Dear Prudence,
My son recently became engaged to “Mary,” a girl my whole family thoroughly likes. I haven’t met her parents, but I know they make a modest living. My son told me they plan to have a small wedding at her parents’ church, with a cake and hors d’oeuvres reception afterward. Frankly, it sounds lovely. We are rich, and my three daughters all wanted and received elaborate, expensive weddings. Now they are telling me that it’s “not fair” that Mary doesn’t get the same and want me to offer to pay for it. I can afford it and wouldn’t mind, but surely she and her parents would be offended. My daughters say I’m too old-fashioned, and anyone would be thrilled to have an expensive wedding paid for by someone else. She’s a sweet girl and what you might think of as low maintenance, and she certainly would never ask. What do you think?
—Pinterest-Perfect Wedding