I am the mother of the groom who is in the Navy. My son got engaged in January 2012, and wanted to get married by late April before he deployed in June 2012. The bride was stressing out over the wedding plans that had to be put together in a short amount of time. She is estranged from her parents, so was planning it with her aunt.
In February I asked her how the plans were going and offered to help, as all my family would have to fly to the wedding in CA (from MN) and we needed to know the date as soon as possible to make airline reservations/hotel.
She said that they were still planning, "and we're really not in a hurry".
My son and her eloped to Las Vegas on 3/2/12. 3 couples of "her" closest friends were invited to go to Vegas with them, and attended the wedding.
No family was invited.
I was very hurt! We felt like we had been lied to!
I also believe that my Ex-husband had knowledge of what was going on, and was their "wedding crashers" that she was so happy about having (this was posted on FB).
When they called and told me about the elopement, I told them congratulations.
Should I have sent them a card? A present?
As far as I know they aren't registered anywhere. They said that there would be a "small reception for select friends and family" at a later date, which has now been cancelled.