Weddings cost too much. I want to elope. My mom says I’ve ruined everything.

I’ve been planning this wedding for six months and it’s been hell.
Every quote I get makes me feel physically ill.
$6,000 for flowers. $40,000 for a venue.
$800 just to drag and drop names into a seating chart.
And somehow, that’s “normal.”

I’ve tried to be chill. I’ve tried to make it work.
Every night I’m up with spreadsheets and panic.
I haven’t even looked at photographers yet because I’m scared of what it’s going to cost.

So the other night I said to my fiancé, “What if we just eloped?”
And he didn’t even hesitate. Just said, “Honestly? Let’s do it.”
And now I can’t stop thinking about it.

No overpriced chairs. No drama.
No cousins that I haven’t talked to since 2009.
No forced small talk with people who only show up for the booze and to complain about the food.

Just something simple. Something that actually feels like us.

Then I told my mom.
And everything exploded.

She said I was robbing her of her moment.
Called me selfish.
Said my fiancé must be brainwashing me.

Now she’s texting the whole family telling them we’re “throwing away our future,”
and acting like I just burned down a church.

My aunt called. My cousin texted.
They both said, “Just suck it up for your mom.”
Sure. Let me just spend $50k to avoid hurting her feelings.

No one’s offering to help pay.
But everyone has something to say.

And now I’m stuck.
Do I do what makes me happy?
Or keep the peace with people who barely even show up in my life until there’s a party?

Either way, I lose.

Anyone else been through this?
Because I’m exhausted. And I don’t know what to do anymore.

I’m stressed just reading this. It’s totally fair for her to feel a little hurt, but the guilt-tripping, name-calling, and dragging the whole family into it? No.

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