Planning an unconventional, fun, weekend wedding in the woods...that no one in my family wants.

I'd have the wedding you want and if people don't go, they don't go.

Have the wedding of your dreams surrounded by people that actually want to be there FOR YOU. It's not about them. Your asking them to be apart of the experience. If they don't want to be then that should be eye opening for you.

I'd have the wedding id want. People are judgy and opinionated and at the end of the day I wouldn't want to look back and feel like I did what someone else wanted

I say go for what you want! We’re having a very chill and laid back reception in the middle of the woods, and we’re very excited about it! If that’s what you want, then do it!

I agree with having the wedding you want, but I think we need some more details. What exactly are they against? Do they not like the woods in general? When you say "wedding weekend in the woods," do you mean you'll be staying in cabins for two-three nights. I can see some people having legitimate issues with that.

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Well, yes, there will be free lodging in cabins where we try to group people with those they are most comfortable with i.e. friend groups or family groups. However, if they do not want to participate and stay on the property, there are hotel options 30 minutes to 1 hour away.

Also, thanks for the positive replies. Family is just really important to both of us and we are realizing we cannot accommodate everyone's wishes, especially when they all want different things. Ugh. I thought this would be way more fun.

Wow. I'd love to be a guest at a wedding weekend in the forest. That's bomb. So unique. I was just excited I'm having a sports bar rehearsal dinner. Great choice make it fun and they will enjoy it. First time is always the roughest.

All you can do is plan the wedding you want, but if it doesn't work for some of your potential guests, you need to accept that. What is more important to you? Your vision or having people you care about attend the wedding? You have the freedom to choose what you want, but they have the freedom to decline to participate. All decisions/choices have consequences. You just need to figure out what's more important to you and go with it, understanding the potential consequences. Understandably, you've only been able to share a very small amount of details about what you've chosen and why what you've chosen doesn't work for some guests in your post; potentially, you all have good reasons, but they may not be reconcilable.

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Interesting--what are the issues they're having? I'm all for woods weddings (my vibe is very bohemian) and it sounds like a great time, but the hard part is accepting others' views and expectations about what they like/what their idea of a wedding is.

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My family is already hurt that I left the southeast and feel like I choose my partner's family, tradition, culture over my own. It isn't really true since he has 6 siblings and only one plus his parents live in the PNW, but it is their perception. They also expect a wedding where all of my extended family can join including cousins, second cousins, etc. But they are all on the east coast and prefer not to fly, which means there will be a large number of my family who cannot or will not attend. The final part is that my family just doesn't really enjoy the outdoors or camping. That is a part of me that came out once I moved to Seattle and met my fiancee (who loves the outdoors) so they really feel like in several ways they won't be connecting with the wedding.

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Well my mom has an issue with it because she wants me to pay for a super nice, formal wedding she can impress her friends with. My dad just wants me have a southeast wedding so his entire family (my extended) can attend and feel like a reunion. In addition, he's worried that some of his family members who do attend will be uncomfortable in cabins. So my wedding doesn't really meet either of their expectations.