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Wedding Etiquette Forum

No win situation...

More of a rant than a question... Cliff's notes at end:My mom is coming in 3 weeks to go dress shopping with me and spend the weekend helping with whatever wedding stuff I come up with that needs done.  Her trip down here has been planned for about 2 or 3 months.  About a month ago we got an invitation to FI's cousins' wedding that is the weekend my mom will be in town.  FI is not close to his cousin (to the point where I wouldn't know him if I passed him in the street and I've been with FI for 6 years - I was "and guest" on the invite).  FI is not close to his family. His dad was an abusive alcoholic and FI left home at 18 and didn't establish any kind of adult relationship with FMIL until his parents divorced.  FMIL said we didn't need to invite all the extended family if we didn't want to, and to do what made us happy, so FI's cousins are not on our guest list.  Since we made that decision and booked a venue based on a guest list and budget that didn't include  a lot of his extended family (she's one of 6 - lots of cousins) she's been really snarky and passive aggressive about his not having a relationship with his extended family.  I think that my mom being in town is a valid reason to respectfully decline and send a card with a check but skipping the cousin's wedding would just give FMIL more ammo for her commentary.  FI feels like he just can't win and he won't go alone.  RSVP's are due this week.Cliff's notes: FI's cousins wedding is same weekend my mom will be in town from out of state.  If we skip the wedding FMIL has more ammo for her blasting FI about family togetherness, if we go I leave my mom at my house in a strange city alone for half a day and miss out on time I could spend with her that is limited due to us living far apart. RSVP is due this week. - FML

Re: No win situation...

  • Have FI go to the wedding and you stay with your mom. 
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  • If your FMIL cant understand that you have plans with your MOTHER, then shes just mental. Dont go.
  • Yield to FI on this one - it's his family.  If he wants to go and potentially avoid family drama, then go.  If it's not important to him, then don't go. 
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  • You hang out with mom, FI can go to the wedding.  If he doesn't want to go alone, than FMIL can be mad at him if she wants.  You have plans that have been in the works and can't be changed.
  • You can always just go to the ceremony, make a brief appearance at the reception to say HI, and then leave. 
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  • Have fi go to the wedding alone. I know he probably doesn't want to, but I think it's the only win in this situation. Or, you could both attend the ceremony only (I take it the wedding is in town?) or the ceremony and cocktail hour only (that way you can congratulate the bride and groom and schmooze with the family for a bit) and then go home.
  • If your FI cares about family dynamics then he should just by himself.  It's not like he will not know anyone there.  If he does not care then just decline. Either way you staying with you mom is totally acceptable.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • Wedding is in town, so it would be easy to just do the ceremony/cocktail hour probably.  Yeah, FI really doesn't want to go at all, but I think he wants to hear about it from him mom even less.  I wasn't sure which would be worse.  To stay for dinner and leave right after (look like we just came for the "free food") or not to go at all.  I'll try that idea out on him and see how it flies.
  • Thanks for the comments and advice.  I will get FI to make a decision soon :).
  • FI has an "and guest."  Have him take a friend.  You hang with your mom and he can hang with his.  I doubt that everyone truly wins here, but you do!
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  • Id skip out on your mom for a bit to go to this with him. Like PP said you can just go to the ceremony make an appearance, say hi & then jet, it might even get him out early if thats what he is hoping for. They will probably be happy you arent eating dinner lol
  • If I were in this situation, I would have my H make his own decision about whether to go or not and I would stay home with my mom.
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