Originally Posted by RubyPitbull
ckp, unfortunately you have a MIL to be who feels that when she gives a gift, strings are attached. Prepare yourself for dealing with this throughout your married life. The last thing you want to do is to start off by creating hard feelings with her. You need to make attempts to get along with your MIL to ensure your marriage isn't subjected to ongoing family issues. It can be very damaging to your marriage. I know this is your wedding and it should be your day. She refuses to accept this. So, I think I may have a solution to your problem that should appease your MIL to be, and keep you from having the possibility of screaming children at your wedding. Hire two or three very experienced baby sitters. Ask the parents of the children who they use to baby sit and if those people are capable of handling the kids and keeping them quiet. Or, go through a professional service. You can call a local hotel that offers this service to guests, to see who they use or find out if the reception hall has a service they use. Of course, the babysitters will have to be fed and it will mean extra people, but since your MIL to be is paying for the wedding, it shouldn't be a problem. Seat all the kids in the back of the church (or where ever the actual wedding is taking place) with the babysitters. Give the sitters instructions to take the children outside during the ceremony if/when they start acting up. At the reception, seat them all in the same area. Make it very clear to the sitters that they are completely responsible for these children. Instruct the parents of these children that they need to ensure that the kids listen to the babysitters and behave themselves. Let them also know that if the kids act up, you will expect the parents to help the sitters if necessary.
All of the above should minimize your contact and should ensure a relatively peaceful and non-disrupted wedding day. Good luck & Congratulations!