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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:
whippersnapper55 · 08/06/2026 16:19

Ah well, she's not coming, that's the end of it. I don't blame you for not wanting her as bridesmaid but did you really think she'd come as a guest with everyone knowing she'd been dropped as a bridesmaid? Of course not.

Just leave it alone now and go ahead and enjoy your wedding.

Faraway11 · 08/06/2026 16:11

saraclara · 08/06/2026 15:07

Poor MIL. Fancy being dragged into this and having to be the one to deliver the news.

I don't believe that you/your DH had no other way of communicating with SIL. DH could have turned up at her door, and if she didn't answer, put a note through the letter box.

It was cowardly and unfair to land MIL with the job.

Edited

You can not believe it all you like, that’s the truth. It’s not just about the fact of finding other ways to contact her. I stated that I wasn’t and still am not in the right frame of mind to deal with it, hence why my partner took it into his own hands. He knows how to deal with his family

OP posts:
DaisyChain505 · 08/06/2026 16:07

She sounds difficult and like she has main character syndrome.

She’s said she isn’t coming to the wedding, your fiancé has said he isn’t bothered so I wouldn’t give it anymore headspace.

You can’t rationalise with this type of person so just leave her to it and enjoy your day.

Wdutua · 08/06/2026 16:06

She is jealous because she will not be the "Star of the Show". Have a lovely day without her.

Happy Marriage to you and soon to be DH.

KaleidoscopeSmile · 08/06/2026 16:04

She should've been told to sod off months ago but I still think it was pretty pathetic contacting her mum!

If she wouldn't answer her phone you or your DH could've said it all in a text or WhatsApp message.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 08/06/2026 15:59

you've invited her. She says she just doesn't want to come.

Don't chase or beg. Let her.

Leave it at that...and get on with enjoying your wedding. You are not marrying her, but stop thinking about/talking about her. You are letting her live rent free in your head. You have a long list of her "crimes" just let it go.

she sounds like a spiteful, immature attention seeker. If she bring it up in future (and she will ) shut the conversation down by saying you were invited, it was your choice not to come. Nothing more to say... and leave it at that.

Notonthestairs · 08/06/2026 15:50

God knows why posters are focusing on the MIL given it was the OP’s fiancé calling his mum. He’ll understand his family dynamics better than anyone else on here.

The SIL has acted like a complete arse.
Cutting the Op off for not being able to afford her birthday drinks.
Sulking when the wedding dress shopping was indeed wedding dress shopping.
Calling the Op names.
Refusing to attend a hen night that wasn’t to her taste.

And let’s face it SIL is likely to hold this over Op and her brother’s heads for years. Guarantee any mention of the wedding will trigger some kind of outburst.

Really immature behaviour.

Rosemariebear · 08/06/2026 15:40

Totalmayhem · 08/06/2026 15:37

I’d be relieved she wasn’t coming! Just park it & move on and don’t let it ruin your day!

Exactly this. Enjoy your day without worrying about her.

Totalmayhem · 08/06/2026 15:37

I’d be relieved she wasn’t coming! Just park it & move on and don’t let it ruin your day!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 08/06/2026 15:34

Honestly, she sounds difficult but you’re helping. Let her do what she wants.

Naunet · 08/06/2026 15:21

Mumtobabyhavoc · 08/06/2026 14:56

Mum/MiL-to-be/Best friend(s) can attend with bride to pick out a wedding dress. It's not uncommon to have one, or all.

Sure, that's not unusual, but that's not what OP said! Doesn't matter either way though frankly.

saraclara · 08/06/2026 15:07

Poor MIL. Fancy being dragged into this and having to be the one to deliver the news.

I don't believe that you/your DH had no other way of communicating with SIL. DH could have turned up at her door, and if she didn't answer, put a note through the letter box.

It was cowardly and unfair to land MIL with the job.

powersthatbe · 08/06/2026 15:06

Why didnt you at least first text her saying you heard why she didnt want to come to hen and considering her feelings about you, youre relieving her from bridesmaid duties. You fuelled more drama by calling your MIL.

YANBU by not wanting her as a bridesmaid but YABU by playing along with the drama. You both sound a bit immature.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 08/06/2026 14:56

Naunet · 08/06/2026 14:47

Did you really expect your bridesmaids to take a day off work to come with you whilst you shopped for a wedding dress?!! Maybe that's normal these days and I'm out of touch, but that sounds mental to me!! All the rest of it though, she sounds overly dramatic and you've probably made the right choice.

Mum/MiL-to-be/Best friend(s) can attend with bride to pick out a wedding dress. It's not uncommon to have one, or all.

Naunet · 08/06/2026 14:47

Did you really expect your bridesmaids to take a day off work to come with you whilst you shopped for a wedding dress?!! Maybe that's normal these days and I'm out of touch, but that sounds mental to me!! All the rest of it though, she sounds overly dramatic and you've probably made the right choice.

Gymnopedie · 08/06/2026 14:41

Faraway11 · 08/06/2026 13:01

We sort of had no choice but to ask her to pass the message along. SIL doesn’t do communication especially when she knows she’s messed up

OP you don't need to keep explaining yourself. Whenever there's an in-law issue on MN the responses are invariably that it's for the other half to deal with. Well in this case your other half DID deal with it, and in the way that he knew was right for HIS family. He's a good 'un.

Just let it go. if she wants to cut her nose off to spite her face that's on her. I doubt this behaviour is a one-off. Does she have form?

Brunchatstephanies · 08/06/2026 13:55

Could both be true? that neither of your behaviour has been great lately.

She does sound like a complete and utter dose and you would be better starting married life with massively reduced expectations of the type of relationship you will have but is it all really her?

Your situation, while obviously not your fault and obviously not easy for you either, does not sound easy to be around.

It might be worth acknowledging that neither of you are each other’s cup of tea but you will try your best for your mutual relationship with your DH to be and just move forward.

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 08/06/2026 13:49

I strongly recommend you reclassify this in your head as ‘not a big deal’, and get on with your wedding. If you decide not to mind, and just see it as ‘one of those things’, then you can ride it out without long term consequences for the extended family.

If you try to resolve it, then it will run and run and other family members will get involved. Just let whatever happens happen, she’ll either turn up or she won’t. Don’t get dragged into discussion about it, in allocating blame, in ‘sorting things out’. If anyone else tries, just be breezy about it. People will try and pin you down about how awful her behaviour was etc. It’s much safer not to get involved.

MyKindHiker · 08/06/2026 13:44

Ugh what a mess. Kindly, you all sound like squabbling children. However I remember how high emotions run around weddings so I do empathize (a bit).

But that's the thing - I've been married 12 years and half the people in my wedding photos I've lost touch with. All of the details I slaved over, I just don't remember. Fights that at the time seemed like life and death (who would sit where, the friend who dropped out of the hen on the day with a rubbish excuse) - all in the context of a life lived subsequently seem so meaningless.

Basically, she's been rubbish. She shouldn't be a bridesmaid.

But if she doesn't come to the wedding you'll probably never speak again which would be a shame. Someday she might grow out of being such a selfish monster and might be a lovely auntie to any future kids or a person you want around for all sorts of reasons. The selfish mate who dropped out of my hen and I.(almost) uninvited to my wedding? Organized my baby shower and was great at different times.

Let it go and enjoy your day x

Mumtobabyhavoc · 08/06/2026 13:39

In what adult world do people act like the SiL?
What she told OP's friend was awful.
I'd tell her to stay home as I don't want a mood hoover at my wedding. Honestly, she'll take focus off the wedding and celebration.

Faraway11 · 08/06/2026 13:04

Overtheatlantic · 08/06/2026 13:02

But in the circumstances it comes across like you were telling on her and expecting Mil to sort her out.

Not telling on her, asking MIL to pass the message along, SIL won’t answer her phone. I’m really close with my MIL and she’s been great throughout

OP posts:
Overtheatlantic · 08/06/2026 13:02

But in the circumstances it comes across like you were telling on her and expecting Mil to sort her out.

Faraway11 · 08/06/2026 13:01

excelledyourself · 08/06/2026 11:54

YANBU to say she’s no longer a bridesmaid. YABU to involve your MIL instead of you or your DP telling the SIL.

If your partner is so bothered about her coming (and he says he isn’t), he should have had a conversation with her himself.

We sort of had no choice but to ask her to pass the message along. SIL doesn’t do communication especially when she knows she’s messed up

OP posts:
Faraway11 · 08/06/2026 12:59

The reason we contacted her mum was because she has a habit of not answering the phone when something like this happens. It was my partner that contacted their mum, I was not in the right headspace to attempt to speak to her and still am not. Thought it best she knew sooner rather than later

OP posts:
Monty36 · 08/06/2026 12:04

Sounds a bit of a saga. No good worrying about it now. You told her mum, but not her, that she wasn’t welcome as a bridesmaid. Whether she comes at all you will have to wait and see.
Your idea of a hen do is not hers. I will be honest she does sound a bit immature. The who spoke to who and who said what to who sounds a bit too much as well. Everyone putting fire on the flames.

You will have realised you are both very different people ages ago. Mature people generally try to rub along and go with the flow for the sake of the event and all involved.

If you regret telling her not to come then phone her up or better still, go and talk to her face to face and ask her. Yes, she was rude about you but may not have realised the conversation she had would be repeated back to you like that.
Your bridesmaid put a spanner in the works where perhaps with a bit of care she could have calmed things down.