What to do if parent won't attend wedding?

Q: I need some prayers... I have a mom that is pretty bitter and I understand because of the life she lived. However, I got engaged. This man and I have been together for 6 years and yes we've had problems in the past but we have both made the decision to put God first in everything we do. My mom is not supportive at all. I asked if she would walk me down the aisle and she said no, & that she would never support my relationship. She is a God fearing woman but she has a lot of built up bitterness and anger. I'm just really needing prayers for the Lord to soften her heart. TIA

A: If she hates men, or they badly treated her, and is worried your life will be miserable... see if your pastor can calm her fears a bit. 

Is she a believer, who hasn't been able to trust men? Maybe she needs to see the change in him as a professing follower, living in righteousness now, before she can accept him? If so, you may want to discuss that with him and postpone the wedding ceremony until then. If he loves you, he would want to let this be a showing of respect to your mom, and a witness in his Faith, to show that good Fruit, showing he's worthy of you now since he really is saved.

If she goes to your church, or if your church has pre marriage counseling, do it. In counseling the pastor can check & ensure he's highly likely saved. Go thru all that... and get his counsel on the matter. He might be able to, after the above, meet with her and ease her concerns. If she's at the church she'll know your going thru that process in seriousness, and may soften. 

If she's not saved, doing the above points to a good witness, helps ensures he's actually saved (so you aren't unequally yoked), and then... try again for including her. If she's still not going or blessing it, go ahead with the wedding - invite her, and get married regardless. You can always later if she softens or embraces him, get in your dress again and take pix with her. You can show her not all men are like what she experienced, as he patiently, graciously, lovingly, enduringly shows her overtime, that he's a good one and glad she has a keeper. It may lead her to salvation too, by all this as a witness, and by how he lovingly behaves even when shes unjustly snubbing or mistreating him. If he doesn't revile, grumble, yell, lash out, mistreat, retaliate, etc, she will come to know in time that she was wrong. 

Keep it in prayer, and stay in the Scriptures daily. 

However it works out, here's a resource with some resources for dating, engaged, and for men, women and married couples that can bless you both as you grow in the Faith. 

Also note, you can't live together, it's a sin against God, and if fornicating it's also a sin against God and your own body. You can't claim to be right with God but in rebellion live sinful lives. You need to seperate until either you go your seperate ways or are equally yoked and marry. 

God bless