I'm on a very tight timeline because I am currently working across the country and only back in my hometown at Christmas and March break (my wedding is in July 2016). I originally wanted to have my Bridal shower and Stag and Doe over spring break, but the grooms family wanted me to split the two up, so I decided to do the shower over Christmas Break. My mother and my Maid of Honour have been in contact to plan it, and I am totally fine with them doing that. Because of the tight timeline, I only want to have 1 big shower with both sides of the family. My mother and MOH have looked at golf courses and doing a buffet lunch so people who have traveled from far won't leave hungry (I have a very European family)
The problem comes with my Mother in law to be. She keeps insisting on having a high-tea shower. She suggested it when we first got engaged and I politely told her that I only want one shower and I was leaving it to my mother and MOH. Then she contacted my mother about this, and my mother told her that we were going in a different direction. Now, being home this summer it has been brought up to me by my fiance's mother as well as his aunts about a high tea shower, and I have said no each time. I am getting very frustrated and I don't want to be rude, but given my time line I can't have 2 showers. My mother is also getting offended because I am an only child and she has been thinking about this since I was younger, and my Fiance has a sister that isn't married yet.
Any advice on how to politely deal with this situation would be appreciated. I don't know why my MIL keeps pushing this but it is getting uncomfortable and I do not want to cause a rift or fight prior to the wedding. My fiance says he agrees with me, and says he will talk to his mother about it, but I don't know if that will work or make things worse.