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Laura
Savvy September 2021

Just Help

Laura, on May 4, 2020 at 8:32 PM Posted in Family and Relationships 0 6

I have found these forums to be so helpful and supportive - like a team of brides and wives who "get it" and truly want to help without even knowing anyone. That said, I've posted before about issues with my FMIL but things took another downturn this weekend.

In the span of a month I was diagnosed with Crohn's, had to postpone our wedding due to COVID, and had emergency surgery. On top of that, my fiancé and I are moving from Philly to Dallas in June/July before our late August wedding. Truth be told, we have a backup plan with my Mom (she is paying for the wedding) and our planner since it is in NY and our state is hit badly (not getting married in the city). I think this is fair given all that is happening and quite frankly, I am perfectly fine if we postpone until next spring/summer because we are legally marrying no matter what this summer and not making a thing of it.

With all that has happened, I feel that I need to breathe a bit and get settled in a new city and feel healthy again. My mom and siblings completely understand us wanting to postpone and make it legal for health purposes, watching our backs, etc. but when we mentioned it to his parents, the reaction was, "Are you kidding me?" They got on us about not having an "official" wedding date (would it be the courthouse date or the ceremony and reception), how we can't tell people, how they need to be there when it happens. I told them that it really would not be a huge production and that I can't make my Mom travel if it is not safe or put that pressure on her, especially since she is a widow. I even called the courthouse and they mentioned they aren't letting people come in other than the couple getting married because of the virus. I wish we hadn't mentioned it in the first place but it slipped out, thinking we would get support. My fiancé is going to tell them that it will be done just the two of us since we can't handle a big production right now and we would be doing it even if August is still a go (FMIL said I'd need to buy a courthouse dress, invite people over after, plan a weekend out of it, etc).

I know that I need to do what is right for us but her constant comments/questions when she knows how stressed we are and how much she has already overstepped is becoming too much. I've posted about it before and it just never seems to stop and takes all of the "goodness" out of this whole process. Things are already hard enough with COVID. Please, help Smiley sad

6 Comments

Latest activity by Camellia, on May 7, 2020 at 9:26 PM
  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    I'm so sorry you are going through this.

    The ONLY thing I think your MIL is right about, is that it is weird/wrong/unnecessary to not tell people that you got married this summer. Why bother keeping it a secret? Also, you'll have to go a whole year not referring to each other as husband and wife... or sometimes you would refer to each other like that, and sometimes you'd still have to lie and say fiance? It seems like it would just cause unnecessary confusion and potential drama if people figured it out, and you shouldn't be lying to the guests coming to your "wedding"/vow renewal next year about already being married.

    HOWEVER she is super wrong in every other capacity. If I were you I would let you FH handle dealing with her so she doesn't even have a chance to give YOU a hard time. My husband has a difficult family too and we have a policy where if he's ever on the phone with a relative and they're stressing me out with their drama or whatever, I'm allowed to just leave the room so I don't have to be caused unnecessary stress, and he'll deal with his own family. I would have him tell them that it's happening how you want it to happen, period, and they'll be invited to the celebration next year. It's not up for debate, it's YOUR decision. They can choose to be supportive or not, but if they aren't being supportive you don't have to listen to that.

    Also, who cares if you don't have an "official" wedding date? Celebrate whichever date you want, or celebrate both and have twice the anniversary celebrations! That seems like a non-issue, especially given how many other people are in the same boat with having to elope this year and celebrate next year.

    You need to do what's best for YOU. There is no reason for you to be stressed out about what your FMIL wants your wedding to be like! It's not her wedding.

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  • Laura
    Savvy September 2021
    Laura ·
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    Yes! Thank you for this and for your understanding.

    To clarify, she was saying that "no one has to know" we got legally married. I absolutely disagreed on this as I have brothers and sisters in law who I speak to almost daily and I would never keep something like that from them. On top of that, like you said, it isn't right to not be open about it. Her mentality is that our actual wedding wouldn't mean as much if people know we are already legally married. However, I think when you are in the midst of a global pandemic, things change a bit Smiley winking

    I am glad to know I am not the only one in this boat. I am all about having two dates and what an incredible story to tell our children. I agree though, it really is up to us and that's what I need to stick to. She has caused so many other issues and seems so concerned about how things will "look" to everyone that it is just insane to me. Thank you again for this!

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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    Ohh got it, I thought you were the one saying you wanted to keep it a secret. Yeah, then she’s just even MORE wrong 😂 i think especially given the circumstances people will appreciate being invited to celebrate your marriage a year later as much as they’d appreciate attending it if you were actually married. It seems totally unnecessary to keep it a secret for a year... that’s not her call to make, it’s yours!
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  • Jennifer
    VIP August 2021
    Jennifer ·
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    Well if she insists on not telling people you got married, go ahead and elope and not tell her LOL. Just kidding (Kind of).

    The world is so much different than it was in January. If this is the only way you two can get married now, do it. This is YOUR marriage, your families should be doing nothing but supporting the two of you. It sounds like FMIL is just upset that she can't run the show. As along as it is fair for both families, she shouldn't have anything to complain about!

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  • Lynnie
    WeddingWire Administrator October 2016
    Lynnie ·
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    Ugh I'm so sorry you had to deal with that response from your FMIL! You're exactly right that everyone is going to be completely supportive and understanding about wedding celebration timelines due to the global health pandemic. Everyone's plans are in disarray, it's uncharted waters for everyone, and you need to focus on what's most important and do what is best for you!

    As long as you and your fiancé are on the same page you guys can handle anything together. Smiley heart

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  • C
    Beginner April 2021
    Camellia ·
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    I think you should tell people you are getting married. What you could do in a situation like this though would be a live stream or a video chat to everyone when your saying I do. Just because they can't be there in person doesn't mean they don't want to be a part of your court house wedding. So you still have a wedding later so you can be around everyone, no one will have hurt feelings. You love each other and that's all that counts.

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