Anonymous wrote:I get it. I actually feel bad that I didn't invite my MIL to go dress shopping with me as she doesn't have a daughter. I would feel the same way (and my MIL is just as passive aggressive as yours). Not the worst MIL in the world, but be prepared for lots of PA remarks. Some mothers just looooove their sons!

Congratulations!

Ugh. I have this kind of MIL too. Sadly she doesn't realize she is shooting herself in the foot; we see her less and less these days

Yeah, OP, she didn't love the dress but since you are already at the fitting phase, she's not going to be so rude as to TELL you that. She was being polite.

Umm ignore all these other posters. My guess is you invited her to be nice, to make the effort and let her feel included, right? My MIL (who doesn't have any daughters) would have loooved to come to mine; we facetimed her from it and she was SO excited / touched. You obviously didn't need an "escort" or "ride-alone", you invited her to be friendly and include her...correct?

Anyways. Her behavior was extremely rude, bordering on bitchy, and she knew exactly what she was doing. SHE is rude. If my DIL (actually, replace DIL with anyone - close friend, cousin, etc) invited me to her fitting I would a) be flattered and honored that they felt so close to me and b) obviously gushingly complimentary and excited about their dress to their face (regardless of what I really thought). That sucks, and I'm sorry. She was rude - not only that she didn't make over your dress (which some people on here seem to have a problem with, fine), but the fact that she was openly gushing to the other random stranger bride in front of you - rude, uncalled for, and passive aggressive. I bet you look lovely - what kind of dress?!

Ftr, I'm guessing all these b*tchy rude PPs are the same ones who claim that close female friendship is a myth because they don't have any themselves

Anonymous wrote:If it's another one of those bland sleeveless wedding dresses, then that would be the best compliment I could muster up, too.

+1. The strapless wedding gown makes 99% of women look like NFL linebackers, according to the men I know. Sorry if the truth hurts.

Anonymous wrote:I get it. I actually feel bad that I didn't invite my MIL to go dress shopping with me as she doesn't have a daughter. I would feel the same way (and my MIL is just as passive aggressive as yours). Not the worst MIL in the world, but be prepared for lots of PA remarks. Some mothers just looooove their sons!

Congratulations!

Goodness, I hope all mothers loooooove their sons.

I get it. I actually feel bad that I didn't invite my MIL to go dress shopping with me as she doesn't have a daughter. I would feel the same way (and my MIL is just as passive aggressive as yours). Not the worst MIL in the world, but be prepared for lots of PA remarks. Some mothers just looooove their sons!

Congratulations!

Why did you need a ride-along at a FITTING?

A dear friend came with me to pick out the dress, but I went to both fittings on my own. On account of I am an adult, and all.

Are you an invalid? Why couldn't you go alone?
Need adoration, attention?

She didn't like the dress.

She said something positive. She wasn't warm or gushy, and it is disappointing that she said "beautiful" to a stranger and not to you. Texting was also rude, but unless she literally gave you no attention, I'd write that off as a wash.

But good things are good, so let's look at the good things:
1) She came with you.
2) She said something positive to you.
3) She is involved with the wedding, and (from what we can tell from this post), not OVERLY inolved which is a good thing.

Be sure to manage your expectations. It seems like what she can give is cordiality and a general good will.

It seems like you won't be super-close and best-friendy. That's OK--I'm sure you have plenty of family and friends in your life with whom you ARE very close.

Be cordial and have a general good will toward her, and you will be fine. Get your fix of close, womanly friendship/family relations elsewhere.

I put myself through college working at a bridal shop.

Never. Ever. Bring your MIL to your wedding dress fitting. Period.

Did she even want to go to the appt? Don't force her into a role in all your wedding planning. Not everyone likes that.

If it's another one of those bland sleeveless wedding dresses, then that would be the best compliment I could muster up, too.

You're going to have to find a much bigger fault with her before you'll get anyone to agree with your complaint.

She looked at me in my dress and said,"...it looks flattering on you"

That's it.

She was telling another bride how beautiful her dress was and spent most of the time texting on her phone.

She accompanied me since my parents live out of town.