Might not get my dream wedding

Dear Pastor

I am 21 years old and my fiance is 27. Our wedding is set for December 26. We wanted our wedding to take place on a Saturday, but Christmas is on a Sunday this year and Christmas Eve is on a Saturday. Plus, all our friends and relatives who we would like to attend our wedding would be busy preparing for Christmas.

Christmas Day would be a no-no for our wedding. So Monday, Boxing Day, is when we have decided to tie the knot.

We are excited to get married. Some of our friends are coming to Jamaica, but they have to be back at work the day after Christmas, which is the day of our wedding. Boxing Day in America is not a holiday, so it is causing some problems for us. I told my fiance that we should get married on Christmas Eve and those who can attend will attend, but he is not in favour of that.

His aunt who raised him lives in America and she wants to be at our wedding, but she has to return to work on Monday. My fiance doesn't know what to do so I told him we should do a private ceremony and then a year from now have a public recognition when all our friends can be there. My fiance said it will not be the same. What do you think we should do?

C.

Dear C.

Your fiance and yourself have been planning your wedding. It is your wish to have many of your friends and relatives as guests.

But, for people who are living in the United States of America, Boxing Day might not be a good day for them because America does not recognise the day as a holiday. I don't know if that is true for all the states, but I know for Florida, it is not a holiday.

Nevertheless, I would encourage you to make your plans for your wedding on Boxing Day. If relatives and friends would love to attend, they should make arrangements with their employers to allow them to take that day off from work. I do not see why that cannot be arranged. Even your fiance's aunt should be able to miss a couple of days from work to be at your wedding. She can attend the wedding on Boxing Day, which is Monday, December 26 and fly out on Tuesday which would be December 27 and be back at work by Wednesday. That can happen. So don't allow anyone to cause you to change your wedding date.

Pastor