Today I am excited to share with you a beautiful piece on how to explain your non-traditional wedding decisions to friends and family from my good friend, Natalie, from Freely Nat!

Natalie is a 20-something-year-old mother of two who works locally by day at a nearby college and virtually by night via her blog: Freely Nat.  She enjoys bringing light to all those whom she meets. Using her passion for holistic health, education, and helping others discover their true selves, she is trail-blazing her way into the professional blogger market of South Carolina. Freely Nat was created in the spring of 2017 + has made a great impact in her community.

Now that you know a bit about Natalie and what she does, let’s get into the good stuff!

How to Explain your Non-traditional Wedding Decisions to Friends and Family

Traditional marriage? What’s that?! I am far from traditional. I’m a free spirit and I believe in love.

“There is only happiness in life, to love and be loved.” George Sand

When you close your eyes what do you see? Are you happy? Are you at peace? And if you answered “yes” to any of those questions then you know you’re on the right path. So how do you tell your family and friends about your choice?

1.       Just tell them! Rip the band aid off – you’re excited!

Get the hard part over with! I would wait before posting it on social media if you’re nervous about the reaction you’ll get. The last thing you want is unkind comments on your post when this should be the happiest time of your life. Also decide if you want to tell your family and friends together or separately. You know the people you love – so choose wisely!

2.       Accept that they may not be okay with your decision and its okay.

This is easier said than done and it hurts. It’s the worst feeling in the world to hear your family tell you they will not accept your marriage or they don’t wish to attend. You have to come to terms with that.

3.       Be prepared for the questions

Understand there will be questions. It doesn’t matter if you’re a same sex couple, interracial, or different religions – your family and friend will want the full run down. As a common courtesy be prepared to answer a few but only what you’re comfortable with. Some will ask just to be nosey while others are truly concerned.

4.       Take a deep breath and dream.

Sit with your partner and close your eyes. Decide what’s most important for the two of you and go with it. Your wedding day should be about the two of you. No one else matters. Start thinking of all of the fun things you’ll have planned.

5.    Start planning your wedding.

There will be ups and downs of your wedding planning journey but don’t let this be one of them. The most important thing is that you’re happy and in love. On that day, nothing else will matter. All you want is your bride or groom standing at the end of the aisle waiting to say, “I do!”