Wedding Party

I think I have one of the WORST MOTHER-IN-LAWS EVER!

I really thought my Mother-in-law and I where on really good terms until we got engaged. I am very laid back and would do anything for anyone ,but this women has pushed the limit with me. I am having a medium size wedding which my parents are helping pay for. I come from a large family and know that my parents don't have a lot of money so I don't like asking for money, but my parents are so excited to help. My mom has helped me with a lot and I have tried to included my mother-in-law in some of the details since she only has boys and this will be one of the only times for her to be a part of this because here other son does not ever want to get married. She has acted complete uninterested so I stopped trying. We had our parents make lists of how they would like us to invite so we could do our guest list. My parents are not divorced like my Fiance's family so this was easier for them. So my fiance and I went through and picked who we wanted there and sent out save the dates. My parents and my fiance dad and step mom where fine with this. My mother-in-law has complete lost it. she thinks she should have complete control over our guest list and is trying to tell us who to invite and who to dis invite. I have told my fiance he need to tell her to back off ,but he is trying to be respectful and she doesn't take him seriously. She is not paying for anything so far and my Fiance has asked her if she would and she says she has no money and cant afford anything ,but she goes out of town every weekend to drink and party. My frustration is that you say you don't have money but your going out of town every weekend? I know some people might say I judging her ,but She is trying to tell us how to spend out money so I don't care anymore. we had told her we cant afford to invite everyone and she has told us not to invite other people she her people can come. We said this is our guest list and we are not changing it. She finally got and now is saying she will pay for their plates. I thought you didn't have any money? 
Then i find out while we are dealing with this that his grandmother had invited these people with out talking to us first and we where not going to be inviting them. So now his grandmother says she will pay for their plates. I want to know why all the sudden everyone has money cus they didn't before. I personally don't think that they are going to pay for it i think they are going to back out of paying for it at the last minute so is it wrong to tell them before I send out their invites I get the cash? 
Another issue to my plate is that my mom and my fiances mom are friends and work together. My mom is not wanting to discuss the wedding at work ,but my mother-in-law keeps making rude comments about our guest list, our rehearsal dinner, and comments about me. OK she isn't stupid so why would she do this my mother tells me everything. My mom feels so uncomfortable at work and I feel bad. I don't think I can take 6 more month of this without letting here have it. she deserves it complete, especially because she tries to guilt trip us with everything. Why cant she be like his step-mom who is loving and kind and is just happy to be included. I don't know what to do? Everyone I have talked to tells me to let her have it ,but I am tying to be respectful.  

Re: I think I have one of the WORST MOTHER-IN-LAWS EVER!

  • 1. Set boundaries
    2. Anyone who got an STDate gets an invite
    3. Set boundaries
    4. Do not accept money from anyone for covering guests' plates
    5. Set boundaries
    6. Money comes with strings
    7. Set boundaries
    8. Stop discussing your wedding with your FMIL
    9. Set boundaries
    10. Tell your FI to have a conversation with his mother about her being over bearing
    11. SET BOUNDARIES
    Anniversary

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    I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
  • Set boundaries and stop discussing the wedding with your FMIL.

    Your FI needs to tell her and his grandmother that they will have to uninvite anyone you are not going to invite.  And then he needs to make very clear to them that the wedding is not theirs to plan or invite anyone to.  If they want to entertain other people they must do it on their own time and dime without using you two as their excuse.
  • tcoop5263 said:
    I really thought my Mother-in-law and I where on really good terms until we got engaged. I am very laid back and would do anything for anyone ,but this women has pushed the limit with me. I am having a medium size wedding which my parents are helping pay for. I come from a large family and know that my parents don't have a lot of money so I don't like asking for money, but my parents are so excited to help. My mom has helped me with a lot and I have tried to included my mother-in-law in some of the details since she only has boys and this will be one of the only times for her to be a part of this because here other son does not ever want to get married. She has acted complete uninterested so I stopped trying. We had our parents make lists of how they would like us to invite so we could do our guest list. My parents are not divorced like my Fiance's family so this was easier for them. So my fiance and I went through and picked who we wanted there and sent out save the dates. My parents and my fiance dad and step mom where fine with this. My mother-in-law has complete lost it. she thinks she should have complete control over our guest list and is trying to tell us who to invite and who to dis invite. I have told my fiance he need to tell her to back off ,but he is trying to be respectful and she doesn't take him seriously. She is not paying for anything so far and my Fiance has asked her if she would and she says she has no money and cant afford anything ,but she goes out of town every weekend to drink and party. My frustration is that you say you don't have money but your going out of town every weekend? I know some people might say I judging her ,but She is trying to tell us how to spend out money so I don't care anymore. we had told her we cant afford to invite everyone and she has told us not to invite other people she her people can come. We said this is our guest list and we are not changing it. She finally got and now is saying she will pay for their plates. I thought you didn't have any money? 
    Then i find out while we are dealing with this that his grandmother had invited these people with out talking to us first and we where not going to be inviting them. So now  his grandmother says she will pay for their plates. I want to know why all the sudden everyone has money cus they didn't before. I personally don't think that they are going to pay for it i think they are going to back out of paying for it at the last minute so is it wrong to tell them before I send out their invites I get the cash? 
    Another issue to my plate is that my mom and my fiances mom are friends and work together. My mom is not wanting to discuss the wedding at work ,but my mother-in-law keeps making rude comments about our guest list, our rehearsal dinner, and comments about me. OK she isn't stupid so why would she do this my mother tells me everything. My mom feels so uncomfortable at work and I feel bad. I don't think I can take 6 more month of this without letting here have it. she deserves it complete, especially because she tries to guilt trip us with everything. Why cant she be like his step-mom who is loving and kind and is just happy to be included. I don't know what to do? Everyone I have talked to tells me to let her have it ,but I am tying to be respectful.  
    I suggest boundaries. So many boundaries.


    You cannot control your FMIL's behavior.  You are not responsible for it.
    You can control only what YOU do.  You must be firm and tell your FMIL and FGIL that the guest list is set, and that there can be no additions.  Then stick to it.  Ignore their drama.Tell FGIL that she must tell her friends that she was wrong, and that your space and budget is limited.  This will be humiliating for her.  Good lesson!
    People can only take advantage of you if you let them.  I came very close to cancelling my own wedding and eloping because of family drama.  I'm glad I didn't let other people spoil my plans.
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  • Setting boundaries is a concept easier said then done. My FMIL has the memory of a nat, you could beat her over the head repeatedly with boundaries, then the first thing she would say afterwords would cross those boundaries.

    We have tried numerous times to set boundaries, and I have come to realize she is the one with the serious problem, not me. After we got engaged, she did a complete 180 and whenever we tried to involve her in wedding things she came up with the most negative answers possible. Because of this we stopped including her in wedding stuff (they aren't paying for anything anyway).

    FH finally confronted her about it after getting some advice from our officiant. He had tried before but like I said, she doesn't listen. Anyway, she went ballistic and tried to turn everything around on FH. She felt "left out" so that's why she responded negatively to everything we tried to include her in. Also, she blamed him for her talking negatively about me behind my back, again, because she was feeling "left out". Yep, you crazy woman, that makes COMPLETE sense! The stuff she talked about behind my back were that I should just get a job at Walmart because my university education was clearly useless, that I wasn't paying "my fair share" in anything, that I shouldn't be allowed to invite my family to our wedding, on and on and on. FH doesn't let her know about any of this stuff so she makes these crazy assumptions in her head then runs with them like they're the truth. She literally doesn't understand what boundaries are and it makes me laugh.

    I had a hard time trying not to blame myself, but I've finally come to terms with the fact that she's an immature, psycho bitch. For the time being, they are still somewhat in our lives, but I deal with it by telling myself she'll eventually say something that will offend FH so much, that he won't want to see her anymore. She's already come close numerous times, and FH is finally realizing what a toxic person she is and is starting to want less and less to do with her.

    Luckily, my family is super close and supportive of both of us so I don't care if I don't have to see her anymore. I would rather our future kids be surrounded by people that support them over those who are negative about everything.

    My advice is just stand up for yourself. It can be super hard to do but just remember she's in the wrong and she's the one that should be embarrassed about it.

     

  • My mother in law called me my fiance's exs name for the first 4 months of our relationship. This was the ex that absolutely no one liked. I think mother in laws are weird creatures. She absolutely loves my fiance's two brothers lady pals but is very cold and standoffish towards me. 
  • Yikes - so much unnecessary drama. I really feel for you!

    Since the problems seem to be stemming from your fiance's side of the family, he should really be the one to step up and tell your FMIL and his grandmother that they need to respect your decisions about the guest list. I know he's tried to speak to them before and that he wants to be respectful, but he can be firm while still showing respect.

    I think a serious talk with your fiance is in order. Sit him down and explain how important it is that you support each other in the planning process, and also how important it is that you present a united front when faced with his family taking liberties of inviting their friends. Also, it should be made clear that you will not be "dis-inviting" anyone, as that would be horribly rude.

    That really is a shame that your mother has to deal with your FMIL stirring things up at work. If I were her, I would say something like, "I'm really trying to stay out of it" and repeat like a broken record as needed. There is no need to engage with this woman if she's just going to complain and speak negatively about the wedding. 

    Good luck!
    image
  • The other ladies have given great advice.  But I would encourage your mom to go speak to HR about FMIL's behavior at work.  If it is truly making her feel uncomfortable, she should speak to someone who will reign in FMIL at work.
  • 1. Set boundaries 2. Anyone who got an STDate gets an invite 3. Set boundaries 4. Do not accept money from anyone for covering guests' plates 5. Set boundaries 6. Money comes with strings 7. Set boundaries 8. Stop discussing your wedding with your FMIL 9. Set boundaries 10. Tell your FI to have a conversation with his mother about her being over bearing 11. SET BOUNDARIES
    This is amazing advice.  People think that just because they "want" to pay for a specific guest then they automatically will be put on the list.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • My MIL is a nightmare and she tried to dictate many aspects of our wedding. As soon as I realized it was becoming an issue, we stopped talking to her about it for the most part.

    Firstly, let your fiance deal with her. Best thing I ever did. Don't talk to her about it, don't engage.  He can tell her that the guest list is not up for discussion with her and just continually tell repeat that when she brings it up.

    Don't accept her money or promise of it. Money comes with strings attached and a promise doesn't mean you will get it. If she tells you they don't have money, assume they don't. We've seen it a million times on here where promises turned empty and the Bride and Groom were stuck at the last minute.

    As for your mother, she should tell her she's not comfortable having these discussions with FMIL or change the subject.Alternatively, if she's uncomfortable with that, maybe your fiance can gently tell her that she's making your mother uncomfortable.
    imageimageimage

    You'll never be subject to a cash bar, gap, potluck wedding, or b-list if you marry a Muppet Overlord.
  • SP29SP29 member
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Fiance really needs to deal with this.

    As for the guest list- that is for you and FI (with your moms input as they are paying) to decide.

    It is kind to ask her, "is there anyone you would like to see invited? Please provide us with a list by X date, but we get the final say and not everyone on the list may be invited". But again, it is your decision who to invite, you send out the invitations. If she or grandmother invite people by word of mouth that will be on them to clear up when those people don't get an invitation.

    Besides that, stop talking about the wedding with FMIL. Stop including her in decisions, give her the invite that tells her where and when to show up! It's nice of you to include her, but it's not your job to cater to her. 

    Do not accept that MIL or GMIL will pay for plates. Never count on money from anyone until it's in your hands. Do not invite extra people thinking you'll get money to pay for them unless you have the money yourself, because you might not get it. Even still, I would never invite a guest because someone says, "I'll cover their plate!". The guest list is supposed to be about inviting people who are near and dear to you and your fiance, people whom you want to share your relationship with. Allowing them to cover the plate of whomever they want is going to spin your guest list out of control- it's not just the plate remember, that is also more tables, chairs, linens, centerpieces, invitations, cake, favours... all things in addition to the cost for dinner. 

    As for your mom at work, that is her battle to deal with rather than yours. She is an adult woman, she can't choose not to talk wedding with FMIL and tell her to butt out if need be. 

    Good luck! 
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