'I Regret Letting My Dad Pay for My Wedding'

Wedding planning is categorically stressful for at least two reasons: It’s expensive (especially right now), and it can bring out the worst in family dynamics. Those fortunate enough to have parents who can pitch in for costs (which, according to surveys, is about half of couples) might be less concerned about the first problem, but that only exacerbates the second — parents often expect a bigger role in the wedding if they’re footing part of the bill. Is it worth the strife?

For Marisa, a 38-year-old attorney from Chicago, accepting a check from her dad for her wedding became especially fraught when he left her mom for another woman shortly thereafter. Here, she talks about the power struggles involved with her dad’s money and why she regrets taking it in the first place.

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