AboutGary & Teri Expertise My main specialties are invitations, catering, and banquet locations or in general, wedding receptions. Started as a family business over 75 years ago I now own and operate a catering & banquet facility for over 30 years and have catered small cookout events to large formal ones with everything in between. I even had an event that was attended by the President of the United States. I have been involved with over three thousand weddings and have been told that I have seen and done it all. I must reply almost, because something new always pops up.
Experience I have preformed almost every service needed at a reception from invitations, hosting and catering the event to photographing, dj and honeymoon plans with the latter being special circumstances. I have worked and hosted weddings up to 750 guest and other functions up to two thousand. With well over 30 years experiance of consulting with brides I have seen much of what works and does not.
I have also been involved with many business and orginizational functions and also have been listed in "Who's Who" business and executive edition.
I need advice from a neutral party. I am a bride and I am getting married soon. The groom's family has not offered to help to plan this wedding in any way (financially or hands on). In fact the groom's mother and my parents do not get along very well. My parents have offered to pay 100% for the wedding of my dreams and have allowed the grooms family 50 guests at the reception. The only thing my parents ask is that we (bride and groom) pay for the band. They have already paid for most of the wedding already.
Because my parents are paying for everything without any help; the groom's side of the family was not invited to my bridal shower and he is very upset. His side thinks that my parents were wrong in not inviting his family to the shower.
The groom is also upset that he has absolutely no input on any of the details for the wedding. He thinks that this is my "mother's wedding".
If my parents are paying for everything (even though he didn't ask them to) does the groom and his family have a reason to be so upset? And in this unique situation is a wedding supposed to be about the groom's family or the party that the parents of the bride throw for the bride and groom and HER family?
Answer Hi Raggidyann, Your situation is very touchy and unfortunate. As far as you last question the wedding and reception is about the bride and groom. Neither family just them.
As for your mothers wedding all I can say is you are not alone as I have seen hundreds of mothers plan their daughters wedding. Is that right or not, it isn't my position to say.
The same goes for the rest of your question and I think it is more a question for a psychiatrist than a caterer, since they deal with people and I just put on the receptions. Sorry I didn't answer your question fully but where is Dr Phil when you need him. Really ask you question under that category and I believe you will get professional advice dealing with people.
