Weddingbee Blog

Let me start off by saying our wedding was perfect. I hate to perpetuate that whole “your wedding day has to be perfect” idea, but it really, really was. Did things go awry at times? Sure. My hair wouldn’t cooperate at first, we ended up being a little late, Sophie whined for attention through half of the ceremony (she’s a b*tch, but I still love her), the iPod ceremony music had a few glitches and I couldn’t stop my damn legs from shaking during the whole ceremony. Still, despite those little blips, it was perfect for us. Most glitches that happen during a wedding are so small, so small, in the grand scheme of things, remember that.

One thing that wasn’t such a small glitch? *Sigh* My mother-in-law. First and foremost, I want to say that I thought a very long time about whether I was going to write this post or not. I didn’t want to write it while I was still angry (well, okay, I’m still angry, but no longer infuriated), offended, and hurt (mostly for my husband’s sake). I want to make sure that this doesn’t come off as a rant, because it’s not. You’ve been with me through all the ups and downs of our wedding planning process, from getting rid of our bridal party to our postponement. From guest list issues, to copious family drama, and finally to the full-blown cancellation and I think it’s only fair that I continue on with full-disclosure, so here goes.

My first inkling of something being wrong with my MIL on our wedding day was when we were taking family photos—she practically grimaced the entire time.

Our photographer actually had to coax her to smile for at least a few pictures. Did it make me angry? Sure, we weren’t paying good money for our wonderful, talented photographer to take pictures of someone scowling. But mostly, it made me upset that she couldn’t put her issues aside for her oldest son’s wedding day. I wish it stopped there, but it doesn’t.

I later found out that while our dogs were being walked down the aisle, she not only complained about them being there, but she actually tried to kick them…twice. She tried to kick our dogs on our wedding day. And, unfortunately, it’s captured for all of posterity on our wedding video.

At the end of the night, after my parents gave their toasts, she stood up to give hers. While my mom, dad, and step-mom all congratulated us, talked about how much they love us, and welcomed Mr. Rainbow into the family, his mom, sadly, did nothing of the such. Not one congratulation did we get. Not one mention of our wedding. Not even a suggestion that I existed. The toast basically consisted of “I love my son so much. He means so much to me. He is such a wonderful, intelligent man.” And that was it. While I agree that all this is true, it may have been nice to get a little shout-out on our wedding day, I don’t know, maybe a “welcome to the family.” I don’t ask for much.

Finally, to add insult to injury, I leave you with our wedding gift:

source

I really, honestly wish I were kidding. (Although, I will admit, now I just find it hilarious!)

But still, with all this, I can say our wedding day was perfect because I didn’t let her bring me down.

So here is my little nugget of advice (and no, I won’t give you tips on how to find your perfect mate, considering you’re probably engaged, or ahem, married already): Do not, under any circumstance, let the negativity get under your skin on your wedding day. Whether it is from your family or his family, just ignore it and let it roll off your back. Bathe in your bliss. Let that be your safe place when other people are making fools of themselves. It is their misery to bear, not yours. You are happy, and in love, and marrying the man of your dreams, and don’t let anyone tarnish that happiness that you feel on your wedding day, because you only get it once.

The end.

Do you have difficult family members to deal with? Did they show their displeasure on your wedding day? How did you deal?