Bride Conflicted After Family Glare Daggers At Her: “AITA For Wearing White To My Wedding?

Many women feel tension with their mother-in-law (MIL), and it’s not just the stereotypes that are pushing this narrative.

A whopping 68% of females said their relationships with their husband’s mothers ranged from mildly to severely strained. Indeed, one wrong look, one selfish act, or one unpleasant comment can change this fragile alliance forever.

Soon to be married, Redditor Aita-wedding12345 clashed with her MIL because she refused to walk down the aisle in a pink gown. After seeing her wearing white during the ceremony, her husband and his mother didn’t hesitate to express how disappointed they were with her.

Hurt by their reaction, the bride turned to the “AITA” subreddit, asking if she was wrong for choosing her dream dress over MIL’s expectations.

This story probably makes some of us think mothers-in-law really don’t like their daughters-in-law that much, but why? Dr. Madeleine A. Fugère weighed in on this question, saying that women experiencing this aren’t alone.

Fugère began by noting that the traits children value in their partner aren’t the same ones parents value in a match for them. While a younger person may appreciate traits such as physical attractiveness, an exciting personality, or a good sense of humor, parents may be concerned with family background, financial stability, or religious beliefs. Because of these preferences, mothers-in-law may choose someone entirely different for their children. This may lead to an initial dislike from an in-law perspective, which can be difficult to overcome.

Mothers are also used to having an authoritative role, doing all the caretaking and decision-making. But when another individual joins the family and has their own traditions (cue the white dress), it can create disagreements. Some mothers-in-law might even become anxious about losing time with their children, which can lead to opinionated or stubborn behavior due to their fears. Research even suggests they may worry about being excluded when their child finds a new partner.

Additionally, some of the most intense conflicts over partner preferences between in-laws and adult children occur over attractiveness. Based on evolutionary theory, good-looking women are more likely to leave the relationship, and more attractive men generally care less about creating a family. Therefore, parents may object to handsome partners as they wish their children a long-term commitment that leads to kids of their own.

A licensed psychotherapist, Elizabeth Fedrick, suggests that a mother-in-law should play a loving, encouraging, and supportive role in their child’s life, even after they get married. However, mothers shouldn't be authoritative or influence their family's decisions. If the parents overstep their boundaries, the relationship can quickly become difficult.

Fedrick advised that the best way to manage such family dynamics is by setting boundaries around how much involvement a mother-in-law can have. This may include how often they visit the husband’s mother and how long she can stay in their home. She notes that there’s no competition, so the mother-in-law can provide as much opinion or direction as the wife accepts.

Taking one-on-one time with in-laws can also make the bond stronger and reduce the possibility of conflict. Getting to know each other and finding common interests or differing habits and behaviors may lead to a positive outcome. If that’s already achieved, maintaining mutual respect will keep things going smoothly.

When certain boundaries are overstepped or a mother-in-law acts disrespectfully, it’s important to ensure that she’s aware of this and to remind her that such behavior is not acceptable. Assuming that such habits continue, partners need to identify what the next steps are going to be, whether this would include spending less time with her, avoiding uncomfortable situations, or reducing the shared amount of information.