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Super December 2021

Invite or No?

Casey, on March 4, 2020 at 5:20 PM Posted in Family and Relationships 0 12
Hey all! I know that what I'm about to tell you is a personal choice and in the end the decision is ultimately mine. I guess this is more of a rant than anything because of that, but those in a similar situation- I would love to hear what you have to say! Also it's very long, I'm sorry.


My wedding is about 8 months out (planning to send STDs around 6?) and my guest list is finalized.. Except for one person. My dad.
For context, my father is a drug addict who was somewhat in and out of my life through childhood. My mother raised me and my brother as a single parent growing up, and my dad was allowed to come see us sometimes. My father was never mean or abusive, he was simply a was simply an addict. He wasn't around often but the memories I have of him being around are mostly pleasant and good. Skip to now, my father and I have as healthy of a relationship as we can. I'm not angry and I harbor no ill will to him. He is still 100% an addict with no plans to change and I don't expect him to.
The struggle is that I know he can dry out, for about a week at a time, which he usually does at his parents (my grandparents.) The contingency to his invite would be that a week before my wedding he would need to go up and stay with his parents in order to get clean. He would need to come down with them and be clean and dressed appropriately.
My fiance is supportive and ultimately says it's my decision but I know he's in the corner of "not invite" because he knows that while I am ultimately alright with either situation, if I expect him to go and he doesn't show up at the last minute (very common) but it will deeply upset me and it will do so on my wedding day. He also thinks even if it's a week in advance it would still hurt me and there are clearly a lot of other risks..
The good thing about the contingency is that it requires a week before my wedding, which means that I would know whether or not he was going a week ahead and would not be disappointed day-of. However this does require extra work from me and from my grandparents as he would need a ride to their home out of town. The other issue is that he does have a significant other, but she is not welcome at my grandparents home and therefore cannot go there to dry out and would not be invited (which is against etiquette, or I let her go regardless and that's just stress on a whole other level so.. 😵😖)
Another issue (there are so many I'm sorry) is that he is (obviously) not well liked by most of my family, including my officiant (my aunt) to the point that I worry she may refuse to go if he is invited... I would seat him with his other daughter (my half sister) and parents so he would be with people who enjoy seeing him and could (in a way) keep an eye on him.
If he goes it would be as a guest and nothing more. Part of me worries that may hurt his feelings (I am walking and dancing with my mother) but most of me knows he understands and would just be grateful to be there. I also don't want to negatively impact others by inviting him (I worry his presence may put a damper on the day for my mom or grandmother or etc.) And I get the feeling I may be stressed out worrying about him and his behavior (again, not malicious but rowdy and friendly.) I also don't want the table he'd be with (daughter and her family plus parents) to feel like they're stuck babysitting him.
I think what makes this really hard is that for the first time ever in my life/our relationship, he has been steadily keeping contact with me for about 2 years. He randomly calls me just to say hi and I love you (before this I dreaded answering because it was usually to ask for money.) I just feel stuck.. There are SO many cons, writing it out like this made me really see that and it has me feeling like ultimately I won't be inviting him... However, he is my dad and for all his faults I do love him. You also only get married once (hopefully lol) and I don't want regrets, if I don't invite him I can't get a do over. I'm afraid I may regret it.. I wish I could feel concretely one way or another. I secretly wish I could invite him and he'd disappoint me so I wouldn't have to feel guilty.. And that's real cruddy of me.. 😔
Thanks for reading it all. Any advice from those in a similar situation appreciated.

12 Comments

Latest activity by Casey, on March 5, 2020 at 6:33 PM
  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    It sounds like you’ll deeply regret it if you don’t invite him. Invite him and give him the opportunity to come. But prepare yourself that he may let you down and end up not being able to, so that you aren’t too disappointed if that happens!
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  • Jill
    Expert April 2020
    Jill ·
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    My mom was the exact same way. She left my dad to raise us while he had cancer, was a drug addict, and was only allowed to see us sometimes. However, as I got older, I tried to foster the same relationship similar to what you have right now. I know if she was still alive, I would invite her to my upcoming wedding to avoid any later regrets. The decision is yours, but I would say invite him. Despite what everyone else thinks of him, it's ultimately your day and they should put aside their feelings of him for you. If he also loves you, he may already be planning on trying to be clean for your wedding. I would prepare for disappointment but I would also invite him if I were in your shoes.

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  • C
    Super December 2021
    Casey ·
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    Thank you! I am so torn.. I think I didn't make it clear in my post but I am afraid I may regret if I do invite him and he comes because I may spend the day being stressed about it/him..
    😔
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  • C
    Super December 2021
    Casey ·
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    The idea of him expecting to go and not getting invited really hurts my heart.. but I'm also afraid (as mentioned to Gen, I don't know if it was clear in my post) that if he goes I may spend my wedding day really stressed about it/him.

    I have anxiety so I worry A LOT and I'm afraid I may spend the day super stressed over how everyone is behaving, if anyone tries to start a fight, etc. I dont want regrets but I'm scared if I invite him and I'm stressed the whole time then I might have regrets for that reason...

    I wish I knew what to do 😢 thank you so much for reading and replying!
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  • Kristen
    Master November 2020
    Kristen ·
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    As you said old simile it is your decision and in regards to people that may not be happy that he is there you just have to ask them that they support your decision as it is your day and you hope that they will still be there. If you feel your aunt will not officiate then have a back-up plan. It sounds like you are more on the side of you want him to be there but with all due respect I would not put in extra work to make sure that he's there. For example you mentioned that you and your grandparents would have to put in work to make sure that he is clean and sober and while yes he is an addict and he is okay being an addict that's not your job to make sure that he's going to be there and ready. I would say you just invite him as a guest as you already plan to walk and dance with your mom and even though he's an addict I am pretty sure that he's very aware that he probably have not been the best father he could have been because of his addiction. Addicts know they're addicts. I say you can invite him and it's up to you if you want to warn people in advance that he's coming or just not tell them at all because really you and your fiance's guestlist is just your guestlist and you don't have to share that with anyone. If people decide that they won't attend because you decided to be a nice person and include him because it seems that you do matter to him then that is on them and you should just mentally be prepared for that.
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  • C
    Super December 2021
    Casey ·
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    Thank you, Kristen. I appreciate all advice! I did consider that option- inviting him but not putting in all the effort, but I think that may stress me out most of all.


    I guess I'm just going to have to keep giving it more serious thought. As you said, it's our guest list and nobody else is, but it may be easier to just reach out to a couple people and see what they are thinking. I will definitely and obviously have to talk to my grandparents about it, but I do not want them to feel like it's me or him and upset them. I definitely don't think it would be as easy of a decision as finding a new officiant, because of that point it's to invite my dad (who I love and care for but was not there for me) or my aunt ( who I am very, very close to and has always been there for me.) Decisions, decisions! 😩
    Thank you again!
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  • Kristen
    Master November 2020
    Kristen ·
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    Not a problem and I can really understand why it's a hard decision for you and I'm really sorry that you have that predicament. I'm not sure if it would be better but I would honestly suggest talking to your aunt as soon as possible tell her how you feel and tell her this predicament and just tell her that you know how she feels about him but why it is important for you to maybe have him there as a guest and just ask her to regardless of her thoughts about him to please support you and still be there on the day of your wedding.
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  • Nicole
    Super October 2021
    Nicole ·
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    I would invite him, put the ball in his court and see what he does. Make him make the final decision. Why is the significant other not well liked? If it's not drug/abuse related, i think she should still be invited.

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  • Katie
    Expert January 2021
    Katie ·
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    It sounds like he's really putting in effort to have a relationship with you. Even though he is still using, at least it doesn't sound like he makes false promises of getting sober rather admits what it is. I do think you should invite him, even for the fear of regret if not. I would try to manage your expectations properly, however. It sounds like the both of you would really like to spend that special day together... my gut tells me your family would be more happy to see him there to support you than focus on their negative feelings towards him.

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  • C
    Super December 2021
    Casey ·
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    Thank you! You're right, talking to her may just solidify my choice!
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  • C
    Super December 2021
    Casey ·
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    It is drug related. I don't have an issue with her, but unfortunately she cannot go anywhere to dry out as she is no longer welcome at my grandparents, and I do not want to invite her without knowing that she has dried out 😔 my grandparents have tons of great grandchildren at young ages right now, who come over quite often and stay with them. My dad's girlfriend not only brought drugs with her up to their home, but left a used needle around the house. Just bringing the drugs into their home is complete unacceptable, but to leave a needle (especially a used one) around their house when they have young children around all the time... Obviously she was told to leave and is never welcome back.


    The thing about simply putting the ball in his court and leaving it up to him is that it puts so much stress on me. It opens the door to all kinds of terrible possibilities, I know I mentioned it above but the stress of "will he, won't he" up until the second I walk, then if he's not there I'm getting disappointed right before I walk. Plus I know I would be so stressed if he isn't there thinking "is he about to burst in late?" Or something. And I have to worry if he'll show up high or dressed right, etc., etc.

    It's SO MUCH stress honestly 😔 I wish I could but...
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  • C
    Super December 2021
    Casey ·
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    Yes, at least he is honest. I have no idea what he would/what he thinks because I haven't even talked to him about it. You have a good point about my family, idk. Most of them probably would. I'm just so torn.. I feel guilty if I dont and so stressed I'm worried I'll be vomiting if I do. Having him there will definitely put me on high alert the entire night..
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