Things were going along well...we have a date picked and plans are coming together. I planned the date around family members and...wouldn't you know it, I hear yesterday that my father is not planning to come.
So, a quick call to my brother and I confirmed that it has nothing about my choice of spouse...my family love him to pieces. I'm not sure what's going on beyond my brother saying, "Yeah, Dad's being a party pooper." (This is my 43-year-old brother). So, it looks like either my mother will have to travel here by herself, which is several states away, or, if my brother can manage it, he is hoping to accompany her since his wife and family can't make it for other reasons.
I completely understand family not being able to make it due to finances or schedules, particularly since we live so far away and the wedding is in 2 months. However, I can't help but feel a bit snubbed that he doesn't want to come for other, unknown reasons. I suspect it's simply because my Dad doesn't like weddings to begin with and feels he's already fulfilled any wedding obligationgs by being in my first wedding. I doubt it's anything much more dramatic than that...but still? Really?
I am thinking of letting my mother know that if Dad doesn't want to come, it's ok and she doesn't have to come alone if my brother can't come with her. I'd hate for her to make that long of a trip alone and then be here without anyone else she knows. My FI's parents are excited and are going to be here, as are our friends, so it's not like we'd be alone. We had originally planned to elope and even now it's going to be only our closest friends and family. We'll have people close to us to help us celebrate and we can plan a trip up there in the Fall to visit and bring pictures.
To me...it just seems odd and hurtful that family members can love your soon to be second spouse to pieces, but yet still seem so apathetic about you joining your lives together...particularly since I picked the date around them and intentionally planned something casual and low-key to make them comfortable.
Sigh...