A wedding can be so stressful for everyone, when really it should be a day of joy and celebration.

I don't have any daughters (just sons) but I firmly believe that the bride and groom should choose what they want to do, not the parents of either of them. I've seem more parents trying to control everything and then the wedding couple don't get what THEY want. It is, after all, THEIR wedding.

Now I don't mean you should pay for everything. Some friends of ours told their daughter they would give her X amount of dollars for the whole shebang - rehearsal dinner, wedding, etc - and they could spend it as they pleased. Then they offered to physically help with anything they could. The daughter was SO happy to be able to plan her own wedding without both sets of parents competing for control. It was a wonderful day for everyone!

Sounds like a reasonable solution to me - please let us know how it works out for your family. And try to enjoy this special time in your daughter's life!

Kathy