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I'm so, so sorry for your FFIL, you FI, you, and your families. This hasn't happened to me personally, but it did happen to my cousin. Her FI's mother was ill with cancer on and off for years, and it worsened after they got engaged. They planned a 9 month engagement and decided to keep to that schedule, knowing that the mother may or may not make it. She got extremely ill two weeks before the wedding and actually passed the day before the wedding... I'm not really sure the timing could have been worse for them. But, they did go and visit her as much as possible in that time (they lived half the country away), saw her the week before she passed, and were able to participate in all of the funeral and such (they canceled their honeymoon and re-booked it for 3 mo later). I guess the silver lining to it was that when she got so ill none of her FI's immediate family (father or siblings) were planning to go to the wedding because they didn't want to be away from his mother, but her passing left time for everyone to buy plane tickets and get to colorado for the wedding.
So, yea... no real advice I guess. Just know that you're not the only one it has happened to, and it does really suck . It sounds like you're doing everything you can to support your FI, which is really what is important.
Oh man, I'm so sorry you're both going through this. You're right, it will make your relationship stronger. Now, I might be missing some details, but with your FIL passing, can you do a small, intimate ceremony with the closest family? Before he's gone. That way, he's there to celebrate and to see his son marry the woman he loves, and you can still have the wedding you desire another time. The thing is, I don't know that your FI's father would want to take away your dream of a beautiful wedding. Therefore I don't think its wrong to want to have it, assuming it won't upset your FI and his family. Talk to him about it, see what he is comfortable with.
That does suck...and is extremly hard. My FI and I have had plans for his grandfather (an ordained minister) to marry us for years (he has married everyone else in the family...FI's parents, mom the second time around and now his little brother), but just recently he got diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and it's difficult for him to talk/breathe. Our original plans were to get married in a garden outdoors, but with the difficulty he's been having, we moved the ceremony inside a church so he could have access to a microphone and another pastor to take care of everything in the ceremony besides the vows. I never thought I'd be getting married in a church, but I feel that including my FI's grandfather is more important than the location of the wedding.
I'm sorry for what you're going through...I know it's tough, but when you look back at the day, you will be glad that you added that little bit of extra stress so he could be in the photos and enjoy the day as much as you. You can always have a small, intimate wedding with just family and then plan a larger party/ceremony for your 1 year anniversary...just an idea. Good luck and know that you are not alone.
I misspoke...I believe it's pulmonary fibrosis not cystic fibrosis. I believe cystic fibrosis is diagnosed at a younger age and not a lot of people live past their 20''s or 30's.
Thanks, guys. The small, intimate ceremony was the plan. Our June wedding was just going to be his family and mine. Even with only 8 guests, we're still all scattered across the country (four different cities/airports), and his brother is in Kuwait (US army), which makes things even more challenging. He will hopefully get leave if dad's not going to make it, though.
We could probably get everyone together for a family-only ceremony sooner if we needed to, but it would be without any of the details I envisioned, and probably without the dress. I guess I could just sell the dress. It would be silly to have another ceremony with the same people - family only was our plan all along, actually.
I am sorry to hear about the situation you are going through...My fiance' and myself lost my grandmother the day before Thanksgiving, lost his mother two weeks later and now TODAY, we will be attending his grandfathers funeral. It has been a rough couple of months for us, planning a wedding and also celebrating thier lives at thier own funerals. His mother was ill...on oxygen yet kept smoking (secretivly) and told me to keep her secret. I had a melt down and told the family (in an hyperventalative crazy-rant-like breakdown) It really upset me...and I remember screaming across the dinner table "don't you want to see your son get married? don't you want to see your grandchildren?" Looking back I wish I would not have said that, due to three weeks later, she passed. I think that I will always kick myself in the butt for doing so...
My grandmother was terminally ill with cancer and passed peacefully in her sleep, she had the opportunity to tell us how much she loved us and vise-versa...I cherish every memory that I have ever had with this women, she is such an inspiration...my future chidren will know every detail about this womens life. His grandfather passed this last friday...all I know is that all 3 are in a peaceful place. I know "physically" they will not be with us while we get married, have babies and whatever life brings our way...but I do know that they are with us in spirt...I loved all three and miss them everyday...
My rabbi states that death is a part of life, you need to vocalize to your loved ones everyday, how much that they are loved and your deepest thoughts...let them know...you will find peace within when done so...
We are actually going through this right now. FI's step mom was diagnosed with cancer about a week after we got engaged. At that time it was a somewhat hopeful situation and we continued on with our plans because we didn't want her thinking we were trying to rush her to an early grave by moving up the date. She said it was something to look forward to. Now, 7 months out from the wedding, things are looking pretty grim and FI (and family) have come to the realization that, barring a miracle, she will not make it to our wedding. It will be very sad that she will not be there, but even if we had moved it up there was no guarentee that she would make it that long and be able to attend. I don't think there is any "right" answer about what to do- except what is right for you and your fiance. I am so sorry you are going through this too. It makes it hard to be happy and look forward to your wedding when this is happening at the same time. Keep us all posted- because we'll be thinking about you.
So, the orginial plan was family only? Or... was it for a bigger wedding?
While a different circumstance, I shot a wedding yesterday that was just me (photographer), officiant, and the couple. It was actually amazing and I LOVE LOVE small intimate weddings. I think it would be really special to get married with his dad there but still plan your "other" wedding.
The pictures we were able to get were otherworldly last night... I imagine it would be the same for you. And, I bet your future husband would treasure those images of your intimate wedding with his father so so much... as would the rest of his family.
Details are hard to let go of, but not nearly as hard as it is to let go of a parent. I'll say some prayers for your FFIL and family.
I guess I just don't want our wedding to be something hastily thrown together around FIL's deathbed. I hope that makes sense and doesn't sound harsh or selfish. I think what's hard is that I'm losing him, FI is losing him (and his grief is deeper than mine, obviously, and my heart is breaking for him), FI and I have to be separated by 800 miles indefinitely right when we need each other....and then to top it off, I had a vision of a beautiful day where we would look wonderful and celebrate together with all our family members, and it quite possibly won't happen.
My parents even said they'd come out there if we ended up moving the wedding even sooner....but they've never even met FI's family (except my mom and his dad used to chat on facebook.) I feel like that would be awkward. I can imagine that we could have a meaningful little ceremony, but it wouldn't be beautiful or celebratory. I'm going to get one wedding in my life (hopefully) and I don't think the day I wanted will happen. Don't get me wrong, that's a small part of ALL the sadness right now, but it's the part I can talk about here because I have a feeling that other people wouldn't get it right now.
No, we never did plan a big wedding. The whole time we've been planning, we were going to have the same 8 guests - all immediate family. Would it be silly to have a small family wedding that we have to put together quickly...and then later have the pretty wedding with the white dress that I was envisioning, but with the same people?
An update: we may not be able to have a wedding with his dad after all. FI said that the person in the bed now is not really his dad anymore. He's too weak to sit up, talk, or function. I'm leaving this as totally FI's call, but I don't know that it would be for the best to try to have a wedding now. We had a great time with him at Christmas, he sent us a beautiful congratulatory email when we got engaged; I'm happy that he knows that we're together forever and he's happy for us and we don't need a ceremony for that. FI said that Christmas will be the last time we really got to spend with HIM. I would like to go forward with our June wedding and give Dad a very special place in it, but I understand that FI probably won't even think about talking about the wedding for a while, and I'll wait until he's ready.
Having dealt with cancer in my own family, it's sounding like he won't be around much longer. I also know from my experience that death can be a relief for the family once it gets to the "it's not him anymore" stage, so I'm hoping for a quick, merciful, peaceful end for his suffering, surrounded by family. FI's bro will be in this morning (the other sign of what's to come is that the army let him leave deployment); his bro's wife and son will be there Friday so Dad can see his grandson. (1 year old - such a cutie!)
Me, I'm stuck here and it sucks not being able to give FI a literal shoulder to cry on. I'm going to try to head out there, though, once it's looking like he's in his final hours. Work can deal without me at that point.
I'm incredibly sad that he won't be at our wedding, but strangely enough, I feel more at peace now that I have a reality I can resign myself to, rather than dealing with all the what if's. I'm sad for a lot of things - that my family and my own children didn't have a chance to meet him, that we don't get more time with him, that the man who made my fiance who he is won't be there any longer.
But I'm happy that I did get to know him and that when we do go forward with the wedding, I know he'll be there. In fact, I'm going to be waiting for him to pull some prank on someone during the ceremony, because that's totally something he would do.
Will keep everyone posted.
I am sorry to hear what you are going through and completly understand how you are feeling.
My mum is suffering from terminal cancer, it came back shortly after our engagement and like it often does has come back with vengance. Its really tough, we thought about bringing our wedding forward but with only 11 months to plan anyway plus my mum wasnt having any of it.
The good thing is that she is really lookin forward to it and i keep being told that its great for people with a terminal condition to have something to aim to, something to look forward to.
She has been and bought her outfit and her and my dad came with me when i went dress shopping. It was very emotional and when i tried on 'the one' i knew it was meant to be as my mum and dad held hands and both had tears in their eyes.
Its really tough as i know you understand but i know that what im doing is making my mum happy and what more could i ask for. xx
I'm glad that you are coming to a sense of peace about the situation. Even though he won't be there at the wedding, I'm sure you will find a sepcial way to honor him and his spirit will be there with you!
I was. She passed (grandma) last month. It threw me into a tailspin and honestly, my heart just didn't want to plan anymore. I kinda quit wedding planning a few weeks after that.
It's hard, but treat each day as something special. Honor him now and in little ways and in big ways.
I'll honor her at the reception, serving cupcakes made from her famous (I think it is anyway) coca cola cake recipe.
First of all, that is very sad about your FFIL. I am sorry to hear it and can't imagine how stressful/sad it must be for you and FI while planning a wedding. I hope things work out as good as they can.
Second, I am also planning with a terminally ill relative. My cousin (on my Mom's side) has brian cancer which has been operated on twice now, but they are only giving him weeks to live now. I love my cousin with all my heart and it kills me to think about him not being at the wedding, he is so loving and supportive and the nicest person I know. For him to make it would take a miracle and the extra unfortunate aspect of him not making it is that it means several other family members will have to skip my wedding to stay by his side. Obviously that's more important than being at my wedding, but it makes me sad to think about.
I am going through the EXACT same thing right now, Sarabride. We found out over the weekend that my mom's cancer has just returned and is very, very serious. We were planning a Spring 2011 wedding and now I have no idea what we're going to do. My mom may only have 3 months left, we don't know.
She scheduled to have surgery next week and we should get an idea then of just how bad everything is and hopefully we can decide what's going on.
FI has been very supportive, suggested moving to be closer to her provided we can find jobs, and moving the wedding date and location. I can't imagine getting married without my mom there so I will do whatever it takes (even planning a wedding in 2-3 weeks) to make sure she sees it.
It's nice to see a post about this, its painful to think about but it's nice to know others are going through the same thing.
I just wanted to let you know that I'm sending love, hugs, and good thoughts to you and all the bees who are dealing with this right now.
Ugh this is so me. My dad was diagnosed with cancer a couple months ago. My boyfriend of 4 years and I live together, but weren't planning to get engaged for another year and a half, but now I feel like we have to get engaged and have a wedding immediately so my dad can be here.
Beyond the sadness and depression of dealing with a family member's impending death, it's horrible because you constantly feel like everything you've been dreaming about in a wedding can never happen. I feel like I'm going to be taking away my bf's ability to surprise me with a proposal because I need to talk to him about getting married sooner so my dad can be there. Also, after watching every wedding show in the world and being obsessed with planning the perfect wedding, knowing that I'm gong to have to have a tiny wedding without 3/4 of the people I wanted to celebrate with me, and without the venue and decorations I wanted.
It's just such a terrible situation, and makes me so sad everyday. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your fiance and his family.
I am so sorry for you. Mr. S's dad became very sick in December and went through a rough time. Fortunately he is better and in the hospital but was told this past Tuesday he is not well enough to travel next weekend to our wedding. We are very thankful that he is on the mend but sad he will not be able to attend. We did go through a debate of putting off the wedding and possibly changing location or date in December but once he was out of the hospital were told that he should be well enough to make the trip by 3/27. I cannot imagine how hard this must be for you knowing that things may not end well and having to make a difficult choice. There is no right answer just what is right for you and your FI. You are certainly not selfish to be sad about the dress after planning and hoping it is only natural to have a lot of emotions about possible large changes to your plans and not being able to wear your perfect dress. Keep us updated you are in my prayers.
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This is getting to be really, really hard. My future FIL's cancer came on with a vengeance soon after we got engaged. We moved our wedding date from January to June. A week after we did that, we found out he's got six months. That sucked...but I think I managed to make the best of it by getting so many things planned in a week. Found my dress (which they said would come in in May), found a venue, etc.
A few days after they gave him six months, they said he might not have that even. He's barely even getting out of bed. My fiance is getting a one-way plane ticket to go see him (he's 800 miles away) and leaves tomorrow, which is making me MORE of a wreck. I've only lived in this town for a year and don't have any close friends here. I can't telecommute like he can, so I'm stuck here.
I told FI that I'm willing to get a plane ticket, buy a dress from the mall, and marry him whenever and wherever so that dad can be there. Work will give me time off, although I may have to take it unpaid, whatever. It just really sucks because I pictured this beautiful wedding with both of our families together, being able to be happy and celebrate and enjoy each others' company for one day. I don't think I was asking too much at all, and now that day might not even happen. Then if we do have to get married before my dress (which was so beautiful and perfect) comes in, I don't know what to do with the dress. Then I feel ridiculous for being upset about a dress. I'm feeling sad, angry, everything all at once. I'm a hot mess, to put it mildly.
The one good thing is that we're going to start our life together supporting each other through one of the toughest things we could possibly go through. That's the way it should be...and I know it's going to be the best foundation we could possibly have for our wedding. That said, THIS STILL SUCKS.