After our daughter’s birth, we worked hard to build her college fund, and when my husband’s daughter got engaged, he suggested instead using that money to pay for her wedding. It felt like a slap in the face. Our girl has been planning her future around that fund, and it wasn’t right to trade her dreams for a ceremony. I knew I had to protect what we had saved for so many years.
At first, I tried to reason with him, explaining the importance of the fund and how much it meant to our daughter. But he dismissed me, claiming it was “just money” and suggesting she take out loans while we footed the wedding bill. It was a clear imbalance—why should one child’s future subsidize another’s celebration? I realized this wasn’t just about money, but respect and fairness too.
Internet discussions point out how common this dynamic has become . Other parents on Reddit emphasized the unfairness, suggesting that wedding expenses should come from savings, home equity, or loans—not a child’s education . Their words reminded me that investing in our daughter’s future mattered more than any single event. It gave me confidence to stand my ground.
In the end, I stood firm: the college fund was off-limits. If they wanted to throw a lavish wedding, they would have to find funding elsewhere. Our daughter’s future deserves protection—and some lessons are worth standing your ground for. It was a hard decision, but the right one for our family.