How to handle familial resentment?
My fiancé (24M) and I (25F) decided to elope to the courthouse and have a very small cookout with a small number of family and friends as our reception instead of an actual wedding because my side of the family is nothing but drama (especially my mom's husband who is rude and disrespectful to both my fiancé and I) and, frankly, neither of us enjoy weddings and we'd rather spend that money on a honeymoon we will LOVE. I have received nothing but support from my friends and my fiancé's family, but my mother and her husband (this is her second marriage) have been very resentful. For clarification, my mother and stepfather are invited to the reception. I am not in contact with my birth father, and my stepdad is more like my father. I did not invite her husband. My mom broke down when I told her, and broke down again today telling me that she is grieving being able to go to my wedding ceremony and "celebrate with me" and she feels that I am "hurting her" by not inviting her husband. Her husband has been guilt tripping me all weekend and making snippy comments, and this whole experience has been a nightmare for me. I was just wondering if any of you went through something similar and how you got through it without it ruining your special day. I feel depressed and sick right now, and I don't want my family to taint my wedding.