Religious beliefs are at the core of our life choices and our lifestyle. Many a wedding plan has fallen apart over the issue of what religious content the ceremony should contain. When these deeply felt conflicts surface, it may be best to enlist the help of a therapist or a mediator. Having someone neutral to oversee the discussions can give everyone involved the feeling that they are on equal ground. Knowing that each point of view will get equal time may be enough to allow families to compromise on items that previously seemed non-negotiable.
Mediators also bring to the table the point of view of a disinterested party.
Therefore, a mediator might see a solution that those more deeply involved cannot. No matter how you decide to handle the conflicts that arise in planning a wedding, it's important that everyone listen carefully to what each has to say. Be sure to allow everyone a period of uninterrupted time to get his or her points across. Pogoriler enlists a technique to ensure good listening. She suggests that the person with the concern speaks first, then the listener needs to paraphrase back what the speaker has said.