing parents or even how to handle an emotional bridezilla!
Talk to your parents about their expectations
Most of the time, parents are the ones who pay for the wedding reception and some of them like to use this opportunity to show how they’ve made all that money.
You might not think it’s necessary, but you should ask your parents about their expectations before you start planning for your wedding reception. Are they willing to give up some things? And how much money are they willing to spend on the party?
If your parents aren’t that rich and you can tell that they’re going to have a hard time coming up with the money, ask them if there is something else you can do for them. Maybe they just want enough food and drinks or maybe there’s another way to make their day special. For example, you can arrange for them to have a special table during the party, or maybe they want time to talk to their friends.
Hire vendors that fit with your wedding theme
Your parents are probably going to be entertained by your choice of vendors. If you hire classy vintage decorators ,it shows them that you respect their opinion and that you want them to be part of your wedding day. On the other hand, if you go for something crazy and unique, like a reptile handler , they’re going to be talking about it for weeks!
No matter what type of vendors you choose, make sure that they fit in with your wedding theme. This will show your parents that you do know what you’re doing and that the wedding is going to be classy.
Invite your parents to take part in wedding planning
You could ask your parents if they wouldn’t mind attending your vendor interviews so they can feel like a big part of your wedding. But, make sure you give them heads up before hand. They might not be available or they might not be able to afford to fly in for the meeting.
Another great way to get your parents involved is by sending them pictures of the wedding planning progress. This will show them that you’re taking their input seriously and that you want their opinion on everything. Plus, it gives them something to talk about with their friends.
Create a timeline and stick to it
Creating a timeline is a great way to keep your wedding planning on track, but it’s also helpful for parents. It gives them an idea of what’s going to happen and when. Plus, they can follow the progress and see how everything is coming together.
Make sure you send your timeline to your parents, so they know what to expect. This will help to avoid any surprises and it will keep them in the loop.
Find out what you want from the wedding, not what they want
It’s important to remember that this day is about you and your spouse, not your parents. This means that you should be the ones who are making all of the decisions. If you’re letting them make all of the choices, then they’re going to have a lot of power on your wedding day.
Talk to your spouse and come up with a list of things that you want from the wedding. This will help you to stay on track and it will prevent your parents from taking over.
Thank them for their support
No matter what type of wedding you have, your parents are going to be supportive. They might not agree with everything that you do, but they’re still going to be there for you.
Make sure you thank them for their support and let them know how much it means to you. This will show them that you appreciate everything they’ve done for you and it will make them feel special on your wedding day.
Be firm on your budget and don't let them go over it
When your parents start talking about money, it’s best to be clear and firm with them. Let them know that you’re working within a budget and don’t let them talk you into something that doesn’t fit into the plan. This is when they might bring up their credit card or they might try to guilt trip you into doing what they want.
Don’t let this happen and stick to your guns. The best way to deal with this is by letting them know that you don’t want to go over your budget, so you need help sticking to it. They’ll understand and they might even take the credit card away from you!
Let them have fun on the day
If you want your wedding to be as relaxed as possible, then it’s best to let the parents enjoy themselves too. This means letting them do whatever they want and giving them free reign of the house.
Having a lot of fun on their daughter’s wedding day will give your parents a reason to talk about it for weeks and this is something that you want. It will also give them something to focus on during the big day, so they’ll be less likely to worry about their presents or the amount of food that’s being served.
Be open with your parents
No matter what type of wedding you have, it’s important that you are open and honest with your parents. This means telling them everything that’s going on, from the good to the bad.
If you’re having problems with your fiance, then tell them. If you’re considering changing your wedding plans, let them know. They might not be able to help you, but they’ll at least be able to understand what’s going on.
Being open and honest with your parents is important and it will prevent any major problems from happening. They’ll also be able to give you advice if they think something isn’t working and this might be exactly what you need.
Remember that they're only trying to help because they love you so much - try not to take anything personally!
Your parents are going to be giving you a lot of advice throughout the wedding planning process, some of which you might not agree with. This is normal and it’s because they love you. You should always be honoring your parents during the wedding planning process.
Try not to take anything that they say personally and remember that they’re just trying to help. If you can do this, then it will make the process a lot easier and it will prevent any arguments from happening.
At the end of the day, your parents just want what’s best for you and they’ll be happy with whatever type of wedding you have. Just make sure you thank them for their help and love on your big day!