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.