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Britney didn’t invite her mom to the wedding. Do you have to invite yours?

Published Wednesday, Jun. 15th, 2022


Britney Spears & Sam Asghari on their wedding day, via @britneyspears

Britney Spears married Sam Asghari in an intimate celebrity wedding and left most of her estranged family off the guest list...

 

 

 

If you haven’t heard, Britney Spears married her long-time partner Sam Asghari in an opulent, star-studded wedding over the weekend. 

 

As AMM predicted a few weeks ago, the celebrity guest list was small but impressive, with Madonna, Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, Donatella Versace, Selena Gomez, Maria Menounos, and will.i.am in attendance. (via Vogue)

 

Not on the guest list was Spears’ mother Lynne, her father Jamie, or her sister Jamie Lynn. 

This might not be surprising given the very public ending to Britney’s conservatorship earlier this year, but it does bring up a good question… Do you have to invite your parents or other family members to your wedding ceremony? 

 


Do you have to invite your parents or other family members to your wedding ceremony? 

 

The short answer? Nope. 

 

 

Sure, the crowded ceremony snapshots featured on wedding blogs and wedding magazines might have you thinking that your celebration must include every living relative from both sides of the family – regardless of your budget or your actual relationship with those relatives. 

 

But the truth is, many families don’t fit this ‘picture perfect’ ideal. Families, including a found family or family of choice, come in all shapes and sizes. This is true for celebrities and everyday folks alike! 

 

Your wedding ceremony, and your guest list, should reflect the love you share with your partner and the future you wish to forge together.

 

Unlike wedding ceremonies of the past, modern celebrations aren’t about family obligations or outdated traditions that don’t resonate with a couple. They aren’t about ‘maintaining appearances,’ or impressing distant cousins that a couple only knows from family photo albums or holiday cards…

 

Related: How to stop parents, friends, & relatives from taking over your wedding plan

 

 

Photo from Britney Spears instagram showing her and husband Sam Asghari during their celebrity filled wedding reception

Sam Asghari and Britney Spears at their wedding reception,

surrounded by celebrity friends, including Selena Gomez, 

via @britneyspears 

 

 

That’s why an increasing number of couples are choosing to elope, get married in simple Sign & Go ceremonies, not have a wedding ceremony at all, or to hold intimate ceremonies with only a few close friends and loved ones in the audience. 

 

So remember! If you or your partner would prefer not to include your parents on the guest list (or grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts, or others), or suspect that there will only be drama or potential disasters if you invite them, you certainly don’t have to. 

 

Keep in mind that sticking to a small guest list might come as a surprise to friends and family members with old fashioned ideas about the ceremony. This makes it easy for feelings to get hurt, even if you’re trying to avoid it. 

 

Related: Who Should You Invite to your Wedding?

 

Whenever possible, explain your decision to keep things small with kindness and compassion. But at the end of the day, remember – how you celebrate your marriage is up to you and your partner, no one else! 



 


 

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Jessica Levey
Jessica Levey

Lead Staff Writer & Illustrator

Jessica loves exploring the history and magic of ritual, the connections between people and places, and sharing true stories about love and commitment. She's an advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and individuality, and is an ordained Minister with AMM. When she’s not writing or illustrating for AMM, she enjoys city hikes, fantasy novels, comics, and traveling.

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