To tell SIL she can't be my bridesmaid? Long, sorry.

[CatThiefKeith]

Brief history:

Dh and I booked our wedding 6 years ago, and I asked my dsis to be Matron of honour. Dh said he would like sil to be a bridesmaid, which was fine. Both were asked, and accepted.

Then fil fell ill, and we bought the wedding forward a year, and cancelled the big wedding in favour of a quick to organise registry office. Sadly it was all in vain and fil passed away in the early hours of the morning of our wedding.

We went ahead with the ceremony, but not the reception, and it was a pretty somber affair. Sil understandably did not attend, mil and my dsis were witnesses, then we all went home in tears.

Fast forward 5 years, dh and I are renewing our vows abroad in a couple of months, and are hoping this will be a much happier occasion. (We were originally planning a family holiday, then noticed we could add on the wedding package for around 1k and thought "let's do it")

We now have dd, sil has an 18mo dd, both are flower girls along with my two nieces.

Mil has just called, to say Sil is badgering her to ask me when we are going dress shopping. I assume she means for the Children and explain I am buying them on the internet.

Then mil exclaimed that as we had originally asked sil, we were duty bound to honour it. It wasn't her fault that fil died, she'd lost out on being bridesmaid because if it, and would be devastated to be uninvited.

My issues are:

1. I can't have sil without reinstating my dsis,

1. 4 is too many already (but couldn't not have any of them)

1. Cost. 4 flower girl dresses will probably be at least £100, plus shoes, hair gumf and flowers etc

Aibu to think her bridesmaid ship has sailed and stick to my plans?

(Sil is 26 and has been bridesmaid at least twice already btw)

[mercifulgibbon]

I thought you were going to say she's young but 26 is old enough to understand things change. Stick to your new plans I think! If she was 12 or something it would be different.

[sooperdooper]

I think this is more about communication tbh, you need talk to her and explain, you've assumed she's not, she's assumed she is because you haven't told her otherwise.

Don't talk to mil about it, none of her business, just talk direct to SIL and explain, you should've done as soon as you booked really, I don't think she's particularly in the wrong to have made the wrong assumption

[WilliamShatnersPants]

Just try to explain to her that you aren't having adult bridesmaids at all, just the kids. She'll probably have a bit of a crisis, but if she has any reasonableness at all, she'll get over it.

[sooperdooper]

Surely she isn't actually uninvited?

[OnlyTheWelshCanCwtch]

I don't see the problem if shes going to be at the wedding anyway.
Its not her fault she wasn't at your wedding
maybe its something she feels she should do in honour of her dad

[SanityClause]

Yes, speak to SIL. It's not like you're having other adult bridesmaids and snubbing her. Apologise for the confusion, and offer for her to do something fun and wedding related with you (your dress?).

[Nanny0gg]

Point out that the little ones weren't around the first time, but now they're here you'd prefer just to have them?

[CatThiefKeith]

Not uninvited to the renewal of vows, just as bridesmaid, sorry.

She was asked to be bridesmaid at our wedding, and couldn't be, but have never mentioned her being bridesmaid this time.

She got married 2 years ago herself (and neither dd or I were bridesmaid, or offended that we weren't) so should understand, surely?

[magpiegin]

I think it's a bit mean as she couldn't be bridesmaid last time because her dad died. I got my bm dresses from EBay, so you could get it on a budget maybe?

[sanfairyanne]

weird

she sounds really childish. surely the kids are instead of the bm?

[teeththief]

I agree with onlythewelshcantcwtch. If she's going to be at the wedding anyway I'd let her be bridesmaid but explain about the cost and ask her to contribute or pay for her own dress. I'd like to think your sister would understand (or you could ask her to do the same)

[CatThiefKeith]

I am going to look ridiculous rocking up with 6 bridesmaids to a bloody renewal though....

[teeththief]

She was asked to be bridesmaid at our wedding, and couldn't be She couldn't because her father had died hours previously not because she just couldn't be bothered to turn up though.

I wonder if those who are saying SIL shouldn't be bm this time have been bm lots of times before? I have never been one so would be gutted not to have the chance although I'm fair too old for that now

[teeththief]

Why would it look ridiculous?

[Doodleloomoo]

How did the conversation go when you first told sil about it and invited her dd to be a flower girl? Then would've been the best time to bring it up for both of you but I understand her expectations wouldn't necessarily have crossed your mind.

[CatThiefKeith]

Sil has been bridesmaid though, as recently at 6 months ago.

[KatieKaye]

You've got an out, OP - as SIL is married, she can't be a bridesmaid! Yes, I know that's old fashioned etiquette, but any port in a storm?
She could be a matron of honour though, only you've already decided not to have one...

She's acting like a kid - this is your vow renewal and she should wait to be asked, not just make assumptions. She had her wedding her way, you now have the chance to do things the way you want them 5 years on. Obviously things have changed in that time

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Why not just let her be a bridesmaid? She can buy her own dress from eBay cheaply enough, as can your DSis (if she still wants to be a bridesmaid). Won't she be there walking down the aisle anyway? Or is someone else going to help her 18 month old DD toddle along?

[PavlovtheCat]

If she is going to be at the wedding, then FFS just let her be a fucking bridesmaid. Really, is it worth upsetting a family member over? It's not like you have particularly valid reasons, aside from cost, and if another £50 or so is going to break the bank then ask her to pay for her own dress.

[whereisshe]

Do you know SIL is desperate to be a bridesmaid? Or does MIL just think SIL does?

[pootlebug]

I disagree with everyone saying 'just let her be a bridesmaid'. It's your wedding, she is still invited, and it's not like she is being snubbed - you are having no adult bridesmaids.

Just explain that this time you are only having younger flower girls and no adult bridesmaids, and that your sis isn't being a bridesmaid either despite original plans 6 years ago.

[PavlovtheCat]

If you think it's going to be ridiculous with 6, it may look ridiculous with 4. Why not just have one bridesmaid with your DD. Or none?

[diddl]

Is it not two bridesmaids (who were originally asked) & 4 flower girls (2 who were originally asked & 2 who have since been born)?

I think that your MIL has a point -there's no reason for SIL to think that she would no longer be a bmaid.

But I also think that if you tell her you're just having the flower girls then that should be accepted.

What does your husband think as he was the one who originally asked her?

[mommy2ash]

how are the two toddlers getting down the aisle? wouldn't it make sense to have your sister and your husbands sister holding their hands and walking them down as bridesmaids?

i think because of the history with your last wedding it could be an emotional time for your husbands family and if it makes his sister happy to be bridesmaid this time around then just let her. if money is a problem explain this to her and ask her to pay for her own dress or contribute. you can find very cheap ones online.

[ikeaismylocal]

Just let her be a bridesmaid but without a special dress, she can just wear a normal dress (as can your sister) and you can give them a couple of flowers each to hold.