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Ashleigh
Just Said Yes July 2020

Covid + change plans + mother relationship

Ashleigh, on June 8, 2020 at 2:58 AM Posted in Family and Relationships 1 4
My fiancé and I have been together for 6 years. Originally, we had a big wedding planned in my hometown. My mother was happy with this plan as she wanted the wedding to be here in the city where I grew up and my parents still live. We had invited everyone she requested on the guest list. We accepted my and my fiancé’s parents financial assistance as all of our siblings had received the same for their weddings.. My parents were going to host the supper the Friday before the wedding. Everyone was happy. Then Covid hit.
We had to drastically alter our plans. We were not willing to postpone the wedding as we are wanting to start a family ASAP. We also didn’t want to plan a party for later in the Fall. My fiancé’s parents live in a small town one hour away from the city where we live. They live in a large house with a beautiful back yard. We decided we’d be having the wedding there with only immediate family as there are restrictions for gathering in place. My mother was very upset with this change. She denied it was happening for over six weeks. Every encounter with her over those weeks resulted in me leaving in tears (not in front of her). She has now finally accepted that the wedding will not be taking place at her house, though she continuously makes negative comments about the new plan and asks 1000 questions so as to point out weaknesses in the new plan. She has stated over and over that “our” family will be outnumbered by my fiancé’s family and that his hometown holds no meaning to her.
Tonight, she shifted her attention to my now cancelled wedding shower. She is insisting on going ahead with it. She also only wants to invite her side of the family, not my fiancé’s three sisters, only his mom, and no one from my dad’s side of the family. I can’t help but think this is a party for her. I understand that she’s dealing with a lot of change, but so am I. There are also various other details she insists on controlling. My dad has been completely silent on the matter. I feel deeply hurt by her behaviour, and quite frankly bullied. It feels like she values getting her way no matter what, over my wants and feelings. It feels like she values her relationship with her family more than the relationship between she and I. And yet somehow, I feel like if I confront her with this, I’ll be the bad daughter who has hurt her. What do I do!? Any words of wisdom? ps. A little background: my mom didn’t get the wedding she wanted for herself. My mom’s side of the family is super close. My dad’s side of the family is less close so they’ve never had to split holidays up to balance two families. My mom had two older sisters whom she is very close with.

4 Comments

Latest activity by Judith, on June 16, 2020 at 10:12 PM
  • Jayne
    Dedicated June 2022
    Jayne ·
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    First of all, if she's hosting the shower she has full control, over guest list and everything else. You are supposed to be an honored guest. The only control you have is to say you won't come. And yeah, I think that would put a big kink in your relationship.

    It's a shame that she won't take your feelings and wants into consideration for the shower but it is her right as the hostess. Just as it was your right to change the wedding.

    I don't think you should let this ruin your relationship.

    Again, you do have the right to say you won't come to the shower unless she includes the others you want. I'm guessing she could afford the larger guest list?

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  • Lynnie
    WeddingWire Administrator October 2016
    Lynnie ·
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    Hi Ashleigh! I'm so sorry your mom is making this even tougher on you, and I think you should definitely recruit your fiancé(e) to help you both stay firm on the wedding plans you want!

    You're definitely not alone right now, everyone is on their own emotional roller-coaster! ❤️ Here are a few discussions I've seen where other brides have been sharing their experiences and how they're coping emotionally - you should definitely check them out:

    Brides who waited it out

    The 5 stages of grief...

    Things not to say to a covid bride or groom

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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    I hope things work out for you. i do think that it would be good if you let her know that you thank her for the shower but you'd like at least these other people to be invited. it sounds like what she wants is to help you with your wedding or be in charge or take part somehow. maybe if you don't end up having the shower, you can have her be in charge of a particular thing of your wedding such as the guest sign in table or something that can direct her efforts to

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  • J
    Master 0000
    Judith ·
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    It is always the hostess' decision how many people to have as guests at a shower, not the bride's. You may decline the shower altogether. But given that you have just redone the wedding itself to make it smaller, it would be pretty hard to say she cannot do the same. It is quite common for each side to give their own shower, only inviting the Bride, or bride and other mother with a family. Or just each family separately. Since no friends are invited to the wedding, including yours or hers, you may need to cite Covid, and let FMIL know that MOB is only having a few relatives. Then MOG can offer to have a welcome to the family small shower for you if she likes. Excluding all friends and extended family already cuts possible showers so much, your doing, that this is simply an impossible time to quarrel with her effort to downsize as well. Sorry she has taken such a miserable attitude over not getting what she wants .That is totally unnecessary, and such a shame. One would think she would see how hard this already is on you, and not criticize and make everyone feel worse. My sympathy for you.
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