Sarah Palin Skipping Bristol Levi Johnston Wedding?

KRISTIN CALLAHAN/bauergriffinonline.com

Wedding bells will soon be ringing in Wasilla, Alaska -- but GOP darling Sarah Palin seems to be covering her ears. Ever since parents Bristol Palin, 19, and Levi Johnston, 20, announced their imminent wedding, they (and we) have been awaiting the mother of the bride's blessing. But it looks like they'll need to keep waiting: former Alaska governor Sarah Palin just may end up boycotting her own daughter's wedding.

A friend of the Palins told Popeater that Sarah "has refused to attend" what the friend calls "the wedding of the century in Alaska." One of Levi's friends also blabbed to the website, saying, "Bristol is very upset about her mother's decision and hopes her dad, Todd, will be able to change her mind. It's not like Bristol or Levi are asking for help paying for the wedding, they just want their family to attend."

Unlike his wife, Todd Palin is said to be looking forward to the wedding. "With or without Sarah, Todd will be walking his daughter down the aisle," says the Palin family friend. He "wouldn't miss it for anything or anyone."

Would Sarah Palin really miss the opportunity to watch her oldest daughter marry her baby's daddy? Palin was obviously wounded by Johnston's behavior after the break-up (or at least, seriously annoyed at the public relations hit); she has called her daughter's relationship with Levi a "mistake." Her one public statement about the engagement was chilly toward Johnston: lines like "Bristol is ultimately in charge of determining what is best for her" and "we pray that, as a couple, Bristol and Levi's relationship matures" don't exactly sound like votes of confidence. Maybe Sarah doesn't want to bless the marriage because she thinks Levi is wrong for Bristol. Or perhaps her pride is simply too wounded by all the insults Johnston threw her way during his post-break-up PR blitz, and feels vulnerable about the risk of him dishing more dirt in the future (a future that may include a Palin-for-President campaign).

Then again, maybe Sarah will come around. The former GOP vice-presidential candidate is still an image-savvy politician: maybe she's waiting to make a big dramatic gesture of forgiveness. Or maybe she'll surprise Bristol at the last minute, walk her down the aisle and make everyone cry (an Emmy-winning moment for the possible Bristol-and-Levi reality show?). "Bristol has told her mom she doesn't even want a wedding present, just her mom to attend," the Palin's family friend told the press. How could any mother, grizzly or no, resist a plea like that?

Do you think Sarah Palin would be justified in skipping Bristol and Levi's wedding? Chime in below!