Introducing Your Parents

Proposal and the idea of marriage is always exciting for both the bride and the groom. Times are happy and busy with preparations for the upcoming event. There is also the underlying nervousness of introducing your parents to one another. When the parents of the bride and groom meet for the very first time, there may be some apprehension, wondering if both sets of parents will approve of one another, find anything in common.

When the bride and groom decide to have their parents meet, try and set the meeting in a neutral, public place that has a laid back atmosphere to decrease any tension there may be. A good place to have parents meet one another might be a nice quiet restaurant. Everyone can sit down and enjoy a meal. Try and keep the topic of conversation light and friendly, giving both parties a chance to get to know one another.

Before introducing your parents, try sitting down and discussing what activities and hobbies they each enjoy. This is a good way to find a common ground between both sets of parents. By doing this, you can perhaps bring it up in conversation during the meeting. For example, say Jane's parents enjoy sight seeing and Joe's parents enjoy traveling. This can be common ground and the two sets of parents can discuss the various monuments or attractions that they may have enjoyed or suggest locations to one another.

If you find, upon introducing your parents, that neither of them has anything in common, try not to panic. This does not mean that they will automatically dislike one another. If, by some chance, there is a problem between your parents, try and change the topic to something more friendly and neutral. Include both mothers in the plans for your wedding so that they have more time to get to know one another. Perhaps both fathers and the groom can have a day out together watching sports, fishing, or any other activities they might enjoy together.

Sit down and discuss with each of your parents separately what the likes and dislikes of each person is before introducing your parents. This may help them before the meeting so that they know what to avoid in conversation. Try and help them keep an open mind about one another and stress the fact that you are all going to be a family and it is very important to both of you as the bride and groom for you all to get along with one another. If both sets of parents find that they can not get along, make an agreement with them that they must remain amicable towards one another, civil at all times or avoid saying anything to each other at all if they can not say anything nice at all. Remember to remain calm and relax and everything is sure to work out when introducing your parents.