DEAR ABBY: My sister-in-law, the only girl and the youngest of my husband's siblings, is being married soon. We couldn't be happier. The problem is my mother-in-law. Anytime the subject of the wedding comes up and I chime in, she says, "How would you know? You didn't have a wedding."
My husband and I eloped six years ago. Since then, the subject of weddings has been a problem between my mother-in-law and me. In my opinion, I did have a wedding. There was a beautiful location, an officiant, a dress, and a commitment made between my husband and me.
She continues to make it painfully obvious that she feels it wasn't a valid wedding because she wasn't there. Her comments, in front of my husband and children, are insulting and hurtful. Is there anything I could say to let her know we don't agree with her without rocking the boat too much before her daughter's wedding? -- AS MARRIED AS ANYONE
DEAR MARRIED AS ANYONE: No, but there is plenty you can say after it's over. At that time, you and your husband should talk to his mother together so she hears from both of you that her sniping is inappropriate.