Beat-The-Wedding-Bell-Blues " Double -Take" Q&A

 

  Dear Advice Sisters  "My question has to do with how to manage two moms in one wedding. I was adopted but recently have found my birth mother. How do I properly include my birth mom and her family in my upcoming wedding without offending my family. Also, since my adopted father is no longer living, would it be inappropriate to ask my soon-to-be-father-in-law to walk me down the aisle?"

 

askalisonphoto.jpg (6619 bytes)  ADVICE SISTER ALISON'S TAKE: Karen, this is a difficult question, and I can't answer it as fully as I'd like because I don't have all the facts..but here's the easy part:  If your adopted father is deceased or you are estranged from him,  it's a beautiful gesture to ask your new father-in-law to walk you down the aisle.  What a wonderful way for you to honor your husband's family and officially cement this new family relationship!   However, if your adopted father was alive and not estranged from you, it would be more proper to ask him to walk you down the aisle.

As to the question of how to include your birth mother and her family:  without knowing how your adopted mother feels about  your birth mother, I have a hard to advising you about how to handle the situation without hurting your adopted mom's feelings.  She, I'm guessing, is the one who has been your real parent.  She has known you the longest and has helped you grow up into the woman you are today.  If your adoptive parents are paying for the wedding, that should also factor into your plans.  On the other hand, a birth mother is an important part of who you are as well.  If you feel strongly that both mothers should be honored, and your adoptive mother is comfortable with you fully including your birth mother in the ceremony,  then go ahead and include both women.  If you are asking people to recite poems or make speeches and you are your adopted parents are comfortable,  this might be one way your birth mother could participate on this very special day. If your adoptive parents really aren't comfortable with your "other mom" participating in a significant way, I'd suggest that you simply provide your birth mother with a simple corsage as you would the other important women in your life who are attending, and seat her apart from your adoptive parents at a table of other special guests.

jbwed1.jpg (25183 bytes) ADVICE SISTER JESSICA'S TAKE:  It's imperative that you talk this out, however uncomfortable, with your adopted mother first. Then, if you get the "green light' go ahead and invite your birth mom to be included. However, don't be offended if your birth mom declines. She may feel that it is your adopted mother's "day" and she should not interfere. If she expresses that point of view, be gracious and tell her that you are honored for her just to attend. If your adopted mother feels uncomfortable with your birth mother taking an active role in the wedding, however, you might want to ask your adopted mother if it would be all right to invite your birth mother and family as guests. Remind all parties if you have to, that this is your special day and that you want to share your joy...with "both"your moms.

As a final note, I do hope that both your "moms" will be wonderful and accepting, but if your adopted mother has serious problems with you inviting your birth mother and family, you might want to reconsider having them...after all, your adopted mother has been your "real" mom for so many years...and your birth mother has only shown up a month ago. If your adopted mother (and I hope she won't) forces the issue, and you must "choose" one mom over the other, choose the one who has been your mother in thoughts, actions, and deeds for all these years.  There will be other occasions in which your birth mother can participate now that she's back in your life.

 

 

Copy of wedcover.JPG (245025 bytes) the above Q&A  is just a small sample of the complete, 122-page-book  THE ADVICE SISTERS WEDDING Q&A (From A-Z)The ADVICE SISTERS have compiled the best of the best (and most common) wedding questions they've been asked over the years by brides and grooms to be, their friends and relatives. The definitive wedding guide to help you sail smoothly from engagement right through to married life!

BUY THIS BOOK! $5.95 E-book (printable, electronic download)  An informally-bound print version is also available at our cost (approx $15.00) To order,  E-mail: ADVICESIS@AOL.COM

 

 

Visit THE ADVICE SISTERS WEDDING Q&A ARCHIVES for more "Double-Take" Wedding Q&A

 

 

 


SITE NAVIGATOR: Visit the links to success, happiness, & love
HOME PAGE

ABOUT US

MEDIA  INFORMATION

RECRUITING  LOVE - FIND LASTING LOVE

E-BOOKS BY THE ADVICE SISTERS

DATING ADVICE- "DOUBLE-TAKE" Q&A

GET "THE SISTERS" FOR YOUR  WEB SITE

READ FREE ARTICLES

MANAGE YOUR CAREER

PRIVATE ADVICE BY E-MAIL

ADVICE SISTERS CLUB CHAT ROOM & SUPPORT FORUM 

WEDDING Q&A COLUMN

"WHAT WORKS" COLUMN

ADVICESISTERS.COM

GREAT LINKS

PRIVACY POLICY

LINK TO US

web site©  2001 all rights reserved by THE ADVICE SISTERS®  The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No portion of this web site may be copied or used in any without written permission of THE ADVICE SISTERS. For permissions E-Mail advicesis@aol.com We welcome your comments & suggestions:   advicesisters1@yahoo.com

AddFreeStats.com Free Web Stats in real-time !