3 months for your father-in-law to like you!

two men in a vineyard drinking wine and laughing

A new survey, conducted by greetings card marketplace, thortful.com, has revealed the time it takes father-in-laws to approve of their son/daughter's partner, revealing that the average amount of time is three months. The study quizzed 1,000 father-in-laws across the UK on how long it takes for them to approve of their son-in-law, as well as the attributes that are most important to them.

man and woman walking arm and arm outside

It was found that a quarter of father-in-laws (25%) said they actually approved of their son/daughter partner from the first moment they met them, with just less than one in 10 (9%) taking 7 months or longer to approve.

The survey also went on to reveal that almost two-fifths (37%) said that they are happy with who their son/daughter is in a relationship with. More than one in 10 (11%) went on to say that they don't believe their son/daughter needs their dad's approval on their partners, with it completely being their choice.

On the other hand, almost one in five (19%) said they would tell their child if they didn't like their partner, and 16% said they have actually told their child in the past if they haven't approved of who they are with.

The top ways to win over your father-in-law:

  • Show respect to my family (24%)
  • To be family orientated (24%)
  • Take the time to build a relationship with me (18%)
  • Be there during tough times (17%)

two men laughing when looking at a phone

  • Show desire to learn more about my child (15%)
  • Looking at some of the other important factors, 8% said that their potential son-in-law should laugh at their jokes, spend lots of money on their child (8%) and go to the pub with them (7%).
When asked when their childs partner/spouse should avoid doing in order to the get their seal of approval, the top answers from the dads surveyed were:
  • Being disrespectful (26%)
  • Have a bad attitude (22%)
  • Being fake-nice (19%)
  • Forgetting manners (15%)
  • Being a know-it-all (14%)
  • Not speaking to our family (14%)
  • Some of the other attributes that are best avoided were, getting drunk (13%), swearing in front of them (13%), and having sex in the family home (10%).
More information on the study can be found here: thortful.com

Back to previous page

You may also be interested in

Cardiff-based pet carer celebrates 20 years of trusted service

Cardiff-based pet carer celebrates 20 years of trusted service

The owner of Petpals Cardiff, Maxine Neal, is celebrating two decades of pet care across the city, having looked after more than 500 animals while building lasting relationships with the people behind them. What began as a simple ambition has grown into one of Cardiff's most trusted pet care services, with Maxine becoming a familiar and reassuring presence for hundreds of local pet owners. "When I started back in 2006, I just knew I wanted to work with animals and be outdoors," she said. "It didn't feel like a traditional 'career path' at the time – it was more about doing something I genuinely loved every day."

READ ARTICLE

Tagvenue Reveals Its 2026 Event Predictions

Tagvenue Reveals Its 2026 Event Predictions

As the events sector continues to evolve, 2026 is set to mark a clear turning point for UK venues. Leading event booking platform Tagvenue has released its predictions for how the UK events and hospitality sector will evolve in 2026, pointing to a decisive shift away from scale, standardisation and fixed packages, and towards experience-led formats, wellbeing and clearer communication of value. Drawing on booking behaviour across thousands of UK venues, alongside insights from independent hospitality operators, Tagvenue predicts that the most successful event spaces in 2026 will be those that combine strong identity with flexibility, visual appeal and transparency around pricing and experience.

READ ARTICLE

Experts Warn Against Using AI for Wedding Vows

Experts Warn Against Using AI for Wedding Vows

With peak wedding season approaching, experts are warning couples not to rely on AI to write one of the most personal parts of their big day – their vows. A survey by jewellers Queensmith has revealed that more than half (55%) of UK brides and grooms are now using AI tools to help write their wedding vows and speeches, raising questions about authenticity, originality and even potential legal grey areas. The findings come amid a growing debate around AI-written vows after a registrar in the eastern Netherlands saw a marriage called into question when AI was used to help write the ceremony script. In the case, the District Court of Overijssel ruled that "no marriage has been established" after it emerged the registrar had relied on ChatGPT to draft parts of the ceremony. The case has sparked wider concerns that AI-generated wording could unintentionally mirror existing vows or scripts found online, raising questions about originality and authenticity.

READ ARTICLE

Claire Hill Designs offers stunning bridal party gifts

Claire Hill Designs offers stunning bridal party gifts

This year, bridal party gifting is undergoing a quiet revolution. Gone are the days of throwaway trinkets and overly branded keepsakes, today's bride is choosing pieces with permanence, intention and emotional resonance. Enter Claire Hill Designs, the British jewellery brand based in Cardiff redefining what it means to say thank you. At the heart of this shift is a move towards symbolic jewellery, pieces that carry meaning beyond the wedding day. Claire Hill's signature coin necklaces, including the Brave Gold Coin Necklace, Love is Love Gold Coin Necklace and Hope Silver Coin Necklace, offer a deeply personal way to honour each member of the bridal party. Each design is engraved in shorthand symbolism, a modern talisman intended to be worn daily.

READ ARTICLE

Follow Your South Wales Wedding Magazine on Facebook

VISIT SITE

Submit your wedding to be featured in Your South Wales Wedding Magazine

VISIT SITE

Follow Your South Wales Wedding Magazine on YouTube

VISIT SITE

Subscribe to Your South Wales Wedding Magazine for free

VISIT SITE