Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To drop future SIL from being a bridesmaid?

134 replies

Faraway11 · 08/06/2026 11:12

I hope you’re sat with a cuppa because it’s abit of a long one. My Fiancé and I have been planning our wedding for a long time. We get married in less than 2 weeks, so this happened a while ago but I’ve only just decided to discuss it as it still weighs on me. Initially, my plan was to have my best friend as my maid of honour, one of my closest friends as a bridesmaid and my SIL as a bridesmaid too. We had come out of a rough patch a few months prior, after she cut me off for not being able to attend her birthday drinks due to my car breaking and me not being able to afford it. She eventually apologised and we moved on. After asking her to be a bridesmaid she seemed happy and accepted. I reached out to the girls asking for a date we could all go dress shopping for my wedding dress as I needed input. On the day or shopping for my dress, SIL could not have looked any more miserable. I messaged her after I got home to ask if she was okay. She was annoyed because she thought she was getting her dress too that day and said she had to book time off work for it. It got smoothed over and I forgot about it. We eventually went to go and get the bridesmaid dresses, she seemed very happy on that day and it all went great. Between then and now, I’ve been having health issues, I’ve been diagnosed with ME/CFS and have been having extreme bouts of depression, but have been doing my best to function with the support of my family and friends. Back in April, my MOH asked what I’d like for my hen party. I explained I was more than happy to have a girly sleepover with some games, a takeaway and some cheesy films. I’m not one for being a party animal. My friends tried to get SIL on board with this, SIL mentioned wanting to go to a magic mike show, but that’s not something I’m interested in. So over the months leading up to the hen, my friends tried and tried to ask SIL if she was coming, she kept saying she didn’t know if she’d be at work (this was 6 months before the hen), then she was talking about not having enough money. My friends said they were happy to chip in and help her out if it meant her being there for my hen do. Eventually about 3 weeks before the hen, my bridesmaid messaged her again about it. SIL replied to say she didn’t want to come, because apparently my attitude and demeanor has been depressing lately, she didn’t want to sit in a room with a ‘mood hoover’ all night making her feel depressed, and also because she can sit and watch films at home. My bridesmaid immediately had my back and called her out on this, SIL replied to say that she’s had it hard too but she just got on with it. Obviously with my bridesmaid being a very close friend, she told me straight away. Myself and my partner phoned his mum, we explained that SIL was still more than welcome to attend the wedding, but she is no longer required as a bridesmaid and is not to contact me at all. Since then, I haven’t spoken to her, but she is point blank refusing to attend the wedding at all. I honestly don’t care, it’s my partner I feel sorry for, even though he has constantly supported me and expressed he also doesn’t care wether she attends. I’ve heard that she also thinks I’m taking advantage of my partner due to him covering bills whilst I’ve been unwell. Her reasoning for not attending the wedding continues to fluctuate between not wanting to be around my friends, and just saying she doesn’t want to go. Was i unreasonable?

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 08/06/2026 18:44

I would be the bigger person and include her in final catering counts and planning just in case. It is his sister after all. If she decides to show up, act like it is perfectly normal. If not, ignore.

nomas · 08/06/2026 18:43

The reason SIL used the term ‘mood hoover’ is because on a basic level, she knows she’s the mood hoover.

I have a relative like this, they are inflated with their own sense of importance.

You were right to go LC, I would be wary of her ruining the wedding.

Ohnobackagain · 08/06/2026 18:36

I bet she thought everything would go her way @Faraway11 and it hasn’t. Serves her right. Glad your fiancé and MIL to be have your back. SIL to be sounds impossible.

viques · 08/06/2026 18:15

She is an adult bridesmaid, not a cute little flower girl toddling down the aisle. Adults make their own decisions, if she has decided not to be part of the wedding then that is fine. She had the chance to be a bridesmaid and has blown that by her nastiness and spite.

Have a wonderful day in two weeks, by then this miserable rain should have disappeared and we will be back to sunshine. Remember that a wedding is to celebrate two peoples commitment in front of people who love them, and wish them well, not to pander to the tantrums of a sulky mean girl.

Raspyhen · 08/06/2026 18:14

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

IReallyDontKnowClouds · 08/06/2026 18:10

This is slightly off topic, but my nephew had CFS for years. My sister took him on a course called The Lightening Process and said it was absolutely AMAZING. I just looked at the testimonials and lots of them are people who had CFS or long covid. I just thought is pass it on in case you want to check it out.

i wish you all the best and have a beautiful wedding 🫶🏻

SueKeeper · 08/06/2026 18:10

I think you've over reacted and escalated a situation that will now drag on and on. She wasn't great, but doesn't sound out of place compared to everyone else in this drama.

It sounds like you weren't particularly close, but she was asked to be bridesmaid because of her relationship with DH, rather than you. Then she was expected to step up and act like a bff to you as you have a set idea of what bridesmaids should be doing. It was too much and instead of anyone taking a hint, she lashes out, you blew it up and between you damaged her relationship with her brother.

It's all so unnecessary, I would actually reach out an olive branch. It would make the day better for MIL and DH and it would be the mature thing to do. I bet if you reach out, apologise and explain it hit a nerve, she will do similar and it will be actually over with rather than dragging on to her wedding, for example.

ScreamingBeans · 08/06/2026 18:03

You need to divide this posts up into paragraphs so that it's easier to read.

Violinorbanjo · 08/06/2026 17:30

Could not read the whole story, sorry.

tara66 · 08/06/2026 17:27

Just have a very quiet wedding.

TheWildZebra · 08/06/2026 17:26

Sounds like it’s sorted itself out and there’s nothing else to resolve. Put her and the situation out of your mind and focus on having a nice day with the DH to be. It’s such a special time there’s no point getting wound up whether you’re right or wrong about something. The situation is what it is!

LookInsideMySpottyBag · 08/06/2026 17:19

Sounds like you’re just not compatible and wind each other up; I suspect if she wasn’t your SIL you wouldn’t be friends.
It sounds like you both enjoy the drama and both sound immature.

itgetsthehoseagain · 08/06/2026 17:15

It's your partner I feel sorry for, too.

Janus · 08/06/2026 17:11

Quite honestly if someone told me the hen do was a sleepover with a take away I don’t think I’d want to go unless I was very close to the bride. It would have been pretty uncomfortable for you all to ‘hang out in PJ’s’ for the night surely?? So I’d have happily let it go and have her as a bridesmaid and then just backed off after the wedding. Now it’s all a bloody drama when it didn’t have to be.
So I think you’re both to blame here.

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 08/06/2026 16:57

She sounds like a nightmare and you sound like a bit of a push over. I’d be glad to be rid of her.

Hatty65 · 08/06/2026 16:48

The pair of you sound quite dramatic and immature. I speak as someone with ME/CF - this sort of silly carry on isn't something I could cope with and I'm very surprised you have the energy to waste.

You'd have been better to accept the fact that she wasn't coming to the hen do, assume she was still being a bridesmaid and have a pleasant wedding day.

Instead you've (both) ramped up the feelings and the drama and the sense of being ill used. It's not the way to manage a chronic health condition if you have one.

MaidOfSteel · 08/06/2026 16:45

You have wonderful, generous & supportive friends and a marvellous fiancé. She’s no loss. Forget about her.

Wishing you the most joyful wedding day. 💐 👰

anotherdaytosmile · 08/06/2026 16:40

You called her mum? How old is she, 10?

GreatThingsAwait · 08/06/2026 16:36

What a lot of over the top drama.
I think your other bridemaids have behaved badly tbh. They have made the situation so much worse. Your SIL clearly didn’t want to come to the hen do so why keep on at her. They could have made it so much easier if they had managed it more tactfully. They could have let your SIL know the details and said it would be lovely if you can make it but no worries if not, we look forward to seeing you at the wedding. They could have also toned down what your SIL said.
It doesn’t matter if neither of you like each other that much what matters is that you are both vocal about it.
As it is everyone is upset and it’s going to hang over your wedding day.

Dancingsquirrels · 08/06/2026 16:35

I often think threads like this are unhelpful as they just wind OP up even more that she was in the right, SIL's a bitch etc

None of us know what was truly said / done

And Obviously with my bridesmaid being a very close friend, she told me straight away aka bridesmaid stirring up trouble

Youhadrambledonfor18pages · 08/06/2026 16:34

If the hen do is just a sleepover and watching films, what exactly can she not afford to pay for?!

I wouldn’t have dropped her as a bridesmaid for the sake of family relations. Just have fun at the hen without her and be glad she’s not there.

Boomer55 · 08/06/2026 16:29

Just enjoy your day. It’s one day. Then move on.

Restlessdreams1994 · 08/06/2026 16:24

I don’t understand this whole thing now of the groom’s female relatives expecting to be bridesmaids. Bridesmaids should be the friends and family of the bride, not the future sister-in-law that you might not even have anything in common with!

Missypuddingchops · 08/06/2026 16:24

The trash took itself out babe...have a lovely day

5128gap · 08/06/2026 16:20

I think you've created a lot more drama than necessary to be honest. A message from you to her "After what you said to MoH, I'm thinking it's probably best if you're not bridesmaid, what do you say?" Could have either had her opting out herself, or apologising.
By both you AND your partner reporting it to her mother, and telling her not to contact you, you've really ramped things up to feud levels.
Your MiL is stuck in the middle, your partner is upset, and this fuss is hanging over your wedding.
She was horrible, no doubt, but sometimes it's good to look a few steps ahead before you react and think what your own responses can lead to. Families are challenging to navigate, but the less fuel you pour on a fire the less it burns.