Not Engaged Yet

40 days. this is really long, so brace yourself!

we have 40 days left to the wedding.  I am seriously stressing and need to be talked down a little bit.

FI's family was supposed to take care of the RD.  they're going to make some food (posole, tamales, rice, beans, drinks, dessert).  this is why I'm stressing about the RD:

1.  they contacted FI this weekend and said they want me to write up the invites and get the guest list and addresses together.  no big deal, but those babies need to be mailed pretty quick.  I'm just hoping they get them out in the mail in 3 weeks or less.  minor stress there, but TBH they really just aren't dependable so they may not get mailed out until July.  the wedding is July 16th.  eep!

2.  the guest list for the RD alone has grown to 104.  on a side note, his relatives are RSVPing for more than what they should...  example:  a family of 5 RSVP'ed for 9.  our caterer is expecting 275, but it looks like it's going to be well over 300 because they just keep inviting random people they know.  it's a circus.

3.  his family is cheap.  really cheap.  so they're complaining about the expense for the RD being so high...  it's that high because they want to invite every freaking person they're related to!  also, they wouldn't pay for a room for the RD so I had to rent a room large enough for a group of 100+ people.  FI reimbursed me for it, but they wouldn't pay for anything.  either it was free or...  I don't know.  I guess they weren't going to do it.  I finally got fed up enough and rented a room.

4.  his family is LATE.  really, really, REALLY late to everything.  like, an hour late to his college graduation.  they got lcoked out and I had to come escort them in because security wouldn't let them in.  we have a building that I rented (FI reimbursed me however) for the dinner.  we have it from 7:00 to 10:00.  these people party until 2 or 3 AM.  if we aren't out of that building AND have it cleaned up by 10:00 PM, they are going to charge my card another $150.

5.  his family is full of DRAMA.  if every single relative doesn't get an invite, there will be a major falling out.  I'm worried that I'll miss someone and there will be a huge dramatic falling out.  one of his cousins didn't get her own invite to his graduation (she was included in her family's invite), and she made a big scene about it and swore up and down that she wasn't coming to the wedding because she wasn't invited to the graduation.  stuff like that.  another one of his cousins (GM) told us a couple weeks ago that he wasn't going to be a GM because he didn't want to walk with a girl he didn't know.  we had to buy the outfits for the ring bearer, flower girl, and another GM because that family said they didn't want to do it.  we had to special order suits for his GM because they waited until they were discontinued and no longer available (including his brothers).

I love FI, but I'm starting to feel a lot of pressure.  we're DIY-ing most of the wedding (decor, some food, programs, etc.) and we're starting to overspend because his family is flaking out on what they "wanted" to contribute (financially and in other ways) at the beginning of the planning...  my parents have paid for a lot of the wedding along with FI and I and I'm starting to get a little angry inside at his family's antics.  and it shouldn't be that way.  I want this to be a happy time.  I know what will be, will be.  but I'm feeling so anxious about all of it.  I'm already dealing with my family and some craziness there and everything put together along with the wedding coming up so soon, it's just starting to freak me out a little.  I know my parents will help us with anything that comes up, but I don't want to do that to them when they've helped us so much already.

any bits of advice or encouragement to help me calm down a little bit?  please?

Re: 40 days. this is really long, so brace yourself!

  • polkadot111polkadot111 member
    1000 Comments Second Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Calm down!! It will all work out. You need 4 things to be married: You, FI, an officiant, and a marriage license.  Everything else is extra. No matter how much of a circus the RD (or wedding) is, you'll still be married. And that's the whole point of this anyways.
    Used to be bourgehm. +1,500 posts. Silly knot
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  • edited December 2011
    I thought only the wedding party and immediate family went to the RD? What is there to practice for the other 80+ people? I think that's more of a rhetorical question.

    So sorry you're going through this.  Weddings are supposed to be happy occasions and people tend to make them so stressful for the couple. 

    Just think - in less than two months all of this drama will be over and you will be married to the man of your dreams.  Keep thinking that :):) ** hugs **
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  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_40-days-this-really-long-brace-yourself?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54f97858-d6a9-48fd-baab-9db0f9572340Post:277649ed-04b6-4283-b0a1-8e9bd372cca0">Re: 40 days. this is really long, so brace yourself!</a>:
    [QUOTE]<strong>I thought only the wedding party and immediate family went to the RD? What is there to practice for the other 80+ people?</strong> I think that's more of a rhetorical question. So sorry you're going through this.  Weddings are supposed to be happy occasions and people tend to make them so stressful for the couple.  Just think - in less than two months all of this drama will be over and you will be married to the man of your dreams.  Keep thinking that :) :) ** hugs **
    Posted by ADTonk[/QUOTE]

    that is traditional to me, as well.  in his culture/family/community, it's a huge party for all family AND wedding party and to not invite everyone is an insult.  only the wedding party is coming to the rehearsal, and everyone (WP and family) will come to the dinner.
  • Ollie08Ollie08 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_40-days-this-really-long-brace-yourself?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54f97858-d6a9-48fd-baab-9db0f9572340Post:277649ed-04b6-4283-b0a1-8e9bd372cca0">Re: 40 days. this is really long, so brace yourself!</a>:
    [QUOTE]<strong>I thought only the wedding party and immediate family went to the RD? What is there to practice for the other 80+ people?</strong> I think that's more of a rhetorical question. So sorry you're going through this.  Weddings are supposed to be happy occasions and people tend to make them so stressful for the couple. <strong> Just think - in less than two months all of this drama will be over and you will be married to the man of your dreams.  Keep thinking that</strong> :) :) ** hugs **
    Posted by ADTonk[/QUOTE]
    This and this. That's just crazy. If you're worried about the invites not getting out in time, then just make sure that the wedding party and your immediate family knows the details, and let FI's parents deal with their family drama.

    Keep your head up, you're almost there!

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  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_40-days-this-really-long-brace-yourself?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54f97858-d6a9-48fd-baab-9db0f9572340Post:f19d27ed-b728-4a8d-bd85-d2dfca2e840f">40 days. this is really long, so brace yourself!</a>:
    [QUOTE]on a side note, his relatives are RSVPing for more than what they should...  example:  a family of 5 RSVP'ed for 9.  our caterer is expecting 275, but it looks like it's going to be well over 300 because they just keep inviting random people they know.  it's a circus.
    Posted by CocoBellaF[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>Is this an Oklahoma-wide problem?  People did the same thing for my sister's wedding last year!  It was awful...we DIYed the entire thing, and had no clue how many to expect.  We prepped for 300, which is what they had invited, and 180 actually showed up.  It was so irritating.</div><div>
    </div><div>As for calming down or taking a deep breath...Tapwerks (that fantastic beer place in Bricktown) and a night off from everything wedding is my advice.  I know it's hard when the wedding is stressing you out, but it might help.</div><div>
    </div><div>And, from one Oklahoman to another...I really hope this heat goes away and you have fantastically lower temperatures for your day!

    </div>
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  • edited December 2011
    thanks for the nice words.  I know it's out of my control and the fact that it's getting closer is not helping my anxiety.  but what will be, will be.

    Catfish:  I don't know if it's OK-wide, but it's a big thing in the Latino community.  people bring all kinds of friends and family you don't even know just for the party.  we've invited over 425 people.  ridiculous, right?  maybe it is a regional thing too, I don't know!

    the temps and humidity are AWFUL.  I do hope it's not like this in July!! 
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_40-days-this-really-long-brace-yourself?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54f97858-d6a9-48fd-baab-9db0f9572340Post:d13bf9b3-1d83-4b10-ace4-96682a0e227c">Re: 40 days. this is really long, so brace yourself!</a>:
    [QUOTE]thanks for the nice words.  I know it's out of my control and the fact that it's getting closer is not helping my anxiety.  but what will be, will be. Catfish:  I don't know if it's OK-wide, but it's a big thing in the Latino community.  people bring all kinds of friends and family you don't even know just for the party.  <strong>we've invited over 425 people.  ridiculous, right?  maybe it is a regional thing too,</strong> I don't know! the temps and humidity are AWFUL.  I do hope it's not like this in July!! 
    Posted by CocoBellaF[/QUOTE]

    <div>Oh holy cow.  That's intense.  Good luck!</div>
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  • edited December 2011
    425 people!  Are you even going to have enough time to say hi to everyone at the wedding?! 

    But chin up CoCo at least it's a once in a lifetime event that you may never have to put up with again and 50 days from now it will all be a wonderful memory! 
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  • edited December 2011
    hopefully we have enough time to say hi to everyone! but in reality, not everyone will come.  originally we expected about 275 but now it's pushing at least 300.

    it'll all be okay.  I just need to concentrate on what I can get done myself and not worry so much about the other stuff.
  • edited December 2011
    I do have to say- my brother recently invited me to his son's RD on a phone call. I'm not sure the kids (under 25) even sent invites. It worked out lovely and was a very nice low key BBQ where BF got to meet a number of my relatives. 

    Hopefully your family to be can be understanding and just get the information out and realize they are there to celebrate your love.
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