I (22F) asked my mum (57F) and uncle (33M) to pay for their tickets to attend my graduation ceremony (£25 each). I assumed it was normal for guests to fund their tickets, plus discussion with my friends revealed that their parents bought their own tickets.
However, my mum says she thought I’d pay for her and my uncle’s tickets since “I’m inviting them as my guests” (1. mum wants to be there more than I need her to be there; 2. she invited my uncle, not me (reminding her would cause an argument))
I’m already spending at least £200 on my travel to the city of my ceremony, cap/gown, photos, etc.. My family will not have to travel far or book a hotel for the ceremony.
Now I’d like to know how graduates have handled this situation: is my mum’s expectation standard, or was my initial thought right?
TL;DR should my family pay for their tickets to my graduation, or should I pay even though I’m spending a lot of money to attend the ceremony?
6 comments
It’s normal IME that parents pay, especially for anyone they invite.
Well if it’s an issue for you, uninvite them and invite other people who both don’t mind paying and want to be there.
They pay to celebrate with you. I’d NEVER EVER ask my daughter to pay so I could watch her graduate. I’d do whatever I’d need to do to be there and pay my way! Hell, I would have given her the £200 for the other stuff to make her day special or easier even.
She’s your mother, and your parent. This shouldn’t even be an issue. She should pay. You’re her kid that’s graduating! You are not the parent or the provider here.
Well with all the support my parents and family have given me I paid for four tickets. I work so why not??
I’m from Africa so we don’t really believe in guests paying to attend anything to do with us the celebrant
My niece graduates in May, she invited me and my kids-but I never even though about her paying for us. We want to go and support her-not the other way around