Dealing with medling mother-in-laws

The list of close contacts you may have falling outs with is substantial in the wedding planning realm. From bridesmaids unhappy with your choice of bridesmaids attire to maid of honour fallouts and illicit bridal party affairs (hopefully not!), the meddling mother in law is by far the most common. We’ve seen it all! However, when dealing with a meddling mother in law, this is where you need to place the responsibility fairly and squarely where it should be… on your future spouse!

I can not emphasize this enough. Do not under any circumstances be tempted to take on your future mother in law. This is a job for your spouse and your spouse alone. There’s no need for you to get involved in that tangled web of disaster. You just smile at her and say something along the lines of ‘oh right, yes I hadn’t thought of that’ nod your head and VALIDATE VALIDATE VALIDATE. Let her think you’re open to whatever hairbrained idea it is she’s trying to get across the line with you. Then as soon as you’re alone with your fiancée let them know it’s their responsibility to put that thing to bed pronto (the subject not the mother in law!).

The other technique you can use is to fully agree with her in the moment then just go ahead and do whatever it was that you wanted to do all along without anyone ever mentioning it. By the time the wedding comes and everything is done and dusted, she may not even notice the thing in question or if she does, it’s too late, it’s done and finished your way and any discussion can be easily cut short with a simple ‘they weren’t available’ ‘that color wasn’t available’, ‘we thought about it but then changed our minds’ and the list goes on. Whatever you decide, remember, do not take her on and become embroiled in an argument with your future mother in law… we want the relationship between you to flourish and prosper throughout the years… good luck!