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AIBU?

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Not inviting someone's wife to a wedding

729 replies

soundsys · 30/09/2024 08:57

Sorry, it's a wedding one! And it's a bit long so as not to drip feed.

Husband has been invited to his (female) friend's wedding. He's been asked to be a witness and to arrive the day before, stay over in a hotel and "help set up". The wedding is in the city where both couples live. I haven't been invited. We've been married more than a decade and no falling out/backstory between me and the bride to be that I'm aware of.

YANBU - that's fucking weird
YABU - it's totally normal to not invite someone's long standing spouse to your wedding

Additional info: I did ask DH if it had come up that I'm not invited and he said the bride said "it's my wedding and I'll invite who I want"

Further additional info: bride to be has been invited to many social events we've hosted as a couple but has always declined to attend, preferring to only meet my husband on his own. He has been invited to many social events by bride to be and her future husband but I have never been included

OP posts:
Mama2many73 · 30/09/2024 15:12

There's a 'depends on..' for me.
My DH was invited to a friend/colleagues wedding. He worked with the groom but also in the same place as bride. I had worked with both St some point but don't any longer.

I wasn't invited but on closer review none of the partners of colleagues, regardless of friendship/known both were invited . This was down to money and numbers ( over 100 there) . It would have been another 15-20 guests. Dh didnt stay over, O stayed at a local B&B with the kids and after the evening reception he got a taxi back to us and we had a lovely weekend at the beach.

Has everyone else who's invited git their plus 1? Have all the bridal party 'officials ' ? Does she want his attention on being the witness and not looking out for you? Would you be sat on your own etc if you went?

How I'd feel would depend on those answers.

Obviously the quote 'it's my wedding....' leaves a bad taste as in its more her choice than necessity!

SiobhanSharpe · 30/09/2024 15:07

I have to wonder if this bride to be is deliberately shit stirring with the lack of an invitation for her friend's wife -- for whatever reason, she doesn't like the op/wife while at the same time being fairly close to the OP's husband.
Whether she's jealous or just can't stand her -- who knows? But she's definitely stirring the pot.
She sounds plain nasty.

Think I'd be taking myself off somewhere glamorous with a (mixed) group of friends for the duration of the wedding, and perhaps a few days more. Sauce for the goose...

purin · 30/09/2024 14:59

ArrowOfAthena · 30/09/2024 14:58

Oh for fucks sake

The bride clearly doesnt like the OP - so doesnt want her at HER wedding

Theres no conspiracy

And this is necessary based on your explanation why exactly…?

soundsys · Today 13:58

Sorry I mean the wedding is on our city so there's no need for him to stay in a hotel, he could easily get there on the day of the wedding!

Trallers · 30/09/2024 14:58

I'd be really upset that he doesn't have a problem with his friend continually excluding and avoiding you.

Why does he not seem to care about your feelings? Why is he not disappointed you dont get to go to the wedding together? Why didn't he think his friend was reslly bloody rude for saying 'it's my wedding I can invite who I like' and get cross on your behalf.

I woulnt stay friends with someone who viewed/treated my huanabd like this. He has picked her over you essentially.

ArrowOfAthena · 30/09/2024 14:58

purin · 30/09/2024 14:23

I’m afraid the implications are obvious as to why…

Oh for fucks sake

The bride clearly doesnt like the OP - so doesnt want her at HER wedding

Theres no conspiracy

soundsys · 30/09/2024 14:56

Daffyyellow · 30/09/2024 14:53

I totally agree that there’s a disconnect between the size of the wedding and DH’s involvement verses the lack of invite to you. I think it’s strange from the couple’s perspective but I think more than that you have a DH problem. There has to be more going on than he is sharing with you, either historically or currently, probably both.

Yep this is what I strongly suspect tbh

OP posts:
Chillilounger · 30/09/2024 14:56

I would be annoyed and would like to think my DH wouldn't go.

StoneofDestiny · 30/09/2024 14:55

A wedding where the bride doesn't recognise the importance of a married couple on the invite? Seriously weird - surprised he didn't answer 'well I'm the witness and I'll attend if I want to........and I don't want to'.

Daffyyellow · 30/09/2024 14:53

I totally agree that there’s a disconnect between the size of the wedding and DH’s involvement verses the lack of invite to you. I think it’s strange from the couple’s perspective but I think more than that you have a DH problem. There has to be more going on than he is sharing with you, either historically or currently, probably both.

Sodthebloodymealplan · 30/09/2024 14:46

soundsys · 30/09/2024 14:03

He would say I'm overreacting and it's not a big deal, no one else would think it was a big deal and essentially it's my problem

(Hence the thread really, because I think most people would think it's not ok!)

Get him a copy of 'This is how your marriage ends' by Matthew Fray. Yes, the man who wrote the blog post about leaving cups by the sink.
He describes in great detail the effect of death by a thousand cuts like this. How he similarly dismissed his fiancée/wife's feelings, didn't prioritize what should be the primary relationship in anyone's life and the cumulative effect it has over time. He is starting the path towards chronic resentment, if he isn't already well and truly on it.

Newgirls · 30/09/2024 14:44

This doesn’t add up. Has your dh told her that you are away or something? It’s very easy to blame this woman but the clue to all this might be your DH. Is he spinning things to how he wants them?

or are they part of a rugby clique or something and he prefers to party without you?

Zilla1 · 30/09/2024 14:44

On the face of it, there is merit in the 'it's my wedding...' position by the bride of itself and I wouldn't hang an argument on that. I would tie this to the wider 'bride invited by you and never turns up' and bride always invites your DP on his own to non-wedding events. I would either speak to your DP's friend yourself and ask about that otherwise get a proper explanation from your DP's friend via your DP. I'd not invite the bride again and possibly put your foot down and not invite your DP's friend to events you host or arrange, depending on how strongly you feel and, based on your posts, you seem to feel quite strongly.

By the way, I have met women who take a strong dislike to people they've never met so wouldn't be certain but would expect an explanation.

Good luck.

PrettyParrot2012 · 30/09/2024 14:41

Do you have mutual friends? Can you ask around all of them as to what you've done to Bride that she hasn't even asked you to the wedding? Frame it as "I am not exactly hurt as we don't really know each other, but a) that's only because she consistently avoids my events and b) normal social etiquette would be to ask a plus 1". If everyone looks awkward or doesn't answer then start making jokes about "They're not shagging, are they? Come on guys, don't leave me hanging!" Make it SUPER awkward for everyone....

Silvers11 · 30/09/2024 14:41

Sceptical123 · 30/09/2024 13:51

She fancies your husband and is jealous of you

Yet she’s marrying some other bloke

Maybe there isn't a wedding at all - but the DH is planning a night away with his 'friend' and needs a cover story?

Bthebestucanb · 30/09/2024 14:38

This whole thread strikes me as OP refusing to remove the blinkers by brushing it off as just weird. There is obviously no amount of persuading OP that both her DH & his 'friend' are dismissing her as totally unimportant. I was hoping you'd come back OP with letting us know your DH changed his mind about going but it looks like that's not going to happen. You asked AIBU. You know your not but sadly you've just not accepted it.

stanleypops66 · 30/09/2024 14:38

Dh and I have been to several weddings where the other person wasn't invited, usually work colleagues, old uni friends etc where the other person didn't have a relationship with the B or G, so I don't think that in itself is an issue.

The issue is that the bride openly dislikes you and excludes you for reasons unknown to you. Would you want to go anyway? The bride can invite who she wants and she obviously has her reasons for not liking you. I wouldn't invite someone i didnt like to my wedding.

The other issue is that your dh has continued this relationship with her. It just sounds weird.

BeesAndCrumpets · 30/09/2024 14:35

This has given me the rage on your behalf OP. If you aren't a guest at the wedding, your DH should say no and not be a witness to it. It beggars belief IMO that you're not invited especially to such an important statement of friendship - even if she doesn't like you! WOW.

Trixiefirecracker · 30/09/2024 14:34

Floppyelf · 30/09/2024 12:20

@Trixiefirecracker this is terrible advice…. If the marriage goes tits up. She’s already exposed to him an outlet and method of support she gets. Don’t show him this thread. Stand up for yourself.

sorry. I’m not entirely sure I understand what you mean?!!

Fraaahnces · 30/09/2024 14:32

He’s ashamed of you? Thinks he’s punching under his weight? Doesn’t want you socializing with his mates? He sounds awful!

chocorabbit · 30/09/2024 14:30

This is not a one off. This is the culmination of her constantantly excluding you. And as pps have said this should make him feel embarrassed for you! How spineless.

Birdscratch · 30/09/2024 14:28

Usually I think people are overreacting on these threads where they’ve not been invited to a wedding but their partner has. In this case, it’s really weird and very rude.

Your DH has been invited to go up the day before to set up, is a witness and it’s a big wedding. The bride is your DH’s friend and has full control of the guest list. You’ve invited her (and her partner) to things lots of times but she’s never come and she only ever invites your DH to things, never including you? It’s basically a big neon sign saying FUCK OFF SOUNDSYS. No one says you need to always invite friends to social occasions with their partners but to never invite the partner sends a very strong message.

You have a DH problem if he can’t/won’t see this ^

venusandmars · 30/09/2024 14:24

I think other people WILL think it's odd. How will your dh reply when people who know you both ask "Sudsy not with you?" Does he pretend you're busy, does he say you didn't want to attend or does he say that the bride didn't invite you?

I really can't understand how your dh can be such an important part of the bride's life, yet she never attends anything you host and never invites you to her events. I wonder what her finace thinks.

purin · 30/09/2024 14:23

soundsys · 30/09/2024 13:58

Sorry I mean the wedding is on our city so there's no need for him to stay in a hotel, he could easily get there on the day of the wedding!

I’m afraid the implications are obvious as to why…

SeeTheWorldAnotherWay · 30/09/2024 14:22

YANBU.
I don’t think (actually, I know) my husband would decline under those circumstances.

Codlingmoths · 30/09/2024 14:21

Also, if this isn’t the tip of the iceberg and it’s slowly becoming clear your dp is a total asshole, id hit the roof, tell him what I thought, and if its not a marriage ender anyway, id say from now on they are no longer welcome in our house. If you invite them to our house then we are done, because I need to live in a house where people who strongly visibly dislike me aren’t welcome. If you can’t support that then we are done now. Right now. Because if he won’t support you in that he’s not worth it. (And please book yourself several nights somewhere lovely so you’re not home alone and you’re not home when he gets back)

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