Mother in law/rehearsal dinner Advice???

I was just in this boat! We wanted a casual rehearsal dinner, as our wedding is fairly formal, but FMIL wanted something nicer. I think she was concerned with how it would reflect on her. FH tried to be the go between, it caused a lot of stress, and I ultimately just threw my hands up in the air. I basically just told her she should pick. I ended up being happy-ish with the place she picked, but I really had to concede control for my sanity. Good luck!

I am also in a similar situation... I wanted to do an afternoon pizza and beer pool party at my parents house, but my mom said that she would never serve guests pizza, so we are still staying in, but she is having it catered. Whatever. IMO you get to have your way on your wedding day, just let your FMIL have her way the night before. Is there nothing on the menu you can eat?

My MIL took over the rehearsal dinner also. We wanted to have it at our favorite restaurant, but she insisted to hold it at the hotel restaurant where some guests of our guests were staying. It was pretty formal and stuffy, but she paid for it so I just let it go. Sometimes you just have to accept a gift or find a way to do it on your own if it is really that important to you. For me, it wasn't worth causing a fight over.

Nervous about this too! FH mom offered to pay which we were over the moon about, not sure what she has in mind I think it'll come up over the holiday.

Even salad makes me sick at Italian restaurants, but glad to know I'm not the only one. I know it's rude not to eat, but I may end up sneaking something else or being so busy I don't eat.

If you have true dietary concerns, you'd think FMIL would respect that, no? I mean, if the bride was a vegetarian or kept kosher, it would be weird to have the rehearsal at a smoked pig place.

If you have legit dietary restrictions you need to remind her of that and insist that it's held at a place where you can actually eat!

I agree with April. If this is about true dietary concerns, maybe you can tell FMIL that you would love to have a fancier affair, but you need to think about restaurants that can accommodate your needs.

Tell her what you just wrote; that this restaurant will make you and FH sick to the stomach eating there the day before your wedding. She'll have to take that into consideration.