What does a wedding mean to you?Hello all! I'm just wondering for you all what does a wedding mean to you!

I understand the family is supposed to give opinions and ideas, but anything else I feel is forceful and that's something else altogethor! to me a wedding is a union for the couple and different families! Personally, I think if it get's too involved with the family it because kinda family reunionish! I mean I've dated my fiance for 3 years so he's nothing new! I don't know, maybe I am being selfish...But I feel like I just don't need the help...

For us, it was a public declaration of a sacred covenant. We would have been just as married without anyone else there, but we knew a lot of people wanted to see it.

To me it was all about family and friends coming together to celebrate with us as we moved from "Man, they have dated a long time!" (10 years) to "Hey, look-- they're married!"

I suspect when parents say, "You have to share your wedding planning with me!" what's really going on is someone took over *their* wedding, so they feel like now this is *their* chance. I have no proof except that my mom and MIL had both been married three times, so clearly had 'had their chance' and both were perfectly content to sit back, let us do our thing, and just come as honored guests.

For me it is a celebration with those that brought us to this point in life... It is the bringing together of all the people I love to say this is the person I have chosen and thank you for supporting me to this point and I hope you can support me and love me as this new form. That is why it is a long weekend..so I can have more time with people to really acknowledge our relationships and connections and their importance to me.

I swear I actually just said this evening to my mom that this is just about as much her celebration as it is mine lol (in regards to her picking out a variety of dresses for the long weekend events).

We all know what's the purpose of a wedding but sometimes the guests and/or family don't know their purposes. They are witnesses for the Bride & Groom, that's it. It doesn't matter if they are paying or not. If the couple want them to be involve, it's a personal choice but not mandatory.

A wedding means to me that two people are paying a whole lot of money (not in all cases) to promise to spend the rest of their lives together. That's what a wedding means to me. What means the most is what happens right after the wedding.. you're married and that to me means you are starting the beginning of the rest of your life with your true love. I hope that made sense. It's almost 3 am and I am pooped. Im going to sleep!

With that said, its your choice if you want to update them every single detail. If not then just don't bring it up and if they ask just say there'e no changes the wedding is still on so and so date.

My family hasn't even started to ask questions, probably because no one knows we actually are starting the process except my mom, sister MOH, cousin Matron of Honor and thats it. Im sure once the STDs and invites start going out ill have people wanting to know more. I kind of like the idea of no one knowing because once people do find out and if they happen to have opinions it would be to late because the wedding would basically be planned. So, what can they really say 1 month out- I don't think you should use those linens... I don't like the venue, your invites are to nice people are just going to throw them away anyway... my reply: its all done and your only job is to send in your RSVP so you have a chair and dinner.

I choose to only stick with the people I listed throughout the process for advice IF I needed other than that my planner will be my go to girl. I don't want to hear anything about anything. My dress especially! I won't wear something to please someone elses likes. Im wearing it not them. I guess in my private life I am more reserved. No need to let everyone know the minute we officially start planning. That's just me though

Thank you all for the help! I am a very reserved person as well and never had the my mom is my best friend relationship! I see that we all do have a general idea of what a wedding means to different people and cultures. As well as How the family plays a role in it. Too much family can cause a celebration about two people who love each turn into something else!

Thank you all for the help! I am a very reserved person as well and never had the my mom is my best friend relationship! I see that we all do have a general idea of what a wedding means to different people and cultures. As well as How the family plays a role in it. Too much family can cause a celebration about two people who love each turn into something else!

A wedding is celebrating the beginning of your marriage. Anyone there other than you and your spouse is there to witness and celebrate. Yes, you are hosting a party so you should be mindful of your guest's experience, but its about you and your new spouse. Its the type of beginning and the type of celebration that you would like to have and your guests should feel honored to be a part.

To me, it's simply FH and I making a legal commitment to each other. We're having a few of our favorite people witness that, then having a big ass party to celebrate.

I've never understood why families get all balled up in weddings.

For me it was about celebrating us and the new family that we were putting together. It was very important to us that we include our dearest friends and family and that both of out immediate family's were involved because we plan on having them be a part of our lives going forward.

While DH and I stuck to the core principals of what we wanted in a wedding - outdoors, intimate, focusing on the ceremony and having a wonderful celebration afterwrds - we also made sure to involve our parents in the planning since the wedding was so important to both sets. It ended up being a spectacular day.