Handling family tensions

Family sensitivities, difficult personalities and feuding relatives - EVERY family has them. The trick is not to let other people’s tensions stress you out on your wedding day. How can you do that?

1. Tell your celebrant about your family sensitivities

Celebrants understand family tensions, trust me. You shouldn’t feel uncomfortable or embarrassed raising family tensions with your celebrant - we’ve seen it all before and in a modern world, the family unit is so unique and diverse that there’s bound to be a tricky relationship here and there. Your celebrant will be able to take sensitivities into account when writing your ceremony script, seating family and friends and responding to stresses on your behalf on the day.

2. Remind yourself it’s your day and that other people are not your responsibility

Sometimes it’s hard to separate yourself from drama but on your wedding day, you deserve to be as carefree as possible. Don’t feel bad palming off that tricky relative and making them someone else’s responsibility. If I (as a celebrant) can manage things so you don’t have to, absolutely have me do it. I’ve worked as a criminal defence lawyer - trust me, I know tricky relationships and how to handle them.

3. Let it be

Easier said than done, I know. But if you can put everything in a box for one day and pretend it doesn’t exist - do it. If not, acknowledge it’s presence as a peripheral part of your day, an unimportant matter compared to your wedding day. It’s likely the tension has existed for sometime so if your special people can’t respectfully put aside their grievances for one day, you absolutely can put them to the side for one day. That way, your prioritise your needs (which are most important!!) and can focus on having an amazing wedding day.