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AIBU?

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To think this is rude?

112 replies

anxiousmumy · 11/04/2024 12:58

Discussing my wedding with a hairdresser who is highlighting my hair, When I realise she knows a friend of mine who will be my maid of honour.
When I tell her said friend is my maid of honour, she says oh, you're brave. I'd make her wear a bag when she stands next to you.

Now friend IS stunning and I'm very much not, but it stung a little.
Am I being a snowflake or is this rude?

OP posts:
PlasticOno · 11/04/2024 14:53

Theorangejuice · 11/04/2024 14:17

You're being a bit of a snowflake if you're plain and she's STUNNING. I'd let it go but I'm not particularly sensitive to stuff like this - you know, reality

No, she’s not. She may be well aware, objectively, that her friend is more conventionally attractive than she is, but a total stranger in the process of providing a service to the OP is being rude and officious in telling her she’s ‘brave’ to have her friend as MOH.

OP, bear in mind that people’s opinion of other people’s looks and their estimations of their own are often highly subjective. I regularly hear women admiring the looks of people who are nowhere near as good-looking as them, or wrecking their own existing good looks in favour of some plastic ideal.

One of my undergraduates, whom I last taught in December, came to see me yesterday, and was barely recognisable. In December, she was a pretty, fair-skinned, fair-haired girl, very delicate and natural-looking (slightly Baby Spice vibe, but not brash?). Yesterday she was wearing a dark fake tan, had had something done to her face (surely not Botox at 20, but something?), had gone bleached, and had giant lip-fillers. She said ( a propos of applying for something) that she ‘was proud of having done a lot of work on myself’, and I think she genuinely believed she’d ‘improved’ her looks, but objectively, she now looks like Janice from the Muppets.

My point being that some people can’t see either their own beauty, or other people’s, and some just have terrible taste.

To think this is rude?
queenMab99 · 11/04/2024 14:48

It's obvious, as you chose her to be your maid of honour, that you are not bothered about such things. You see your own and other people's worth, in other qualities, not appearance. So why would you be offended.

AspiringChatBot · 11/04/2024 14:48

Rude, tactless, and unprofessional, sure - also kind of icky to imply that your guests will be focused on your MOH's appearance rather than the occasion.

But please don't let it bother you too much on a personal level or cause you to feel insecure about your appearance. Her wording (Oh, you're brave", "I'd make her wear a bag...") makes it sound like she was visualising what it would be like for HER to have that "stunning" a friend as MOH, and assuming most people would be self conscious next to a generally acknowledged great beauty, rather than saying that you are unusually unattractive.

ManchesterBeatrice · 11/04/2024 14:42

What a total bitch.

Painauraison · 11/04/2024 14:39

Bye bye hairdresser 👋
That would make me feel awful!

plebbler · 11/04/2024 14:31

Wowza that's rude
She might be cringing now herself too though, probably didn't quite think before she spoke

mightydolphin · 11/04/2024 14:30

I imagine it is because she is/was the type of person that would put her bridesmaids in ugly dresses and only choose friends she considered less attractive. It's a reflection of her low self esteem and the fact that she wouldn't choose your friend as a bridesmaid.

Mnetcurious · 11/04/2024 14:27

Seems like it was more of a comment on the friend being stunning rather than being about how you look in comparison so try not to take it personally.

Haydenn · 11/04/2024 14:23

She needs to fuck right off. I wouldn’t use her again, spiteful cow.

No one looks at bridesmaids, sorry OP, but all eyes will be on you 😝being a bride is a funny thing-I’ve never seen an ugly one- the smug, super-happiness seems to shine through.

betterangels · 11/04/2024 14:22

anxiousmumy · 11/04/2024 13:34

I am ugly, I don't need a hairdresser to point it out though :(

Find another hairdresser. You're supposed to feel good about your wedding prep. She upset you. Don't give her your time or money.

neilyoungismyhero · 11/04/2024 14:18

It sounds like she was saying it more from the point of view of your stunning friend than meaning that you were unattractive..it just came out as rude, I expect she kicked herself after.
I once told someone that a super serum for eye wrinkles couldn't work miracles. I actually meant it from my point of view but presure I sounded rude. I didn't apologise because it would have been digging a bigger hole maybe.

Theorangejuice · 11/04/2024 14:17

You're being a bit of a snowflake if you're plain and she's STUNNING. I'd let it go but I'm not particularly sensitive to stuff like this - you know, reality

daffodilesque · 11/04/2024 14:12

Definitely rude but perhaps kind of projection - she was maybe (clumsily) saying SHE'D want to wear a bag if standing next to your friend.

Karatema · 11/04/2024 14:10

My DM says "Never judge a book by its cover!" She met some very famous people, in her youth, and told us some of the most beautiful people she met were pretty plain Janes/Jims!

Very rude of your hairdresser. I wouldn't be going back!

InTheShallowTheShalalalalalalalow · 11/04/2024 13:50

I would probably laugh at the fact that she will likely be reliving that moment over and over again and cringing at herself.

How exciting that you're getting married though, is everything planned and sorted now?

Teddleshon · 11/04/2024 13:47

What a horrible thing to say.

JonHammFan · 11/04/2024 13:47

She is a) thick, b) rude, c) nasty, d) unprofessional, e) unfunny, or f) all of the above.

I hope you voted with your feet, got up and left and never went back. That's absolutely not ok for her to say that to you.

I'm so sorry to hear you are down on yourself about your looks. I bet you will look beautiful on your wedding day. I hope you have a lovely day.

Ahwelltoobad · 11/04/2024 13:39

Congratulations on getting married, I wish you both all the best! And I'm sure that the people in your life that actually matter find you beautiful! 💕💕💕

JMSA · 11/04/2024 13:36

Totally fucking rude. Stupid twat.

You will look LOVELY on your big day. Just be glad that you're not a shallow person like your hairdresser.

Best wishes for the big day Flowers

RazzberryGem · 11/04/2024 13:35

I don't think she meant it as an insult necessarily, but it was a little rude and uncalled for. Sounds like she was more clueless than malicious?

Maybe she's a little bit awkward and was using it as a bit of ice breaker of sorts or thought of it as a compliment to your friend ?

anxiousmumy · 11/04/2024 13:34

ASighMadeOfStone · 11/04/2024 13:17

Normally people who say that are calling someone ugly. So she was offensive and dim.

Take no notice, nobody will be looking at your MoH.

I am ugly, I don't need a hairdresser to point it out though :(

OP posts:
Sameratdifferenthat · 11/04/2024 13:28

That would have made me cry, especially because I know damn well I am plain at best & it really doesnt need to be pointed out to me yet again. What a shit thing to say.

ranchdressing · 11/04/2024 13:25

SO RUDE! What did you say?

Limth · 11/04/2024 13:24

WarshipRocinante · 11/04/2024 13:10

Maybe on a night out, differences in looks are noticeable and might matter if that sort of thing bothers you. But I always think, when looking at wedding photos, that it never ever matters in that situation. The eye is always drawn to the bride and groom, the bride always looks wonderful and happy, surrounded by friends and new husband. What your bridesmaids look like doesn’t even come into it. Your hairdresser is an idiot. You will look beautiful.

It was a terrible, misplaced attempt at humour that didn't land at all. So, yes, a bit rude and very unprofessional.

I don't agree with @WarshipRocinante though. Brides and grooms always look same-y and boring in wedding photos. I'm always drawn to the guests. And bridesmaids absolutely can upstage brides - Pippa's arse was the star of Kate Middleton's wedding, not Kate.

ASighMadeOfStone · 11/04/2024 13:17

Normally people who say that are calling someone ugly. So she was offensive and dim.

Take no notice, nobody will be looking at your MoH.

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