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Just Said Yes February 2021

Fmil.... long read but i need to vent

Elizabeth, on April 12, 2020 at 11:18 PM Posted in Family and Relationships 0 10
The day we got engaged my FMIL started really being a lot, and by a lot I mean she immediately told us that she gets to invite 35 people that she would pay for my parents get to invite another 35 and the we get to invite the rest. She also made comment that someone I had not even met asking her if I was going to a bridezilla or is she was going to be a MILLzilla??? She has always been very opinionated while we have been dating but I kinda expected that now that her son has chosen to make me part of the family that would kinda solidify that he trust me completely and it was us as a team now rather then the umbilical cord stretched a crossed town to her. When we stated the wedding planning process such as looking at venues we invited both of our sets of parents to look with us to try to include them. My parents where great and seemed to really enjoy being included but my FMIL and FFIL seemed disinterested in looking with us. My FMIL especially had many negatives she found with each place. My mother had a coworker who recommended a mansion style venue that we went to look at as a couple with my father as he is retired so he was able to come look with us. We both where taken by this venue and ended up picking this venue, which ultimately is expensive but we are able to afford it if we are frugal over the next 18 months. We where thrilled to have found our venue, to share the news with my in laws however my FMIL saw how much we where spending PP she promptly added up the amount and stated that would be the amount she would contribute to the wedding. Flash forward a little over a month my mother/best friend suddenly died, we had already sent out the invites to our engagement party that my parents where hosting, to which I now wanted to cancel but my father convinced me my mother would have wanted us to have the party to celebrate as she was excited we where getting married. In swoops my FMIL again giving us a hard time about the invite lists for the party prior to my mom passing then gives us well me a hard time about still having the engagement party then ask if we want to push the wedding which is still 18m away. I told her no? She states she thinks it will make it easier when we finally get married. I let her know that no matter when we got married it would be hard regardless of time line. The engagement party goes on fine and my dad was right my mother would have wanted us to have a nice night, even though she wasn’t with us I know she was watching over us smiling.
For our engagement gift my FMIL got us champagne glasses which after going through my mother’s things found messages between the two of them where my FMIL is asking if I would like them to which my mother tells her that they are not my style, but she got them anyway. When I opened them my FMIL tells me that we can exchange them if I don’t care for them which I like politely asked if we could. I brought them over to their house shortly after the engagement party to which again she informs me of all of the issues she has with the venue we picked, it’s too expensive, it’s too white ( she and my FFIL feel it lacks color in the decor) as well as other things that she find wrong with it. I told her well your son and I really like it and my mother knew where getting married there. To that my FMIL states well your mother didn’t get to see the venue so it wouldn’t make a difference anyway now if we changed locations as my mother was working when we went to look at the venue for the first time. I didn’t know what to say to FMIL and let very upset. At this point due to everything in my life my feelings are fried. It’s only gotten worse from there with my in-laws. We finally talked to her but I am not sure it made a difference. Does she get a say in things, if so what? Please help, my fiancé is on the wedding planning isn’t fun anymore train so am I. Eloping sounds like fun but that isn’t an option now. Thank you for reading!

10 Comments

Latest activity by McKenzie, on April 13, 2020 at 9:35 AM
  • N
    VIP September 2020
    Neeva ·
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    Ignore her. Do what you want. If she continues to have issues with her- have her son talk to her about taking a step back.

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  • Alejandra
    Super November 2021
    Alejandra ·
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    I would have your FH talk to her and tell her back off. Especially after the loss of your mom (I’m so so sorry for your loss. I can’t even imagine the feeling), you need support, not someone pestering you. If that doesn’t work I would suggest a family counselor as an impartial mediator between you and her.
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  • Belle
    VIP August 1997
    Belle ·
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    Maybe not include her to any planning from now on?
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  • L
    Super October 2020
    Leslie ·
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    It’s nice you tried including her, but now it stops. No asking her for input. No telling her details. Her son can communicate if there’s something that needs to be addressed. I was livid when my FMIL told me she wanted to invite her neighbor downstairs. We let her know we had a limited budget (I think she believes I’m loaded - but that is nowhere lose) and thinks it’s no big deal. So nip it down now. It only gets worse. Let her son let her know invite limit, etc. Don’t suggest what she should wear, no makeup with her etc. She’s a guest.

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  • E
    Just Said Yes February 2021
    Elizabeth ·
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    Is that how all MILs are treated with the wedding planning or is this just because of how she’s been acting now that she has become just a guest?
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  • M
    Expert October 2021
    Megan ·
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    I'm very sorry for your loss; I can't imagine how difficult that was.

    There is no standard for FMIL involvement in wedding planning. My FMIL and I are not super close (she's also not super close with FH) so she'll be informed of random wedding things, but definitely not a voice in the decision-making process. There's no "normal" as far as mow much your involve mothers and mothers-in-law, tbh. Some people are really close with their moms... some literally don't talk to them and aren't inviting them to their weddings. You need to make the choice that's right for you and your FH: something he should have A LOT if not the MOST say in, as it's his mom, but you both need to be open about feelings regarding her.

    For reference... if she were my FMIL, she would not be getting any info about the wedding. At all. She'd be getting a save-the-date, an invite, and perhaps a mother-son dance if my future husband desired. Nothing more.

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  • ArizonaDreaming
    Devoted September 2021
    ArizonaDreaming ·
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    This is when including her would be stopped on my end. I stopped telling my own mother about things regarding our wedding due to her over opinionated words getting under my skin. I would focus on what you want. If she is paying for part of the wedding, her opinion is actually something you have to roll with to an extent. If she is not pitching in financially, she can sit back and be out of the planning.

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  • Tabitha
    Devoted October 2020
    Tabitha ·
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    I would definitely stop trying to include her with anything at this point. I’m pretty much there with my own mom with all of her negative opinions about my fiancé’s wants for the wedding. At the end of the day it’s your and your fiancé day. As long as you both agree on the venue and so forth everyone else opinions don’t mean jack.
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  • Samantha
    VIP October 2020
    Samantha ·
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    I am so sorry for your loss. I agree with PP's, you should stop volunteering wedding information.

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  • McKenzie
    Devoted August 2020
    McKenzie ·
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    First of all, I am so sorry about your mother, I know that it's really hard to not have your mom when planning. Second, I would just let her know that it is you and your FH's wedding, she already got to have her wedding and if she didn't then she can start planning her own wedding. I don't feel like you should let her suck the fun out of it, it's stressful but at the same time at the end of the day it needs to be something YOU and your FH want, not what she wants. I think her sly comments about your mom not seeing the venue is really rude and maybe if you don't feel comfortable addressing her I would see if your FH will. Your post brought my to tears because I am also planning a wedding without my Mom, and although my FH's mom is amazing it's not the same. I do want to say I loved your comment about the umbilical cord stretched across town, I actually laughed out loud. I would say keep strong and do what you feel is right and what you want to see in your wedding photos in 20 years, not what your FMIL want to see in 20 years. Good luck girl, you got this! Smiley heart

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