When Mom's Guest List Crashes Your Wedding Budget…

So here I am less than 6 months away from the wedding and ready to call in an elopement escape plan.

Why?

Because my mom was on a mission to turn our big day into her own social extravaganza.

Now, let’s get this out of the way: My parents aren’t paying a dime for this wedding.

But she requested I invite 8 people I’ve never even met. Fine, I thought, she can have her mystery squad.

But then came the kicker.

She upped the ante: another 25 guests. Some relatives, mostly strangers. $7,500 extra for their food, drinks, and a bigger room. Mom’s logic? “What’s another $7,500 when you’re already spending so much?” And, of course, “They’re family, you HAVE to invite them.”

Quick math: Even if each guest gifted $200, we’d still face a gap.

But guess what?

Mom couldn’t foot the bill either. So why did she expect us to make it rain dollars?

Her reason: She’d be embarrassed when facing family later. Apparently, they’d already questioned their absence. Yet, considering my faith, we're set on an intimate affair. Just 120 guests, not the 300+ that’s typical.

But Mom doesn’t care. She’s adamant I cater to family tastes, even to the point of specific food demands.

Every conversation with her is a loop of stubbornness.

This woman’s been a professional grump my whole life. Her reaction to our venue choice?

Anger. Not joy. Because we didn’t shop around.

But we loved it!

I’m stuck in a broken-record cycle. My fiancé and I simply can’t finance this guestlist expansion.

Yet Mom refuses to understand. Why should we fork out 7.5 big ones for strangers and distant relatives?

All my wedding excitement’s dead. Thanks, Mom.

What would you do?

I feel like I’m losing it. And I just want to scream… Why can’t she get it??

Can you maybe ask a third party to mediate? It sounds like communicating with her is just hitting a wall. You deserve to have your wedding day exactly how you and your fiancé envision it. Anybody else have an idea?

Share Wedding Pending