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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mil threatening to not come to wedding

103 replies

YellowMellow15 · 15/11/2018 12:45

Dp and I have been together 6 years and planning on getting married next year. Its a small thing and we have invited the people we want only instead of inviting every single person out of obligation amd this includes extended family members.
My dp has not invited one of his uncles (his mums brother) for several reason: he hasnt seen or spoke to him in over 10 years and he doesnt like him, any memory of him has been extremely negative and my dp's dad also really dislikes the uncle.
My dp has been told if the uncle isnt invited then mil is not going (theres also the possibilty dp will be cut out of the will if he doesnt)
For comparison i havnt invited one of my uncles for the same reasons and my family have respected my choice with no fall outs.
We do not have a good relationship in the first place with mil (could write a book about that) and we arent bothered if she doesnt come. Obviously dp would like his mum to be there but his dad has said hes going and thats enough. We understand the loyalty she has to her brother and that extends to missing her sons wedding.
Are we being unreasonable for not inviting him?

OP posts:
YellowMellow15 · 15/11/2018 17:49

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for everyones advice. You are all right. Dp and i talked and its true this wont be a one time thing and who knows when it would end. We will enjoy the day, with no uncles that we do not want. And if means no mil then fair enough. We will definately send the pictures ;)

OP posts:
Cattus · 15/11/2018 17:56

Good decision yellowmellow.

Mumminmum · 15/11/2018 17:57

One of my DH's friends had a very large wedding when he got married to his first wife. Mostly her relatives, because they were oh soooo important to her. They were married for 10 years. It was more than half of the guests at his wedding that he never saw again.

Armchairanarchist · 15/11/2018 18:04

I was young when I got married (23) and my deepest regret is PIL bullying us into a wedding we didn't want. To the point they even threatened not to come if DH didn't get his hair cut. MIL went out and bought two bridesmaid's dresses for DH's two nieces, which in turn upset my three nieces. I hated every minute of it.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/11/2018 18:18

which is worth more: an inheritance, or 30 years of not being dictated to by a batshit MIL?

Leeds2 · 15/11/2018 18:21

I think you have made the right decision.

Do you think there is any chance MIL may have got carried away and invited her brother herself, in the expectation that he would be getting a proper invitation in due course, and is now feeling embarrassed that she will have to tell him that it isn't happening?

Lizzie48 · 15/11/2018 18:33

My dp has been told if the uncle isnt invited then mil is not going (theres also the possibilty dp will be cut out of the will if he doesnt)

That's okay, there may well not be anything for her to leave after nursing home costs anyway! 😂

Seriously, though, YANBU, definitely. It's your wedding and you shouldn't allow yourself to be pressured into inviting an uncle you're not even in contact with.

My MIL wanted us to invite cousins that my DH hadn't seen for many years and had no contact with. I said no, because of the pressure of numbers. My MIL asked nicely, though, and accepted the answer, hence I was happy to invite them to the evening reception as they were located. She didn't bring it up again; she asked, which was fine, I gave her the answer and she accepted it.

In your case, it's even more ridiculous, as there's actually bad feeling, not just no contact.

Starheart · 15/11/2018 19:08

Would not give into to this behaviour. Your reasons are valid and should be respected. Feel for you , I had drama around my wedding and it spoils what should be a happy occasion.

ForalltheSaints · 15/11/2018 19:13

It's your wedding. Invite whom you wish. You seem to have valid reasons for your choice.

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 15/11/2018 22:48

To all those saying it's either all or no uncles, it may be that the couple have a decent relationship with some of the extended family. I think you have to look at each relationship on its own merits. A relative you see often obviously trumps one you never see.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 16/11/2018 01:39

Well done, Yellow - can't be doing with all the "oh just invite them to keep the peace/because he's faaaamily/it's only one day" bollocks - for most people, it's one of the biggest and most expensive days of their lives, why ruin it by having people you don't want there?!

MissedTheBoatAgain · 16/11/2018 02:25

So the standard hatred between Wife and Mother in Law has begun even before the wedding! Hilarious.

ILoveHumanity · 16/11/2018 03:25

Mil is probably having all kinds of emotions..

Seeing how you two don’t get on already I’m not surprised.

Her blackmail is not healthy. Not justified. But just shows she is feeling intense about stuff.

I wouldn’t give in to follow her orders.. but I would use this occasion to forge healthy relationship with her..

I would have my DH speak to her calmly, let her express her feelings. Acknowledge it. Express yours. And let him make a final decision based on that.

I really think on this topic you should interfere as this is his Uncle, from his mums side.. and his mum being there matters to him so he might want to make that compromise and that’s his choice.

But I would advise him to not give in until his mum turns blackmail into a healthy normal conversation.

So :

DH: mum, I would like to make my own choices about who I invite. Inheritance and your attendance shouldn’t be used against me and I cannot honor your wishes while you disrespect me like that.

I would like for us to be on good terms during my wedding and beginning of marriage. I don’t want this to drive us apart.

When you are ready to have a respectful discussion while taking my decisions into consideration then let me know.

2 days later.

Mil: beep beep... I wanna talk.

DH: ok mum, just remember I’m an adult and you don’t need to use blackmail as a naughty step.

Mil: states her feeling

DH: I understand. You are right it would’ve been nice if your brother could be with us. But this is how I’m feeling ........

Bla bla

DH: mum I truly hope you can respect my decision

(Wife should respect it too if he ended up wanting to compromise).

DH: see mum, things work out better when we hear each other out without threats.

THE END.

I would honestly honestly try to contain the situation this time because it’s sensitive and raw and not worth starting on a bad note.

And there is potential to gain her on your side, while you are both respected if she can build a relationship with her son and talk things out while feeling heard

Lweji · 16/11/2018 07:40

So the standard hatred between Wife and Mother in Law has begun even before the wedding! Hilarious

Did you even read the OP? Hmm

Whereartthouname · 16/11/2018 07:58

@YellowMellow15 you're famous. You made the news in Australia lol honey.nine.com.au/2018/11/16/11/07/mother-in-law-son-will-wedding

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 16/11/2018 12:52

Wow, must be a slow news day over here or something! Grin

Whereartthouname · 16/11/2018 15:51

They do it all the time. The scour these sites for stories. I once had a question from a forum make the news too. Pretty sad really lol but id rather read stuff like this then more murders and what not.

Housingcraze · 16/11/2018 16:33

It’s your wedding up to you!
Don’t be blackmailed

I be in similar position
Sister mum don’t get on
So both will be invited but it’s up to them if they come but it will be small wedding of 15/25 so will be close proximity. I know my sister will be the one to kick off. It’s your wedding don’t let one person ruin it or give you stress! If one of them doesn’t come I will be gutted but hey ho

YellowMellow15 · 16/11/2018 18:36

Oh thats hilarious! At least Austrialia also agrees with us lol.
We are just going to take her at face value and see what happens. I feel she will change her mind as well but depends if she will be there with smile or not then she might not be invited.
Thank you all you have responded. And to those that spoke of their own weddings and the regret they have for changing what should have been their day. That has definately helped us and validated our decision! :)

OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 16/11/2018 21:06

I had all my aunts and uncles at our wedding. My dh may rarely have met them again. But l had years of relationship with them before l ever met my dh. They were more part of my life when l lived near home but l was perfectly happy to invite them. My dh didn't care if he ever saw them. It was up to me.

twiglet · 16/11/2018 21:14

I suggest using the following statement we had to use it for ours with similar blackmail attempts it soon shut them up and surprise surprise they came to our wedding:

I'm sorry that you feel that way, but due to being limited with numbers this is the decision we have made and will won't be changing it. Obviously we want you part of our special day but we respect its your decision to what you are comfortable with. We would hope that you still chose to be part of our day but that is your choice.

Leave it at that don't discuss it further etc if it gets raised just reply with we have explained the situation it's up to you.

DidSomeoneSayCoffee · 16/11/2018 21:29

over 20 years ago my ex parents in law pulled the same stunt, they wanted a huge greek wedding, we did not, they offered to give us money, but they came with rules, we had to invite people we had never met, cousins next door neighbours daughters best friends and so on. Every time the FIL could not get his own way he would threaten to cancel payments and cut my ex out of the will. It happened with everything we did something, kids christenings, birthday parties, he would throw tantrums if we did not invite strangers. Speaking from experience, if you want to despise and resent that woman for the rest of your married life then go ahead and give in to her childish demands, but if i could go back in time I would have told them to shove it, if she wants to take you out of the will, who cares, cut all contact and live peaceful happy lives.

Maelstrop · 16/11/2018 21:31

wouldn't panda to her or koala or anything! Dying! One of my students drew me Kung fu Panda for his homework. I've put it on the wall, place of honor.

It's your wedding, OP, you MUST have the day you want. Mil has no right to demand invitations to people you don't want.

MistressDeeCee · 17/11/2018 14:52

Marlstrop & there I was hoping nobody noticed my spelling mistake 😁

MistressDeeCee · 17/11/2018 14:53

& now I've mis-spelt you (hate tiny phone keyboards)