May children attend their parents wedding such as when a widow or widower, or divorcee remarries?

May children attend their parents wedding such as when a widow or widower, or divorcee remarries?

While there is no source in the Talmud or Poskim for any such restriction, and it is not mentioned in classic Jewish literature, nonetheless, the widespread custom of Ashkenazi Jewry, as recorded in Minhagei Worms, is to be stringent in this matter and not have children attend their parents wedding. There is no known reason behind this custom. According to Sephardic tradition, there is no need to abide by this and children may attend their parents wedding. Even for Ashkenazim, in all cases that the children abiding by this custom will cause pain to their parents, or create friction between them, then one is the contact a Rav for leniency. To note, that at times specifically attending the wedding causes friction, such as if the parents went through a bitter divorce and one of the parents are remarrying and attending the wedding will hurt the other spouse. In all cases a Rav is to be contacted.

See Minhagei Worms 2 p. 51; Ashrei Haish [of Rav Elyashiv] E.H. 1:21 44; Nitei Gavriel Nissuin 51:9; Mayan Omer 12:3-114 footnote 114; Ateres Paz 6 E.H. 1

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