His parents love you and yours love him, so why does their meeting have such a scary stigma? Hint: It may have something to do with that flick Meet the Fockers. Bringing your parents together should be totally relaxed and fun. So relax and enjoy it.
Make “meeting
the parents” fun
Meet at a special place
When we say special, we don’t mean formal. In fact, we think a laid-back get-together trumps a stuffy “meeting of the parents” any day. Select a spot or activity that has significant meaning to you and your significant other, such as a mini-golf outing or going to the place where you two had your first date.
Get in the game
Play a fun and silly break-the-ice game, like “How well do you know your son-in-law-to-be/daughter-in-law-to-be?” You and your fiancé can have fun creating the questions (and responses) before the big meeting. Then let your parents “grill” your in-laws-to-be about how well they know you, and have your fiancé’s parents do the same to your parents. Keep the questions light and fun to make certain this activity truly breaks the ice and doesn’t accidentally cause unwanted tension.
Go to a wine tasting
Visit a local winery or brewery for a fun tasting session. Better yet, have one in the comfort of your own home! Invite the parents over for a mini tasting party for six. We’re not suggesting you need alcohol to make the first meeting of the parents fun, but there’s no harm in a little booze to lighten the mood! If you host your own, select a variety (either wine or craft beer), ask each set of parents to bring their favorite and stock up on your own favorites to share. Complement the tasting with simple and tasty bites like bruschetta, olives and nuts, and crudités.
Put the spotlight on them…
In a positive way, of course. Ask each of your parents to share their own love story of how they met, fell in love and got married. Also, have them share their best piece of marriage advice. Getting them talking about their own beginnings and sharing their own intimate stories will warm everyone’s hearts and set the stage for a great night.
Watch a wedding movie together
From Father of the Bride to the upcoming The Big Wedding, in theaters on April 26, wedding movies rock! Why not see a fabulous marriage movie to make the first parent meeting a fun one? Laughing and crying together over a great wedding flick is a great way to break the ice!
More wedding activities and icebreakers
Help! I met my boyfriend’s parents and I don’t like them
5 Expert tips for wedding-day bliss
Real brides speak: My best wedding day advice
Leave a Comment