Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Andrea
Master January 2021

Should i invite my godmother?

Andrea, on August 14, 2018 at 5:24 PM

Posted in Etiquette and Advice 24

Hey everyone, so this is the situation. It's a bit long. My fiance and I are getting married in Fall of 2019. We know that our list is not going to surpass 60 people; we're pretty comfortable with that. A lot of my fiance's family won't be in attendance because my fiance finds them to be bad-minded...

Hey everyone, so this is the situation. It's a bit long.


My fiance and I are getting married in Fall of 2019. We know that our list is not going to surpass 60 people; we're pretty comfortable with that. A lot of my fiance's family won't be in attendance because my fiance finds them to be bad-minded and very negative. Me on the other hand, my family makes up the bulk of our list. One individual I was not planning on inviting was my absent godmother.

My godmother messaged me on Facebook on the 24th of July asking me what's new. Mind you, I haven't spoken to this woman for 5 years prior to her message. I obviously told her what was new, which was my engagement. She didn't seem really affected by my news. She just asked when the big day was, and I told her. Never invited her. Simply just told her. She said "Well, it seems like you have your life together, and you know what you want. We'll talk another time." And that was that.


Fast forward a couple days. When I told my grandmother I was getting married, she was ecstatic, wanting to tell everyone about my upcoming wedding. I told her not to tell many people, but I knew deep down she wouldn't be able to keep it to herself for very long. She called me a few days after I initially told her about our wedding, with extreme excitement in her voice. "Your godmother is so excited for your wedding. She said she's going to make up for all the years she was never there for you. She told me she is going to make sure your wedding is beautiful!" Honestly.. I didn't know what to think at the time. I said okay grandma, not really taking it all in at the time. So then my grandma insisted I speak with my godmother so we can discuss the plans.


When I finally spoke to my godmother on the PHONE this time, we were on the phone for 45 minutes or so. She did not seem to exude any excitement about my wedding. She was asking a bunch of questions about the wedding, which I found understandable. (Quick thing to note, my godmother is married to my uncle, which is my grandma's brother.) While we were talking on the phone, she asked "How can I help?" So... I took this question with a grain of salt. I told her I don't usually like asking for help, but I did tell her about my venues I've been looking at and what not. But while talking to her, I did get like really strange vibes off of her.. Like she was forced to talk about this.


We ended up ending the conversation with how she was going to talk to her friend in a neighboring city to see if they can help me with a banquet hall. I appreciated it that, and we ended the convo. Well, 2 days later, my fiance and I found our venue we wanted. We went there, met the owners, took pics and videos of the venue, and realized this is we want the reception to be. I messaged my godmother out of courtesy to tell her we found the venue... so she called me back, and asked me a bunch of questions about this venue. She asked a really weird one like "If I help you with the deposit, is it refundable?" I thought that was weird.. like I'm your goddaughter, if I said I found a place, and you genuinely wanted to help, why would you want to know if you could get your money back? She knows how the banquet hall industry works. I told her the deposit is non-refundable. She seemed disappointed. Anyway, She said I sounded really excited... I was like of course I'm excited! She said she will talk to my uncle and see what they can contribute, and how I should send her a video on Facebook of the venue. We then ended the phone convo.


Immediately I sent her the video. She commented saying it's a really nice place, and I said yeah, my fiance and I love it so much. Then she says "Well, I will speak to your uncle and see what we can contribute, IF ANYTHING because it's such short notice."... I thought that was a weird comment as I don't understand how she could have thought it was short notice.... I told her whatever she felt comfortable with helping with, would be much appreciated. (Was that something wrong to say?)


Anyway, my partner and I weren't relying on her or anything so we paid the deposit on the venue. Once again, as a courtesy, I messaged her and told her don't worry about any of the expenses, it's been taken care of... and all she messages back is a thumbs up... once she did that, I got a very weird feeling about this. I all of a sudden don't want her there.


Being caught up with all of the wedding planning, all of the new feelings that came with it, I let this situation get out of control. I do not know what the conversation was that my godmother and grandmother had, but my godmother does not seem genuinely happy for me. She's making my wedding seem more of a business venture. I never was going to invite her, but I didn't want to just come out and say that to my grandma. She and my godmother are very close. It's her sister-in-law, after all. Now, I think that my godmother probably assumes she is coming. I do not want her there. She isn't happy for me. She has NEVER been there for me, ever. I could probably count on my fingers and toes how many times in my entire life I've seen her. Any time I would talk to her, it would be ME reaching out to her. Now, she was trying to hold money over my head. Telling me make sure I have a BACK UP PLAN in case she can't help.. as if she determines whether or not my wedding is going to be successful.. I got caught up, and now I do not want to send her an invite. Am I wrong for feeling this way? Everyone, please be honest, and let me know what you guys really think. I would thoroughly appreciate it.

24 Comments

  • Jeskawo
    Savvy October 2019
    Jeskawo ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Oh lady I'm so sorry, this is all so weird.

    I think, given where things stand at the moment you should talk to your grandma first. Tell her how awkward the interaction was between you and your godmother. Tell her that, while you haven't invited anyone yet and won't be sending out formal invitations for some time, your gut is telling you that you would prefer not to have your godmother in attendance. Tell your grandma that this is a troubling thought to you because you are afraid it will upset your grandmother who you DO (presumably) want to be in attendance. Ask your grandma if she would be terribly upset if your godmother is not invited? Weigh her reaction and decide how far to dig in your heels based on your relationship with the woman you do love and respect. If it comes down to it and you do feel you must invite your godmother, I think you should make it clear that while she is welcome to attend and enjoy herself, you will not be needing her advice, input, feedback or support in any other way. At least draw that line. Also exacerbating the decision--is your grandma financially supporting any of the wedding? If not, I think you can draw a firmer line around what you want. Be compassionate but clear about what is troubling you and let her know you are trying to work through this now, long before any official guest list is set, so that everything can be resolved in the most positive way. I feel like your grandma already anticipated there is weirdness...which is why she seems to be giving you the "hard sell" on your godmother. Weddings make people wacky.

    And know that you're not alone with regard to family weirdness. I'm also planning a wedding for October of next year....my dad is not in my life and will not be invited. No one laments this. His brother though, my uncle, we have always been very close with until the last several years. He married a woman who basically hates my sister---for very weird reasons....she has a ton of baggage (his wife, not my sister). But my sister and brother I are very close, so essentially none of us see my uncle anymore because of his wife. I'm not upset with either of them, but no longer go out of my way to attempt to communicate or hang out with them. They will be invited to the wedding and I would be truly happy to see them if they decided to come, and think they would have a great time. But I will not bend over backwards to encourage them to come, nor will I shed any tears if they don't...and neither will anyone else.

    I'm lucky because I am 46 and have been on my own for a long time (never thought I would get married at all) and everyone in my family already knows I only do what I want though I do love and care for them all. So no one gives me any crap.

    Good luck! Deep breaths. It sounds like you are a very kind person, and as long as you are approaching all of this with good intentions (which you obviously are) it will all work out in the end. But it is your day after all, so don't be afraid to stake a claim on what you want.





    • Reply
  • Andrea
    Master January 2021
    Andrea ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    I see your family saga as well, it feels good to know that it is not only me that has their family issues when it comes to the guest list. My grandma volunteered to do my wedding cake for me, which of course I expressed great thanks for that.

    I think my grandma would be upset I don't want to invite my godmother, but I don't think she'd be upset to the point where she doesn't want to come to my wedding anymore.. however I am not sure.

    Pretty much I only communicate with some family members from my dad's side of the family. I have no contact with my mom at all, just like you have no contact with your dad. And that's just how I like it. I want my wedding to be a stress free day (or as stress free as it can be) and it's just overwhelming. I know I put myself in this position but I know my grandma is going to try hard to get me to invite my godmother even though my grandma has acknowledged that my godmother has never been there for me.. it's a strange situation. Thank you so much for your warm, encouraging words, Jeskawo!

    • Reply
  • A
    Savvy July 2019
    Ashley ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Of course! Thanks for the kind words. I know it’s not an ideal situation to be in, but I’m sure you’ll get past it. Just keep in mind what you want/are comfortable with and try not to get swayed by others.
    • Reply
  • Maren
    Champion October 2021
    Maren ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    I understand what you're saying. Hmm, a sticky situation for sure but like you said, if you feel that even after a potential "heart to heart conversation" you still wouldn't want her at your wedding, then I would go with what will make you the happiest and most comfortable. In the wake of your wedding isn't relay the setting or time for "making up for lost times."

    I'm not sure how big your guest list is? But you could just explain (if she questions and if you decide to go this route of not inviting her) that you are keeping it to family & friends that you are closest with, which would be the truth.

    I hope this helps. Best of luck to you in this situation!

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Explore how we embrace diversity

Groups

WeddingWire article topics