Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Emily
Beginner August 2025

Wanting to Get Along

Emily, on August 26, 2023 at 12:40 PM Posted in Family and Relationships 0 12
Good morning!


I am in need of a little advice. My mother and I have a difficult relationship, we love each other dearly and use to be best friends but I as grew up and into the individual I am today, we are no longer compatible on a best friend level. For lack of better terminology, I feel like a stranger to her. Everything she suggests is predictable from her but not what I want. I myself am not easy to deal with and am unwilling to compromise on certain things. Of course those are the things she wants to have some say in. For an example, when talking about the colors and flowers she said she envisioned white rose and babies breath. I am a funeral director and see those all the time in a funeral setting therefore I do not want them for wedding (I've actually grown to dislike them entirely) when I told her this almost verbatim, she got very upset but let it go. Next she brought up that she wanted me to wear a tiara with gold in it. I have no interest in wearing a tiara and she is well aware that I do not wear gold nor do I like the way it looks on me. It's been very frustrating to try and involve her because once I tell her how I feel about something her feelings get very hurt and she takes it very personally. She has now said she won't offer her opinion anymore unless asked and when asked she says it's whatever I want.
TLDR; I want my mom's opinion but I hate her ideas!
How can I get across to her that I want to hear what she has to offer I just also am not willing to budge on the theme and what I consider that theme to consist of?

12 Comments

Latest activity by Jacks, on August 28, 2023 at 3:28 PM
  • S
    Rockstar June 2030
    Skylar ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    How about maybe picking a few options and seeing what she likes best out of those options?

    Maybe say something like, "I have some ideas for x, but I'm not sure which I like best. Which option for x do you like best?"
    • Reply
  • Emily
    Beginner August 2025
    Emily ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    This is a great idea! I tried a which do you prefer with two choices and got "whatever you want". Do you thinking adding more choices will get a larger response?
    • Reply
  • S
    Rockstar June 2030
    Skylar ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Maybe. You could also ask why she prefers one over the other(s)
    • Reply
  • C
    CM ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    If those are your biggest incompatibilities your mother should count herself as fortunate. As I see it, unless she’s paying for the flowers and has made it clear that she gets ultimate choices on that basis she can disagree all she wants. Even if she’s paying you can turn down her money and do what you wish. I like them too, but it’s totally understandable why you are turned off by white flowers.


    You not wanting to wear a tiara is a weird thing to be upset about. It’s not as if it’s traditional or even all that common. She seems to have some major control issues. Taking things so personally hints at other vulnerabilities as well. I would not cater to her, though as that only encourages the behavior.
    • Reply
  • Emily
    Beginner August 2025
    Emily ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    She is paying for whole thing but is also the only reason we're doing a big thing, if it were up to me alone we just elope and renew our vows in 5 or 10 years doing the big reception at that point. Up until FH and I actually got engaged anytime we talked about a wedding she insisted that it was my "big day" and I could choose whatever I wanted. But now that it's actually happening and what I'm wanting directly conflicts with what she wanted for me it's a big issue. I still want her to be a part of planning process but the passive aggressive "whatever you want, I won't say a word" is not helpful when I actually want some feedback Smiley sad
    • Reply
  • Jacks
    Rockstar November 2054
    Jacks ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    If she's paying for the whole thing, she may feel entitled to call the shots. Something to keep in mind, because with some people money comes with strings attached,

    • Reply
  • P
    Devoted April 2023
    Peyton ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Have you liked any of her suggestions? If not, I don’t think you really should ask her opinion. If you have liked some of her suggestions, I would keep asking her and hope that she gets over being passive aggressive. Is she going to come dress shopping with you? That can be a time of bonding if you can both agree on the perfect dress. Good luck to you

    • Reply
  • Emily
    Beginner August 2025
    Emily ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    She is coming dress shopping with me. I have liked some of her ideas just not the way she wants them executed, I think it's something we can get over I just need to work on the way I turn down her preferences I think
    • Reply
  • Emily
    Beginner August 2025
    Emily ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I know that she feels that way but she's telling me differently. She's telling me it's all what I want since it's my day but on the other hand taking it super personally when I turn down what she wants for me. I think I just need to work on the way I turn down her opinions.
    • Reply
  • Jacks
    Rockstar November 2054
    Jacks ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Either that or rearrange your plans to have the wedding that you want without her help. Your wedding isn't for 2 years, it might be good to have a huge think about what you two actually can do. Currently it's her money, and she will need to be a part of the planning. There's no way around that.

    • Reply
  • Emily
    Beginner August 2025
    Emily ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    That and I want her to be a part of it. My original plan was to elope now and renew vows in 5 years and have a big reception then. She hated that idea. So basically the only reason we're doing it in two is because she's paying for it all by her demand. She re-enforced that everything would be up to me and then started making these "suggestions". Only thing is she took me turning down her suggestions personally. It wasn't personal, I just have a vision for what I want on my wedding day and it doesn't include what she wants for me. The hard part is I know she would like what I want too! She just shuts down after my initial distaste for her idea and doesn't want to hear or see any of mine.
    • Reply
  • Jacks
    Rockstar November 2054
    Jacks ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    You're going to be very unlikely to change your mother.

    That leaves two choices; change your expectations and fall into line with what your mom wants/ or cancel this event and have the wedding/vow renewal you originally wanted.

    Sorry it's like this, but we see this an a lot here.

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics