So I was reading the post 'parents gifts' that SoonT00beMrsC just posted and you got me thinking...I still have to buy gifts for our parents, but we have a bit of a sticky situation. Okay, so my parents are divorced and have been separated since I was 3. My dad was a dead beat dad for most of my life and has contributed nothing to the wedding. He even had the audacity to suggest that my FH & I should pay for his hotel, to which I replied 'SURE! I'll pay for your hotel, right after you pay for my wedding! You know? Like you're supposed to?' That shut him up...well, for a while...ON THE OTHER HAND we have my mom and my future in-laws. While my FH & I are paying for most of the wedding ourselves, my mom and my in-laws have given us VERY generous donations of several thousand dollars each. So here's my dilemma. I obviously want to get my mom and future in-laws nice gifts to thank them and present them at the RD along with the BP gifts, but what about my dad? I'd like to give him a pet rock, but I know that would be glaringly obvious if I only gave them something and him nothing. Should I still get him something? Maybe something not embarrassingly cheap, but definitely not as nice as I'm getting them? Or should I get him something as nice as I get them? I kinda feel like that would be a slap in the face to them who gave us thousands towards the wedding, no? What would you ladies do?
FutureMrsM
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Re: Parents' gifts for unusual situation?
That's a tough situation... FH's father was pretty much the same way... I would probably opt to not give the parent gifts at the RD and give them privately, maybe give your mom her's while you are getting ready the day of the wedding? and find another time to give FH's parents their gifts so that you don't have to give your dad something and you don't have to look like the bad guy in front of everyone and create an awkward situation? If not, then I would definitely get your dad something, I think even though he pretty much scr*wed you your whole life, you don't want it to be obvious that you are leaving him out, that would be in poor taste,IMO. You don't want to sink to his level, well maybe you do, but you don't want anyone else to see that I wouldn't want to give him anything either!
geegee827
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Re: Parents' gifts for unusual situation?
I have the same situation. My dad was also absent for most of my growing up years and didn't pay any child support. FH and I are paying for the wedding ourselves. My mom paid for the flowers and my dress. His parents are paying for the RD.
For parent's gifts, we will be giving each of them a nice frame. We also got my mom and his parents a pro album. My dad just gets the frame.
MrsCM
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Re: Parents' gifts for unusual situation?
FH's family gave us $ towards the wedding and my family didn't give us anything. It was a little backwards . We paid for the rest ourselves. In the end we got everyone something but were more generous with his family.
