Claire just wants to be the stylish mother-of-the-groom—but when she sees her daughter-in-law has her own ideas for the wedding, she takes a step back to focus on her own attire, only to have a dispute with Alice on the wedding day. Alice thinks Claire spoiled the wedding by stealing her dream dress, but Claire finds nothing wrong with her actions. Who’s wrong?All I wanted to be was the mother of the groom. ‘

That is it. I just wanted to be the adoring mother who loved her son above all else—but this is the story of how my endeavor to make my son’s wedding ideal turned into a day we’d all rather forget.Mark introduced us to Alice, who was unlike anyone I imagined him to fall for. Mark, my son, is a lawyer at a top firm, a post he acquired immediately after graduating from Stanford.

“I’m going to be a lawyer, Mom,” he informed me once, while he was still in high school and writing an essay about his desired job. “I could easily see that,” I said, preparing breakfast for him while he worked.”It’s to assist combat unfairness. “For children, specifically,” he remarked, sipping his orange juice. Mark had enormous goals, and I knew my son would always strive for the stars.

Alice, on the other hand, was utterly unlike my son. Her entire personality was upbeat and cheerful, whereas Mark was solemn and moody. Alice was a self-taught coder who worked from her lovely apartment. Their worlds, politics, and interests did not align.But they made it work, and they were a pleasant pair for the most part. However, as the saying goes, love is blind.

When Mark proposed to Alice, we were all invited to the scene to surprise her. “Please, Mom,” Mark pleaded over the phone. “Alice isn’t connected to her family, so seeing you and Dad there will be beneficial for her. She will know that she is welcome and supported.” “Of course, honey,” I said, picturing their wedding in my imagination. I swallowed my doubts and agreed to pay for the wedding.

James and I had saved money for Mark’s studies, but he had always received bursaries that paid for everything. “We can just use that money for the wedding, Claire,” my husband stated during brunch the day following the proposal. “It’s the best thing we could do for them,” he said. “This way, they can save enough money to move out of their modest apartment. I know Mark has been talking about getting a property with a garden because he wants a dog.

When we told Mark and Alice, I hoped the gesture would draw us closer. I didn’t have any daughters, so I figured this would be my chance. I could get to know Alice better—and it would be beneficial for Mark to know that his wife and mother got along well. Instead, the wedding planning emphasized our differences.
After a few months of wedding planning, I met Alice in a coffee shop to discuss the specifics. But we disagreed on everything.

“I think roses are timeless,” I responded, taking a slice of cake. “They are, but they are also overdone in a way,” Alice observed as she sipped her tea. “Mark and I want peonies.”Our meeting went back and forth several times, and we were caught in a situation where we couldn’t agree on anything.

“Okay, how about this?” I asked her. “You go ahead with everything else, and just tell me what color your bridesmaids are wearing, so that there won’t be any clashes.” “They won’t be wearing green,” she remarked. “I’m leaning toward pink.” I paid the fee, and we split ways on the wedding plans. But, one afternoon, Alice texted me. Hello Claire, I’m simply picking out my wedding dress with the gals! I’m really excited! I wish you were here.

She attached images of her top five wedding dress choices. I knew Alice and I had different ideas about what the wedding should look like, but I wanted to be involved with the important things. I wished she’d involved me in the wedding dress shopping.”At least she’s sending you the top picks,” James replied, reading the newspaper beside me. “I know, but it’s not the same,” he replied.

“Do they look good?” he inquired. “Can I see them?”We looked through the photographs of the potential dresses. There were adequate options, but none stood out.Nothing that would meet the expectations of my prospective daughter-in-law. The garment that Alice preferred and was the first choice for the real wedding gown was not what I expected.

I responded back, telling Alice that it wasn’t the best option. And I thought that my financial investment in the wedding would be taken into consideration. James and I had not given the kids a budget. They had everything at their disposal.Why not examine the second option? It might be more flattering to you. James chuckled beside me. “You’re at the point of over-stepping,” that’s what he stated.

Before I could say anything, my phone vibrated with a message from Alice. Sorry, but I disagree. This is the dress I’ve chosen.That night, when James was plating our salmon for dinner, I vented my dissatisfaction to him. “Alice is not even considering my opinion, and I’m paying for the dress!” I exclaimed.James tried to mediate; he also emailed Mark to ensure that he understood how I felt.”I think you should just leave the wedding planning to them now,” he remarked. “Put all your attention into yourself and what you’re going to wear.”

But it turned out that Mark was able to persuade Alice to wear the dress I wanted. I had to concede that it was the least stressful option, and I hadn’t been able to look for my dress until then. So that is what I did. I visited to several boutiques before finding the perfect dress. It was emerald green, and I knew it would bring out my eyes. “That’s beautiful,” James commented as I tried on the dress for him.

I felt differently. I no longer felt like the mother of the groom who had been overlooked. Instead, I felt attractive in my own skin, and my self-esteem increased every time I thought about the outfit. When wedding week approached, James and I attempted to be as present as possible. We attended all of the events Mark and Alice requested, including the rehearsal dinner, where we saluted them and drank champagne to toast the festivities.

“All sorted, Mom?” Mark asked me. “Your dress and everything?” I smiled at my son. Despite being in the middle of Alice and myself, he was constantly checking on me. “Of course,” I replied. “I’m ready to celebrate you and Alice.” On the morning of the wedding, I put on my green dress and applied my makeup. It was everything I had envisioned for my son’s wedding: gorgeous and sophisticated.

When I arrived at the venue, the air was filled with murmuring. I disregarded them, assuming that everyone was so used to me wearing comfy attire that this was unusual for them. I hurried directly to the bride’s dressing room, hoping to see Alice and complement her before she walked down the aisle. Alice looked up as the door opened, her joyous smile giving way to one of absolute devastation. She looked me up and down before crying.”Why did you do this to me, Claire?” she wailed, her voice choked from grief.

Confused, I entered the room and shut the door. “What’s wrong?” I asked her. “Your dress!” she said. “What about it?” I inquired, questioning everything. “It’s my dream wedding dress, just in another color,” she exclaimed, almost shrieking. I was taken aback.”Alice, honestly,” I said. “I didn’t realize—they look so different in color.” But Alice wouldn’t have any of it. She sat at the edge of the couch, her head in her hands.

“How could you?” She looked up and yelled out. “You’ve made the day about you! Just because we didn’t consider any of your suggestions!”Mark, who had heard the commotion from his dressing room next door, rushed in. “Mom? He questioned me, “What’s going on here?” He looked from Alice to me for an explanation.I tried to calm the seas by explaining everything calmly.

“I didn’t see the resemblance, Mark,” he replied. “I truly just loved the dress, and I thought—” Alice stood up and marched towards Mark. “No!” she said. “You thought you’d show me what I could’ve had, just in green. Isn’t that it? “Mom, please,” my son asked. “Let’s just try to get through today. “Please, for me.” I agreed and exited the changing room. I just wanted to locate James and sit quietly till the day ended.

I knew Alice and I were walking a fine line, but I didn’t expect her to yell at me like that.Naturally, I was upset, but I didn’t want to ruin their day any more. In retrospect, perhaps I should have been more open to Alice’s preferences. It was her day, after all, not mine to plan. The issue of whether I was wrong looms large over me. Yes, in my efforts to establish my vision, I may have lost sight of what was actually important: Alice’s happiness and Mark’s peace on their wonderful day.Was I incorrect in what I did?