Even without the intense public scrutiny surrounding a royal union, Melissa Johari, who owns the Couple Wellness Expert counselling business in Toronto, said the pressures of a wedding can surface tensions both within a family and between soon-to-be in-laws.
"I always say that funerals bring people together, and weddings tear families apart," she said.
Johari, who specializes in premarital counselling and used to officiate weddings, said she has coached many couples through the thorny family politics of hosting a wedding.
Every couple is going to experience differences in family backgrounds, she said, but the challenge is for both sides to embrace these distinctions for the sake of their loved ones' union.
"If you don't have that support and celebration of each other's differences, then you really have to create some boundaries," said Johari.
Many couples agonize over how to deal with estranged family members, weighing the risk of someone making a scene during the ceremony against the fallout of snubbing a relative, she said.
In some instances, said Johari, a relative will boycott a wedding to express their disapproval of the union, leaving a "sour taste" for the couple on their big day.
Other family members may not be able to make it to the wedding due to illness or financial constraints, said Johari. She said the milestone can also be particularly hard for a newlywed who has lost a close family member.
"The reason why someone is not attending is a big factor in how it would affect the couple for that day," she said. "You can't help but feel hurt if someone makes that decision not to attend."