MY Husbands ENTIRE family left our wedding reception EARLY!!!!

I do agree with Carrie S. I rarely stay until the end of the wedding and I'm 27.

And you should have never brought up the gift situation. Gifts are not something that they HAVE to do. So when you brought it up to her, it looked terribly rude.

I'm glad you said you were ready for riot gear Carrie because I completely disagree with you.

Unless the party went on until 4am, if they came, they should have stayed for the whole event. Maybe leaving a half hour early, even an hour early would be excusable....@ I found Mr Wright....how early did they leave?

2 - Okay, let's jut say she didn't walk around her tables or do a receiving line, is that really a reason to not congratulate someone on their wedding day?

3- I realize gifts are not to be expected....but....really!?!? No one could even get her a card? $20 gift card to bed bath beyond? Something?

@ I found Mr Wright - Did his family dress appropriately or did they come in jeans and tshirts?

That just sucks! I'm glad you were able to enjoy the time with your friends and family, and I feel so bad for your DH. Sending hugs!!!

I don't want to hijack this thread, but saying that people over 40 are old when it comes to event is an awfully bold statement. Not staying at other people's weddings until the end is fine. But for your own family, especially for your own son? Indeed, that sends a message. And it's not a good one.

Even if they didn't have a receiving line, at least family could have congratulated them. That's really basic.

Mr Wright, Sorry this happened. Like the other brides stated try to get past it and move on. Sounds like your FH is understandably hurt at this time and that will fade but more than likely he will never forget it. It is good that you are so supportive of him and that you have your family and friends to fall on.

Yeah the comment on the over 40 crowd leaving early because they are "old"...I'm 43 and still party into the night, so definitely not warranted.

I do agree that his mother should have stayed, but aunts/uncles/cousins/etc. I don't think are obligated to stay.

And yes, family should have congratulated, there are definitely some issues there.

Wow that's so rude even though family is family here I would say just stay away for now....

Carrie S....PEOPLE IN THEIR 40'S ARE NOT OLD. Ok...the birthday girl (46 today) is done with her freak out!

Seriously, though...40's isn't by any means old. And age isn't an indicator of how much people will enjoy a party. My 69 year old mom danced as much as my 27 year old friend did at my wedding last year. I don't think anybody danced more than I did, either, and I was obviously in my 40's at the time.

Just sayin'

That blows! The last wedding I was at the MOB left either before dinner or right after cause she didn't feel like being there anymore. But at least that was only one person.

I don't think it would have been so bad if the MIL actually went up to them and said "Hey, congrats on the wedding, unfortunately I'm in a lot of pain and think we're going to head out early". If they just packed up their stuff and left... I think that is pretty rude.

Thanks for the support everyone!And thanks for other people's comments as well...I'm open to all sides, even if you don't agree or think I did something wrong, I'm interested in all opinions or else I wouldn't have posted

Carrie, I did understand that some of his older relatives might need to leave early (and by older I'm meaning his grandparents who are in their late 70's), but his whole family, including cousins who are in their very early twenties and his aunts who are in their early 30's/40's...don't understand that. And more than that, his own mom and dad leaving early??? Without even a goodbye?! Don't get that...

We had about 100 guests and towards the end of dinner, my husband and I went to every table and said hello and gave hugs/took pics with people. When we say his family, they basically said hello to my husband and some mumbled a hello to me but that was about it. It was very awkward.

I definitely agree that we are in no way entitled to gifts but his family could not even give us a 99 cent card saying congratulations? I personally would not show my face at a wedding without a card/gift. With all the other crap they pulled, they definitely did not bring anything because they were not supportive of the marriage. If they felt that way, I don't know why they even bothered coming...

Vngb, I definitely agree that taking a step back and not communicating with them for awhile is the best way to go. Not saying that we'll never have a relationship but right now, it's best my husband and I focus on each other and ignore the haters lol

Any age related assumption is just that - an assumption. The person not leaving the dance floor at our wedding was my H's 86-year old Godfather who flew from Michigan to DC for our wedding. So much about that.

So what is his family's problem with you? Obviously it's not only his mom?

Mrs. S, honestly, I don't exactly know what their problem is. Like I said, his mom had a problem in the very beginning of me "taking her son away from her", she even told me that. I was my husband's first serious girlfriend so I guess that maybe played a part? His mom is also a very manipulative and controlling person and she would get VERY upset if my husband (back then boyfriend/fiance) did not attend EVERY family function. His family would have "get togethers" a few times a month and since we both worked, I was in college, and we obviously had lives outside his family, we were not able to go to EVERY single one. This pissed off his family beyond belief as they said I was "taking him away from his family". Every family function we did go to, I was usually ignored and treated rudely if they did decide to talk to me. His mother is a total gossip queen and her sisters (his aunts), pretty much run the family. So his mother would spread flat out lies about me and tell the whole family.

Not trying to toot my own horn or anything but I am a pretty nice person. Probably too nice since I let them walk all over me for so long. My husband used to be very cautious not to piss off his family or confront them about how they treated me but now that this mess at the wedding happened, all gloves are off and he is telling them how he really feels.

It was strangely comforting to hear from friends of his family that they also had problems with his family and thought they were a little off their rockers. So many of my husband's friends told me/warned me about his family which made me work extra hard to be nice to them...that was obviously an epic fail considering how our wedding went down.

I am just thankful that my family is so amazing as well as our friends and they all stayed and partied all night long at our wedding. As I've said before, I feel more upset for my husband than anything. I hate to see him in pain

Aww, so sorry to hear this! It's really unfortunate that adults (and an entire family) can't just grow up! You have the support of your husband and that's all that matters. It will be interesting to see how often they start to come around once you two have kids. I've seen where families are nonexistent until babies come and then they are suddenly interested, which sucks!!

My dads family is exactly the same way to my mom and him, all because he did not move to his home state when he retired. So it will save on invites (they are not being invited to my wedding, not even grandma) and my parents say it sure saves on Christmas gifts too. I am young but I realized early on family is not always the ones your blood related to. I have a person who has been a sister to me since we met, we are not related. She is family.

Oh I think someone asked when they left. His extended family left right after dinner (2 hours early) and his parents and brother (who ironically was his Best Man) left an hour early. His brother said goodbye to us, his parents did not.

Jennifer, I've also thought about how they will act once we have children (which we're planning to do soon). My husband says he doesn't want them around our kids since they treat us so horribly, why would we subject or kids to them? We'll see though. Everyone's emotions are high right now. We'll see how they are when the time comes. I definitely won't be calling them to babysit, thats for damn sure lol

I really think liking is optional, but respect isn't. The way you described it almost sounds like they thought your wedding is a pay back time. You didn't go to some of the family functions = they will leave your wedding to make a statement.

Whatever it is, it's up to your H to teach them to respect his choice. I know it's painful, but obviously it had to happen at some point. It's just crappy that the point has to be somebody's wedding.