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Laura
VIP November 2019

now they want to participate?!

Laura, on October 23, 2019 at 3:45 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 17
This is mostly a rant with a side of what do I do. FILs have not said word one about our wedding in the 18 months we’ve been engaged. Suddenly we’re getting requests for my mother’s number so they can ‘coordinate their dresses’ and now we’ve progressed to “what about a champagne toast?” and “you should really have tablecloths on your tables” (we’re at a pavilion at the beach, not a hotel!), and we’ll stop by the day before to get all the decorations and misc stuff. They got a room half a mile from the venue and it seems they are starting to assume proximity will get them more involved. Already FH is going to set the tables, then go back to their room to shower & dress. Not a bad idea, I know, but ugh! This is OUR wedding, not theirs. Which I tried to remind them of when I turned down the champagne toast. We’re having a dry wedding, it’s staying that way.
They’re interested and engaged, I should be thrilled, right? But it just feels like they’re trying to take over.
Am I being a total brat here or is there some validity to my feelings?

17 Comments

Latest activity by Laura, on October 26, 2019 at 3:06 PM
  • Cassandra7
    Super August 2006
    Cassandra7 ·
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    "Thanks, but we've got that under control." "It's taken care of, thanks." "Thanks for the offer, but it's already handled."

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  • Cherry
    Expert February 2020
    Cherry ·
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    Yup. I agree that lots of politeness is in order.

    Had you offered them anything to do prior? My FH has to remind me all the time to give my FMIL tasks to help with because I keep trying to do everything on my own. He says she'll enjoy helping so I'm trying to accommodate her.

    Some people are also just procrastinators. It may not have hit them until now that they should have been more involved and that's why there's suddenly an influx of advice and offers to help.

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  • Cristy
    Master May 2021
    Cristy ·
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    Your feelings are definitely valid, especially considering your previous posts about this family and this situation. They haven't been involved at all up until now, right? Like you and their son weren't even planning a wedding?

    So, I can understand you feeling some type of way now, when they are kind of swooping in at the 11th hour trying to be heroes or something. Like their presence is going to make this wedding a grand affair. Nope. I would be as polite as possible, but give them nothing. I mean, if you want help with anything, that's fine. But I know you've got this under control, and you don't really need them. If you want to make a nice gesture to your future in-laws, then maybe you could find something little that you don't care that much about, and give it to them to run with. But for them to come in now, and try to change things you've already decided on, nope. Not having that.

    I'm sorry you're having to deal with that. Do what my mom always advised me to do when dealing with these kinds of people: Kill 'em with kindness! Meaning, you can turn down their every suggestion, just do it with as sweet a smile as you can muster. Smiley smile Good luck!!

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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    Ugh, this totally sucks and I sympathize a lot. Just keep declining their help, politely, and tell them you’ve got it under control.

    try to take deep breaths and not get too upset. It’s not worth making your day stressful over and remember, this will be your family soon too (whether you like it or not) so it’s best to stay calm and not get too pissed off at anyone unless they did something truly awful.
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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    I hadn’t offered them anything to do before now because they literally acted like there was no wedding.
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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    Yes yes a hundred times yes! They are totally trying to be 11th hour heroes. That’s what this boils down to. They want to ‘save the day’ or save their son from a ‘tacky’ wedding. But we don’t need saving. We’re fine.
    I’m not letting them change anything. But I’ll be getting dressed while FH decorates the table to look like my sample. I fully expect her to ‘suggest’ a different way to do things. Is it, by itself, a big deal? Of course not. But it’s the principle of the thing, after acting like there was no wedding for the last year, is beyond ridiculous. Just hope FH can hold firm.
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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    I’ll be declining if they get into things I really care about. Wanna put paper tablecloths on the tables because it makes you feel better? Knock yourself out. Champagne toast? NO. Alcohol is illegal at our venue so that was a polite but firm no.
    I’ve held my temper so far but this seriously just came out of nowhere in the last two days. We’re trying to catch up with the massive shift in attitude.
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  • Cher Horowitz
    Master December 2019
    Cher Horowitz ·
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    As hard as it might be, kill them with kindness but be very firm that your decisions are made and not up for negotiation. It's annoying how they're trying to run the show, but don't let them!

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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    That’s a great way to handle it... pick your battles lol. Good luck!
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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    Doing my best. At least there were no new requests/questions today. Just a question about the color for the tablecloths.
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  • Tara
    VIP November 2016
    Tara ·
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    Of course your feelings are valid, it's your wedding! And it's frustrating that in all this time they haven't shown interest until now. Be polite and tell them you guys have made up your minds and have a certain vision, although you appreciate the input those ideas don't really work with the plans you've made. Maybe have him tell them since they're his parents. It might not seem as off-putting if it puts it gently to them. Find something you might need their help with, I'm sure they'd appreciate being involved and it would lighten your load a bit.

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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    It looks like they’re probably going to help set up the tables-the centerpieces will take a bit-so I’m hoping they’re satisfied with that. I told FH to stand firm to the example I gave him, no letting them make ‘suggestions’ because I won’t be there to overrule them. Not that the centerpieces HAVE to be a certain way, but because we want them that way and don’t need last minute suggestions from the last minute parents.
    I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t being a brat or overreacting based on my not so warm & fuzzy feelings for them.
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  • Tara
    VIP November 2016
    Tara ·
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    Nope I definitely don't think you're being a brat! You have every right to be upset and kind of put off by their suggestions. They haven't offered help or suggestions in the past 1 1/2 years, so it's kind of unnecessary now that it's so close to your big day. And it's kind of rude at this point. You guys have figured everything out and know what you want at this point. Their suggestions now just seem kind of like they're trying to steamroll you guys. I guess it's nice of them to offer. Just relax and do things your way, who cares what anyone else thinks?! Enjoy your day and the weeks leading up to it!!

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  • Kirstin
    Dedicated June 2021
    Kirstin ·
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    It’s natural for them to want to contribute. Stupid that they didn’t want to be involved till now. Offer maybe the rehearsal dinner??? Traditionally that’s what they do anyways!
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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    MY father offered to pay for the rehearsal dinner and he’s very proud of having the money to do it. I won’t take that away from him. Besides it came up the other night when we were on the phone with his dad and he let it slide right by. They want to be heroes but only up to a certain price point.
    They’re helping with set up and giving FH a place to shower & dress. That’s going to have to be enough, I don’t have anything else to give them.
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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    Steamroll. Yes, good word. They’re finding out quickly I won’t be steamrolled and their son won’t be either (a very foreign concept for them).
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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    UGHHHH! NOW this am while I was off getting my roots done, FH talks to his mom. Who tells him we should do a traditional head table. NO!!! I don’t care what she thinks of tradition, we are not a traditional couple and we are not having a traditional wedding! I have 2 wedding party members with SOs, 1 of them with a kid too. I should pull them away from sitting with their families?
    I asked him what he said to her - “that I’d run it by you”. Ugh again. He couldn’t work out that I wouldn’t want that?! Maybe, probably, I’m being too hard on him but really. He needs to get his suddenly nosy mother under control or I will. And that won’t be pretty and certainly wouldn’t set me up for a good in-law relationship.
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