Stepfamily Weddings: What Comes After You Walk Down the Isle? by Kristen Wilkinson, MA
Ah, wedding season! A time of love, reflection, union and dedication. Weddings take on all different shapes and sizes: destination weddings in the Caribbean, romantic European occasions, glamorous urban affairs and rustic country gatherings.
No matter how a wedding looks on its surface there is bound to be fun, laughter, music, drinks, food and—of course—love! However, for couples who are preparing to enter into a stepfamily, there are special considerations and circumstances worth exploring both before and after saying, “I do!”
As early as the planning stages, things can get complicated fairly quickly. That goes beyond deciding what flavor your cake will be, what color dress looks best on each of your bridesmaids and whether or not you prefer a DJ or a live band playing at your reception, as you celebrate with family and friends.
The bride- and stepmom-to-be not only gains a spouse on her wedding day. She also gains a stepchild or stepchildren. As you can imagine, wedded bliss may not last long if preparations, expectations and other important steps related to entering into a stepfamily are not evaluated and prioritized ahead of time. …To read the rest of this article, log in to your account and download the August 2017 issue. Don’t have an account? Click here to subscribe.