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AIBU?

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Weddings.

84 replies

aiders · 07/11/2024 13:20

My third son recently got married. I was the one who hired the hall, brought all the decorations (everything from chair covers to table cloths), brought the buffet dinner (and cooked it) I contributed to a "party bus" to take us from the town hall to the venue. I even brought my son his suit. The brides family brought her dress and went on the honeymoon with the couple. (While I babysat their children) I had recently lost my father, and was dealing with his estate (something that I am still contending with some 6 months later) so my stress levels were beyond my "norm" (though I am not making any excuses). The night before the wedding my son came to my house in the early hours of the morning (I was up to my eyeballs making sausage rolls, something that he loves). We ended up arguing, needless to say that there was alcohol involved. A certain comment from my son really hurt though. He was eating the things I was cooking and I had asked him not to. Then I said: "I am working hard here.. what has your mother in law done"
To which he replied "She gave us x (amount of money) for our honeymoon"
Up until the afternoon of the wedding I vowed I would not be attending. I was furious. Then a friend had reminded me that my daughter in law was not going to understand what had happened and with about half hour to "spare" I relented. (After all up to that point I considered that we had a very good relationship) I was not the happiest on the day though. I was tired, and deeply hurt by the comments my son had made. Things also took a turn for the worse, with the daughter in laws mother acting as though it was "her day". This did infuriate me. She had accused me of taking her phone during a sit down lunch, we were both signing as witnesses and she snatched the pen from my hand so she could "pose" and several little things left me thinking "what the hell have I done" Fast forward to the time after the wedding. I sounded off to another one of my sons and his partner afterwards. The partner was the maid of honour, and during the honeymoon was constantly on the phone to the couple. She repeated my sounding off to the bride. They returned home, and I was "summoned" to their home. My son would not talk to me.. he stormed off and his wife had gotten it into her head that I was the most awful of person, that her mother was not a bad person (therefore I must be) and basically has "cut me off". I never so much as got a thank you for everything that I had done. Fast forward. Now another one of my sons is getting married (the one that I sounded off to). His intended is the bride and the maid of honour is my daughter in law. Her mother has been invited and though I have said I will sit down and talk to her it appears as though she has not responded. In the meantime there is contentions in the family, and I am disliking it. I am not sure why she is being invited, but it is there wedding. (They have cut me out of any preparations..) I have been given a colour scheme to wear, and that is about it. I feel as though I am "just a guest" though it is my son getting married, it seems the bride is favouring the maid of honours mother. (Planning the engagement party around her, the day of the wedding in line with the days she has off of work) I keep asking my son when is he coming over to visit and it seems he keeps brushing me off.. (before the new year..!) As I have said I am willing to sit down and talk to the woman, but I will not apologise for the way that I felt, I am not being invalidated like that. Currently I feel like a "leper" Am I just being over sensitive over the whole thing?

OP posts:
Mandylovescandy · 07/11/2024 14:18

I am really confused about what upset you to an extent that you thought you wouldn't go to the wedding. Maybe enjoy being part of the wedding as a guest rather than being more involved given that it was stressful for you last time. I find weddings way more fun without any responsibilities so maybe you could have this attitude while also offering to help and apologising about the past (even if you think you are totally in the right would you rather be right or have better relationships with your kids)

lawlessland · 07/11/2024 14:14

From your own account it looks like you have behaved really poorly. You sound jealous and bitter and have clearly expressed this.
Maybe your son was hurtful (you haven't really explained this) but you do seem to be making the whole thing about you.

If you have concerns about your ongoing relationship with your son then you need to address this with him rather than poisoning another event for another of your children.

HowToSaveAWife · 07/11/2024 14:12

aiders · 07/11/2024 14:03

So the things that were said were not said during the day at all. In fact the whole day went perfectly. I was not even aware that the brides mother was harbouring anything untoward, as I said I was the one left sitting thinking: "what the hell have I done" I just got on with trying to make the most of the day.

Well you threw an almighty strop and refused to come to the wedding until a half hour beforehand.

Emotional immaturity at best, narcissism at worst.

I can't imagine the amount of stress it caused your son's and bridal party. And you're dreaming if you think the bride didn't know. I'd keep you out of my wedding prep too, you sound very controlling.

OhshutupSimonyounobhead · 07/11/2024 14:12

I would like to hear your son and DIL version of events on this.

aiders · 07/11/2024 14:03

PabloTheGreat · 07/11/2024 13:53

I've someone who mouthed off at my wedding to other guests about me.

I'll never forgive them. I never did anything to deserve any of it, it was just an asshole who can't stand it when the attention isn't on them so she went looking for baseless reasons to cause ructions. It's something she almost always does at family events - milestone birthdays, weddings and even funerals.

It was one very special day my husband and I will never have again, cost us an absolute fortune, and was a once in a lifetime moment for us as a family, so as far as I am concerned I'm done with her.

I had a massive row with SIL years ago. We didn't speak for ages and I was furious with her. Yet, when it came to a family event, I called her and we agreed to be civil on the day, not mention the fight and not to put anyone else in an awkward situation. That's what you should have done.

So the things that were said were not said during the day at all. In fact the whole day went perfectly. I was not even aware that the brides mother was harbouring anything untoward, as I said I was the one left sitting thinking: "what the hell have I done" I just got on with trying to make the most of the day.

OP posts:
PabloTheGreat · 07/11/2024 13:59

Specifically to your situation, threatening to not attend the wedding was manipulative and hurtful.

Then getting personally annoyed at the mother of the bride is stupid and disruptive. Her daughter didn't care, neither did your son, so why did you cause such a snit over it on the day.

The other son and DIL - they can invite who they like and demanding a sit down with another guest over something that nobody has an issue with except you is pushy - these reasons are clearly why they won't involve you in anything and why you are relegated to a guest this time around.

PabloTheGreat · 07/11/2024 13:53

I've someone who mouthed off at my wedding to other guests about me.

I'll never forgive them. I never did anything to deserve any of it, it was just an asshole who can't stand it when the attention isn't on them so she went looking for baseless reasons to cause ructions. It's something she almost always does at family events - milestone birthdays, weddings and even funerals.

It was one very special day my husband and I will never have again, cost us an absolute fortune, and was a once in a lifetime moment for us as a family, so as far as I am concerned I'm done with her.

I had a massive row with SIL years ago. We didn't speak for ages and I was furious with her. Yet, when it came to a family event, I called her and we agreed to be civil on the day, not mention the fight and not to put anyone else in an awkward situation. That's what you should have done.

aiders · 07/11/2024 13:31

Eviolle · 07/11/2024 13:24

You shouldn't have slagged off one child to another. It's never going to go in your favour.

They were ungrateful, you should have waited until after their wedding and spoken to them directly.

It never happened that way. There were conversations that were being "discussed" and things that were said. I did not have the chance to even get to talk too the couple when they returned after two weeks. (And the parties involved are not innocent themselves). But your point is noted.

OP posts:
Eviolle · 07/11/2024 13:24

You shouldn't have slagged off one child to another. It's never going to go in your favour.

They were ungrateful, you should have waited until after their wedding and spoken to them directly.

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