I am having a complete nightmare with my OH mum. Basically she is a jehovas witness and will not go in the church.
My OH has been married before so he understands that she wont be going in the church due to her beliefs. When he got married before she waited outside the church and then went to the reception, she was going to do the same but wants to get a taxi straight to the reception so she wont be in any of the photos, then she wants to leave at about 5pm, so in my eyes she is just coming for the meal. I mentioned this to my OH and he doesnt see the point in her coming. I just feel sorry for him as his Dad died 5 years ago and his Mum wont be in church, then wants to leave half way through the day. Its so annoying.... she then told me yesterday that she does not know if she can toast the happy couple as apparently its toasting th gods!!!!! maybe she shouldnt come!!!!!

Hmmm, I haven't got much knowledge on that religion. So, can't really suggest any alternatives that she could do. Sounds like such a shame though if there are that many restrictions for your wedding day. X

Do you have a good relationship with her?

If you do why don't you sit her down and explain how your both feeling.

I have an aunt who's a Jehovah's Witness. It can be really awkward sometimes and sometimes really sad (she was never at her children's b-day parties or family holiday events). But we all just had to accept it and move on. You aren't going to be able to change her beliefs, so it isn't worth the agro trying will cause imho

'alone' sorry haha x

my aunt is JW, we had a discussion about her beliefs a few weeks ago. We were discussing her daughters life choices and I questioned what she said in order to understand more (She will never tell me about her religion because I do nothing but ask for proof of any god & even proof of science theories too, so unless i ask she won't ever say) anyway from what i understand...

if you are getting divorced, have been divorced, re-marrying, allow someone in your life that is doing any of these things - You are discommunicated (chucked out basically), the only way for this not to happen is if you cut that person out of your life &/or repent for your sins (divorce)

Regarding other churches - if you go into another church jehovah sees this as you are "accepting another god" where he is the only one, and for this, upon death you will be judged.

The conversation I had with my aunt went along the lines of : she has totally cut her daughter out of her life due to my cousins life choices, if she had not have done this then she is seen to be "allowing & accepting" those life choices. If she had not cut her daughter out then she is considered "tainted" as speaking with her daughter & carrying on as if nothing was wrong means that she is "getting over/past" the seriousness of those life choices and could be "coming round to the ideas" of those choices.

From what I have read on this thread it appears your MIL2B takes her religion serious enough to not "accept" other religions but not serious enough to cut her son out completely. (I' assuming he's been divorced due to previously being married). At this stage I would state that if she is willing to go to the reception, fine but the least she can do is stand after the meal, clink her glass of water, & say "to my son & his new wife" - this is by no means wishing you luck JW are not supposed to believe in "LUCK" nor is it toasting to the gods, it is simply congratulating you on a good meal!

Personally I hate religion! Don't get me wrong, I understand people have different beliefs, claim to have different gods, claim their god is the only god etc etc, however what religious people fail to realise is that (if it is all true) the story of the tower of bable states that they were split into several languages, all told to keep a diary of events, the only one ever found was the jewish diary, & all bibles, karhans etc, are all just one persons interpretation of the same book as the other interpretations! I fully accept everyone has their own opinions, and in no way am I intending to offend, however I can't stand it when people use their religion as a reason not to do something/go somewhere that another religous person would, IF there is a god then they ALL serve that same god.

If I was getting married in a church & invited my aunt who then gave me some story about not going in the church cos its a different religion to her own, i would explain the above to her & tell her that at that point due to her religion I do not feel able to allow her to come to the reception as being at the reception she would still be celebrating a wedding which took place under a different religion, which in turn means that she was having to accept that other religion/god if she attended the reception whether she came into the church or not!