July 2012 Weddings

Advice Appreciated (long...sorry)

Sorry if this ends up being a bit long.  

First I need to give a bit of background.  First off FI and I are paying 100% for the wedding.  None of our parents are helping in any way, which is totally fine.  My mom and dad have been divorced since I was a year old, so for 30 years!  My dad was pretty much out of the picture about 90% of my life until I was in high school.  My freshman year of high school I went to live with him and we developed a better relationship.  We have a pretty good relationship now for the most part.  (It does bother me that my dad pretends to have always been this amazing and wonderful father even though years went by when we didnt see or even speak to him bc we were not a priority.)  

When I was around 8 years old I found out that I have a half sister and half brother who are 10 and 12 years older than I from a previous relationship that my dad had.  I spoke to them on the phone once or twice growing up at Christmas but that was it.  When I was a senior in high school my dads mom passed away and I met them for the first and last time.  I havent seen or spoken to either on of them in over 13 years.  In January my half sister was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  I guess she and my dad started talking a lot more after she was diagnosed and had to have a hysterectomy.  My dad started really pressuring me to talk to her but I have no desire to.  She is a stranger to me and I have no desire to have her as a part of my life.  She lives a very different lifestyle than I do and I choose to have to deal with that kind of drama.  I have completely cut ties with two of my older brothers for the exact same reason. 

 Last month my dad showed up at my daughters birthday party and had a woman with him that I didnt recognize.  It was my half sister.  It was extremely akward for me and I was really upset that he didnt even tell me he was bringing her.  My daughters were confused about who this random person was trying to take millions of pictures of them and asking them all kinds of questions and so were my friends and my FI.  I didnt say anything to my dad about it bc I didnt want to cause a big huge fight.  I just planned to continue not contacting her.  

Now for my dilema...Today I called my dad just to check in and see how things are going.  I asked him if he had gotten his invitation in the mail and told him that if he hadn't it should be there in the next day or so.  He then asked if I had any extra invitations left.  I said maybe 1 or 2 and asked why (thinking maybe he wanted an extra to save or something).  He said that my half sister really wants to come to the wedding.  I didnt even know what to say so I just said I would have to wait and see what happens with our other guests bc we are already at capacity for our reception venue and we cant invite one more person at all unless someone else were to decline (which I would never normally do...I dont have a "B" list).  I was 100% telling the truth.  We really dont have room for any more people at all.  I really don't want her to come.  

She is a complete and utter stranger to me for the most part.  I also feel like if I invite her she will show up with her 10 children and their children as well (no, I am not exaggerating at all...she has 10 children and 5 grandchildren at 43).  There is absolutely no way that we can fit 1 extra person right now, let alone 16!  We gave every single person a plus one to the wedding bc we thought that was the most fair way to do it.  My dad originally was going to be bringing his serious girlfriend but I guess they are having some relationship problems so he asked that I not put her name on the invitation.  I am almost positive that even if I dont send her an invite my dad will bring my half sister as his guest.  I know its his choice who he wants to bring but I think it really unfair of him to put me in this position.  I dont think he should be trying to force me to have a relationship with someone when I do not want to, especially when he knows how I feel about that kind of thing.  I want to flat out tell him that she is not invited.  Anyhow...if anyone has any advice about how to handle this I would really appreciate it.  Thanks for letting me vent too!

ETA:  I should also mention that I am not inviting my two older brothers or any family from my moms side at all.  They are not a part of my life and I have zero contact with them, by choice.  I know that if I invite my half sister, whom I dont even know (I dont even know her last name), it is going to upset my mom (bc if I am inviting her why would I not invite my borthers) and it will cause drama that she will have to deal with involving my 2 older brothers.
:)AJ Pregnancy Ticker

Re: Advice Appreciated (long...sorry)

  • edited May 2012
    Wow, that really is complicated. Although I can't totally relate, I totally hear you with people not comprehending that you can't have everyone and their mother (or daughter!) come to the wedding. My FFIL tried to add 9 people last week. As much as I don't have a "B" list, because I don't think it's appropriate, I did the same thing you did and told him that we're at capacity and I need to wait for people to RSVP "No" before we're able to entertain the idea . . . and that by no means that even if we DO get a lot of "No" RSVPs we'll invite them.

    In your case, I think your best bet is to stick to your guns with your father. (Particularly because of the issue with your 2 brothers.) You said you didn't give him a plus-one, right? Because of his girlfriend issues? Since he doesn't have a plus-on on the card, I'm honestly not sure how I feel about specifically coming out and saying you don't want your half sister there. I think it's implied (or should be implied) that the invitation is for him, only.

    If he asks again, just say "We can't have everyone we've ever met at the wedding and our guest list is set. I'm sorry if that upsets you but we're really looking forward to celebrating our wedding with YOU on July X."

    Sorry if that's not really that helpful!
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  • Sorry I was unclear...he does have a plus one bc he may or may not bring his long time girlfriend.  I just didn't put her name on the invitation bc he asked me not to since they are having some problems right now.  His invitation was to him and 1 guest.  I guess if he chooses to bring her as his guest there is nothing  I can do.  It will make things really awkward and I think its really crappy of him to do that to me at my wedding.  I hope he doesn't think its going to be some big bonding moment for us bc I will likely avoid her as much as possible at the wedding other than a polite thank you for coming. 
    :)AJ Pregnancy Ticker
  • I agree with PPs that you should let your Dad know that she's not welcome at the wedding. I'd even explain the situation with your brothers/how it would make your Mom feel.  Maybe you could throw him a bone though and meet up with her for lunch? If he wants the two of you to be close, your wedding reception is really not the right time for making new friends. If you offered to see her outside of the wedding it would let him know that you care about his side of the family but that the wedding is just not the appropriate time for getting to know one another.
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  • Well it sounds like you have already told your dad that your guest list is full and that you can't invite anymore people, so I would just leave it at that. If your dad decides to bring her as his +1 you should just let him, provided she doesn't bring anyone else. I understand that this may feel awkward to you, but as far as your mother is concerned that is his choice and not your fault. It's normal for people later in life to want to try and reach out to family that they don't have contact with. If that really sounds horrible to you maybe you could do as pp suggested and meet her for lunch or something. It may be less awkward at your wedding though because most of the time you will be busy/preoccupied anyways. It sounds like she may just want to honestly develop a relationship with a sister, and I wouldn't blame her for wanting to be a part of youe special day.
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  • I'm so sorry : I think you really need to try to be as bluntly honest with your father as possible. I don't think it's wrong of you to ask him specifically not to bring her as a date. I would even go as far as to say, "if you bring half sister as your date to my wedding, I will be extremely disappointed.". I have a biological father who makes it his life goal to make ME feel guilty for the bad decisions HE'S made as a dad. It sounds like your father likes to do the same thing, don't give in to his games.
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  • Honestly it sounds like she is trying to make amends with you but you are not accepting it. I understand if you dont want anything to do with her but I dont think your dad is pressuring you to be friends or whatever. I think if your dad is going to have her as his plus one so what. But as for her own invite and having all the kids there make it well known its JUST FOR HER if you chose to do that. 
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  • Be really blunt with your dad...that is the only way...but if he chooses to bring her, then he chooses to bring her...it sucks...I wouldn't send her an invitation nor give your dad any extras...
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