I know it's a little early to ask this question for this BMB but this has been bugging me.
My due date is May 7, give or take. DH's best friend's wedding is June 18. DH will be a groomsmen so he has to be there. I think I can go (if healthy enough) but I'm not sure if I want to take the baby. DH wants to bring him so his friends can meet the baby but I'm not sure how much of a hassle that will be (feeding, changing, crying/stressed baby, being exposed to potentially sick people

etc etc).
My thought is, 1.) leave him for a few hours with my parents and we go to the wedding and we leave early 2.) only DH goes and me and baby stay home. The latter option makes me sad because his best friend was part of our wedding and I want to see his wedding also. But I know you have to make sacrifices when baby comes.
Any suggestions? How hard would it be to manage a newborn at a wedding? Too much stress on baby? I wouldn't be part of it, just a guest. We will probably leave early too.
Thanks!!
Re: Going to a wedding with a newborn?
I suppose the biggest problem is whether the venue has a place for me to feed (besides a bathroom) and change him (bathroom is ok for that).
Married: Oct 20, 2013
BFP 1: Aug 31, 2015
EDD 1: May 12, 2016
DD1 Emma born May 12, 2016
An Honest Account of New Motherhood (with Postpartum Anxiety, Depression, and OCD)
BFP 2: October 07, 2019
EDD 2: June 20, 2020
I would say it depends on your own situation. How far away is the wedding? How do you feel? How easy/hard is the baby? And be flexible to leave early or perhaps not go... The bride and groom will understand. Maybe ask where the venue is so you can look in advance and see if it's accommodating. Also since your dh is in the wedding maybe you can bring someone with you to help out with the baby so you can use the restroom and eat and socialize. It's easier when you have someone to depend on.
I had a very difficult time leaving my daughter at that age, but maybe it will be different for you. I think you're just going to have to feel it out once your baby arrives.
I did let my DH know that if baby or I are still in the hospital, he can't go, just in case something bad were to happen.
Wedding is about an hour from us at most. I don't know exactly where the venue is but the couple has changed it 3 times already. Hopefully this is the permanent location lol.
To the ladies that attended weddings 1-2 weeks after giving birth *applause*
To the ladies that are in the weddings! I'm so glad my situation isn't as sticky as yours. Good luck to you
Married: 1/2008 ~ DD#1: 3/2012
TTC #2: Started 4/2014 BFP 7/30/15 MC 8/3/15 BFP 9/4/2015 EDD 5/16/2016
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
I'll bring these points up to DH and we'll discuss what we can do, worse case scenario, we'll just leave him with my parents (which I think will be hard because I'll be really attached to my new baby) and enjoy ourselves instead.
Lots and lots of consider
Nurse wherever you are at! No need to excuse yourself to a bathroom to nurse. I brought my 6 mo old to a wedding a few years ago, and nursed her (under a cover), and wore her in a ring sling and it was perfect. Wearing baby is also a great way to keep germs away and keep people from touching and passing baby around.
I would also suggest driving separately from your husband if you can. That way you and baby can leave when you want/need to.
I would totally be stressed worrying about this too, but unfortunately you might need to wait until it is closer to make a decision!
Personally, I would bring the baby. It would be way too soon for me to leave him at home and have a good time without him, and if you're breastfeeding that adds a whole other dimension of stress. I remember going to my sister's bachelorette party when DS was 8 weeks old and I just wasn't into it. I missed my kid, and ended up crying while manually pumping in the bathroom at a fancy restaurants in downtown Boston.
But that is just me. Some people want the night out and there's nothing wrong with that either. You won't know how you're feeling until you're there.
And like PP said, it does depend on your newborn's temperament. Some babies can handle that situation much better than others. Sadly, another thing we cannot predict!
Good luck either way!
Edit: To clarify, she didn't bring her mom to the wedding. Her mom just relaxed in her hotel room with the baby during our wedding.