Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Wedding advice - toxic in laws

47 replies

Gee166 · 13/02/2026 22:40

Putting this here as would love a good rant to strangers on the internet 😂 get the popcorn ready.

Me and my partner want to get married after 6 years together- we own our house, and have a daughter. We moved in together after 3 months, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that we’re getting married. We aren’t ’engaged’ in traditional sense ie no big proposal, but we’ve been talking about it for 3 years and now feels right.

We are wanting to start ttc certainly by end of this year latest, we discussed timings and my partner in particular wants to get married before a second child, so we’re wanting to move relatively quickly in next few months.

We told his family, and his sister got really upset. She said it was such a shock (it really shouldn’t be), and then told us she wanted to go travelling this year and gave us literally 1 week in August when she’s free. Why she can’t come back is beyond me but she started getting confrontational when we asked.

His mum went to defend her daughter, which I kind of get, but then accused us of planning a wedding knowing his sister couldn’t be there and said how awful we are for considering it…. We literally didn’t know until that day.

Since then, his sister has rang him saying ‘are you sure this is what you want as it doesn’t seem it is’. Charming. It’s made us both really angry with her for saying such a hurtful comment.

His mum has also messaged since saying she’s happy for us (although done nothing to show that) and was going to offer financial support and wanted to be involved in some way, but we have now ‘taken the shine off it’ so she doesn’t want to talk about it.

I keep asking my partner to speak to them but he’s too annoyed. So it’s all going well…

So basically do we have our wedding during that 1 week in August, even though it only gives us less than 6 months, other friends/family may be on holiday so unable to attend, and it’s more expensive. Or, do we go for later in the year at a non peak time where we assume more people can come, but his sister may not- and if that’s the case we may never hear the end of it.

Secondly, I think I’ve made my mind up not to accept money from his parents if they are playing games with it. I don’t want it to come with strings. But then it’s very unfair on my mum to be paying when he has a much bigger family, so do I accept but run the risk it’s held over us?rel

It seems to be a complete lose lose situation which is such a horrible position to be in as it’s not the wedding I envisioned where my in laws can’t even be happy for us.

i’m almost at a point where I'm thinking let’s not bother, but I know that’s not what my partner wants and the only witnesses I’d want if we eloped would be my mum and sister which his family would see as unforgivable, so that’s not an option.

OP posts:
ShetlandishMum · 13/02/2026 22:42

I would set the day we wanted for a wedding - I wouldn't set it to suit one family member.

ThatMintMember · 13/02/2026 22:45

Agree with PP, choose the date you want. You could even say your budget won't stretch to an august wedding as summer is way more expensive. There's always a fallout when theres a wedding. We have 7/8 family members that no longer speak to us because of wedding invite fall outs!

Fbfbfvfvv · 13/02/2026 22:45

No way would I arrange my wedding around a tantrumming family member! Have it when it suits you.
This is why we eloped - less stress all round.

HermioneGrangersHair · 13/02/2026 22:52

You should get married when you want to. Why is your mum paying when you are grown woman with a child and a home of your own?

Bonbon21 · 13/02/2026 23:02

Oh for heavens sake! You are a grown woman with a child already.. just get married at a register office and have a party afterwards for anyone who wants to attend.. sister can please herself whether she actually wants to be there or just be the drama queen.. pay for it yourselves... Don't do the angst and family politics dance!!

NutButterOnToast · 13/02/2026 23:03

Just get married when you want to. The idea you should plan it around your SIL's one week of availability at the most expensive time of year is fucking bonkers.

They'll get over it. And if they don't, at least you'll have the wedding you and your DP wanted and not a lifetime of resentment at bending your wishes round other people who frankly don't sound very nice.

Gee166 · 13/02/2026 23:22

Just to add as clearly should have done, my mum is contributing because my dad died a couple of years ago and he wanted that money explicitly for our wedding. We are obviously contributing too. I’d rather have my dad there than the money, you know, before we all make snap judgements!

OP posts:
NoCommentingFromNowOn · 13/02/2026 23:57

Can your mums money go towards a specific thing rather than ‘the wedding’? Eg your dress, the cake, the honeymoon etc? Then you won’t feel the fact that she’s the only one contributing so much.

BernardButlersBra · 14/02/2026 00:04

ShetlandishMum · 13/02/2026 22:42

I would set the day we wanted for a wedding - I wouldn't set it to suit one family member.

This. It isn’t the sisters wedding so she shouldn’t state the week -she doesn’t need to travelling after all and just wants to go certain dates. Do what works for you and your future husband. It’s not their wedding or about them. You can’t please everyone all of the time anyway

As an aside how on side is your husband in general about them? Does he tolerate their nonsense? How much are they allowed to impact on your daily lives?

sittingonabeach · 14/02/2026 00:08

As an aside what would happen to the money if you didn’t get married? Not sure why it was obvious you would get married if not engaged and already have a DC.

Can the money go towards a honeymoon and you and your husband to be pay for the wedding?

Morepositivemum · 14/02/2026 00:09

People get weird and ridiculous tbh about weddings and imagine them as their big day too- they get to dress up, have a big night out etc, possibly she assumed she’d be in the wedding party too. I don’t know how you fix things but of course the date needs to suit the two of you

Lennonjingles · 14/02/2026 07:44

Do you know what type of wedding you want and where and when you both want to hold it. Make enquiries to what is available and take it from there, you cannot please everyone. I had a couple of arguments with my Dad about our plans, but I stood firm and all was good in the end. It’s your day. DH and I were together for 13 years before we got married, the Church Vicar warned us that getting married after so long, may not be wise. We’ve been married 35 years now.

SparklyGlitterballs · 14/02/2026 07:54

I would pick the date I wanted. The sister is being very unreasonable trying to restrict you to a date at the most expensive time of the year. You may struggle with availability anyway if you looked during the summer months.

Sister can come back if she wants to be there. Let her tantrum all she wants, just stand back from her, and PILs if necessary, if they give you grief about it.

I wouldn't accept their money as their idea of "being involved" will probably mean "take over" or "make unreasonable demands".

Seaoftroubles · 14/02/2026 08:00

Your partners family sound dreadful. He must feel very embarrassed by both his mother and sister acting up and being such drama queens! Do not compromise though, choose the date you want and leave it up to his family to decide if they are available or not! As for the passive aggressive comment from his mother about money, ignore completely and don't accept a penny from them. Finance your own wedding, and of course accept the gift your Dad left you as per his wishes.

glassof · 14/02/2026 08:20

Fbfbfvfvv · 13/02/2026 22:45

No way would I arrange my wedding around a tantrumming family member! Have it when it suits you.
This is why we eloped - less stress all round.

Absolutely this. We also eloped, some family members moaned, we didn't listen. 5 years on, noone is bothered about it!

redwinecheeseandothersnacks · 14/02/2026 08:27

Get married at a time which works for you not your partners sister.
You are established enough to own a house and have a child - why are parents contributing? Get married on your own terms, using your own money.

Zanatdy · 14/02/2026 08:28

She can come back. Your mum shouldn’t be shouldering the cost, assume you’re paying a lot too? I’d just go and get married at a register office with a handful of family and be done with. Weddings are so expensive and cause no end of upset, just do what you want, it’s your wedding, not his sisters. If she chooses not to return then that’s on her. Just say no availability that week in Aug as that’s likely the case anyway.

Harrietsaunt · 14/02/2026 08:30

Elope

ForFunGoose · 14/02/2026 08:34

Stop including people in your plans.
Book what ye want and send invitations, up to them if they come or not.
If they offer money put it towards something specific, flowers, meal so you can thank them for one item not the whole wedding.

Differentforgirls · 14/02/2026 08:36

Lennonjingles · 14/02/2026 07:44

Do you know what type of wedding you want and where and when you both want to hold it. Make enquiries to what is available and take it from there, you cannot please everyone. I had a couple of arguments with my Dad about our plans, but I stood firm and all was good in the end. It’s your day. DH and I were together for 13 years before we got married, the Church Vicar warned us that getting married after so long, may not be wise. We’ve been married 35 years now.

Why did he give you that warning?

Bestnottalkaboutit · 14/02/2026 08:36

Bonbon21 · 13/02/2026 23:02

Oh for heavens sake! You are a grown woman with a child already.. just get married at a register office and have a party afterwards for anyone who wants to attend.. sister can please herself whether she actually wants to be there or just be the drama queen.. pay for it yourselves... Don't do the angst and family politics dance!!

This. This. This.

Get married in a registry office soon. Invite a few people, pub lunch after, done. Or don’t tell anyone and just do it by yourselves.

Then have a party another time.

Sounds like this is more about ‘the wedding’ than the marriage to be honest - for all of you…...

Gee166 · 14/02/2026 08:38

sittingonabeach · 14/02/2026 00:08

As an aside what would happen to the money if you didn’t get married? Not sure why it was obvious you would get married if not engaged and already have a DC.

Can the money go towards a honeymoon and you and your husband to be pay for the wedding?

Me and my dad discussed it about 2 weeks before he died (no one knew he was going to die as he was only 59, but maybe he somehow knew which is why he brought it up) and it was whilst I was pregnant. I always said I had intended to get married and he said he wanted to pay. He was very much a man of ‘if you’re going to do something do it properly’ and he wanted us to have a lovely day. I know we’d still have a great day regardless of where we got married, but it’s nice to be able to afford a few extra bits.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 14/02/2026 08:41

Your situation and the awful responses you have had makes me think a small wedding would be a good decision.

Tittyfilarious · 14/02/2026 08:45

You and dp choose the date and get married, his sister either comes home for it or she misses it . I have never known anyone set a wedding date based on when 1 family member can make it . Plus if you give in on this she probably still wouldn't turn up for other reasons just to be awkward .

ForFunGoose · 14/02/2026 08:46

Bestnottalkaboutit · 14/02/2026 08:36

This. This. This.

Get married in a registry office soon. Invite a few people, pub lunch after, done. Or don’t tell anyone and just do it by yourselves.

Then have a party another time.

Sounds like this is more about ‘the wedding’ than the marriage to be honest - for all of you…...

Why should the OP have a pub lunch on her wedding day when it’s not what she wants?

Nice things are important ti her and it’s what her dad wanted for her. She isn’t making it about the ‘wedding’, she just isn’t doing a rush job to get it done!

Have the wedding you want OP
Don’t settle, it’s important ti feel happy especially on your wedding day.

Swipe left for the next trending thread