My FMIL and FFIL have agreed to host our rehearsal dinner. I know that the rules state that whoever pays gets a say in what happens. However, my in laws are divorced and his father is getting remarried soon but his mother is single. Because His mother is single she felt the need to invite her entire side of the family so that they can rally around her. I think this is slightly selfish because the same invitations are not going out to my side of the family or his fathers. She also stated that I would need to do some work for the rehearsal dinner such as seating charts and picking out desserts etc. It was my understanding that if someone offers to host they really should be doing the work. As a bride I am already on overload and really do not want to to even have a say in the rehearsal dinner as I am gracious that they offered to host. My FMIL personality is that she cannot do anything herself and just expects others to do whatever she says. My FFIL is not helping plan but will help financially with the rehearsal dinner. What should I do in these two situations that are obviously touchy subjects.
Edit: My FI is helping her with the menu and bar options
Re: Rehearsal Dinner questions
Formerly martha1818
Is your issue w her inviting too many of her family or her asking you for input on the menu? Unfortunately,if she's paying then she can invite the family members she wants, as long as they're invited to your wedding.
Why do you need a seating chart for the RD? Open seating has been common at any RD I've ever attended. There's one thing you can take off of your plate. As for help with picking a dessert, how difficult could that be for either one of you? Cheesecake? Great! Sounds good.
Sounds like OP doesn't want another wedding related task to plan, so declining the offer to host wouldn't solve the problem, it would giver her MORE work to do.
OP-have your FI step up to the plate to handle the menu questions and do open seating for the dinner. If FMIL really wants assigned seating, then she's on her own.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
And honestly, giving her dessert options isn't really that big a deal or that hard of a task if she really keeps bugging you for it. Just do it. FI can handle the seating chart if his mother really needs it.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
Rehearsal dinner at my own wedding was a mess. The best advice I was given about planning my wedding was this: "It is your job to plan the wedding. It is their job to plan the rehearsal dinner. If they want to screw it up, that's on them, not you." (Old time rules.)
I don't understand why doint the seating for your friends and family is a big deal. FMIL is trying to be considerate in making sure people get seated with people they know, and since she doesn't know that information for your guests, she is asking you to help. Just pass on the seating for the wedding, and let that be the end of it.