I'm getting ready to have the "money talk" with my parents and the mother of the groom. While I was brainstorming how to go about that, I thought about how we are going to pay for everything. I don't know if anyone has had experience with this, but I'd like to open a checking account for the wedding with a debit card. I know a lot of people recommend paying for your venue etc. with a card so that you have evidence in case anything were to go awry. I also like the convince of seeing the whole wedding budget in one place and being able to pay of expenses directly out of it with the debit card or a check. Another main reason I like this idea is, I'm worried about my future MIL "take backs."
Here's a quick snap shot of my situation: my parents are still together and want to help with no strings attached (pretty cool, right?). My MIL and I have a good relationship, we live in his hometown and spend a lot time with her. The problem is... she is very up and down. She has been diagnosed with some minor psychological issues, has been prescribed medication for it, but basically takes the medication when she feels like it... which is a BIG no no for your hormones. So her and my FI will get into huge blow up arguments where they don't speak for a week and they say they hate each other, they'll never speak to each other again, along with some things I shouldn't type out... you know, the whole 9 yards. Then some how things end up ok in the end and we move on with our lives. (FYI the father of the groom is out of the picture, wedding is September 2015, my FI and I have been together 3.5 years - living together 2, and I don't know what the budget is yet)
My issue is, I don't want those arguments to throw a wrench in my planning. So my thinking is, if I set up a checking account all parties can view via online banking, she won't be as rash with her decision to "take back."
Any thoughts on the checking account and how banks are about that, or alternative methods of preventing take backs? Thanks in advance!