DEAR ABBY: My daughter, "Madison," became engaged a couple of months ago, and she and her fiance have set their wedding date for April of next year. My stepdaughter, "Brittany," who has been living with her boyfriend for years and has two kids with him, has just decided they will be getting married at the end of March 2007.
I find it very strange that all of a sudden a wedding is in the making. I suspect she has ulterior motives. We are planning an expensive wedding for Madison, which was already decided upon way before Brittany's wedding was even mentioned. Brittany is now expecting us to pay for it. What is our financial obligation? -- ANNOYED IN LAS VEGAS
DEAR ANNOYED: In light of the fact that Brittany has been living with her boyfriend for years and has already started a family, I do not understand her rush to beat your daughter to the finish line. It appears she's trying to upstage Madison -- and is not being subtle about it.
A wedding is a gift, not an obligation, on the part of parents. So please do not allow yourself to be intimidated into doing anything that is beyond your finances.