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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To cancel going to friends wedding

904 replies

Watdidusay · 12/09/2026 21:18

We have a close friends wedding to attend in 6 weeks. It's been booked about 6 months in advance. We've prepaid for travel, hotels, childminding and bought traditional clothing for the event. I'm in the wedding party.

Just received an invite to my SILs wedding today (DHs sister) for the same date. In 6 weeks time.
Different part of the country.

Family are all saying we have to cancel the other wedding. We are going to be out hundreds of £.

AIBU to go to family wedding instead just to make my life easier? Everyone is angry at me for even considering not going to DHs sisters wedding. I feel terrible.

OP posts:
Peachie31 · 13/09/2026 18:25

I selected the wrong option by accident 😬

But.... your in-laws are being absolutely ridiculous.

I've read through all of your comments - they've been engaged 3+ years then suddenly spring a wedding on everyone with 6 weeks notice and want everyone to drop their plans? Absolutely the heck not. It's highly unreasonable to expect people to rearrange their life for a wedding on such short notice. I have kids in competitive sports and there's a high chance if someone sprung a wedding on me with 6 weeks notice I'd be unable to go.

Stick to your friend's wedding. It's been set in stone for ages. The in-laws can get knotted IMO.

Doctordoolittle · 13/09/2026 18:20

Watdidusay · 13/09/2026 12:04

Yes in laws have made that clear. I did actually ask that originally and the response was a definite "well you can't miss your sisters wedding"

It is not your sister’s wedding, it is your partner’s sister.

i think you should go to your friends wedding as planned unless you are willing to lose your friend. Your partner can make his own mind up.

mopandsmiff · 13/09/2026 18:19

Although now I think about it, if PiL are such completely unreasonable people, it’s surely only a matter of time until they fall out with you over something, even if you manage to avoid a fall-out this time.

I think prioritise your friend. Good friends are precious and won’t fuck you around like these in-laws clearly will, your friend deserves your loyalty

Kokonimater · 13/09/2026 18:19

Don’t let your in-laws bully you.

You are a grown woman. Make your own decisions.

OVienna · 13/09/2026 18:18

Your in-laws sound like absolute nightmares, I'll bet this isn't the first time they've pulled a stunt like this, and I agree totally with PP that your DH really needs to grow a backbone and stand up to them.

Is this sister the Golden Child?

I agree with a PP, start a group chat with everyone in it, apologise but say you're gutted but are already booked to be a bridesmaid on that date and can't cancel at such short notice.

That said, while I am talking tough, if you do decide to go to your friend's wedding with DH going to his sisters, I'd have to hope your friend will understand what dicks the IL are and that you've been put in an awful situation. I would sympathise with that, if it were someone close enough to me to be a bridesmaid, but also I'd suspect I would already know what they were like based on previous discussions.

Would their behaviour be a surprise to your friend @Watdidusay ?

Imalittleelf · 13/09/2026 18:18

Who are you likely to have a longer more fulfilling relationship with, PIL or your friend (who assume is close as you are a BM)

Are the PIL going to give you the money for what you have paid for, for your friends wedding and contact your friend to tell her why you wont be there?

It is a tough decision, but you need to decide who is going to be in your life longer and who you will need more going forward.

Tiredisanunderstatement1 · 13/09/2026 18:18

I am maid of honour for a very close friend next year and honestly I wouldn't even consider missing it for my SIL in these circumstances, and we have a great relationship. I also wouldn't be mad at DH for going to DSis wedding. If they're mad at you then that's their problem...

TeaPot496 · 13/09/2026 18:17

Watdidusay · 13/09/2026 12:04

Yes in laws have made that clear. I did actually ask that originally and the response was a definite "well you can't miss your sisters wedding"

It is not ok to prioritise your husband's discomfort over your commitment to your friend. He is being extremely unfair and needs therapy to disentangle himself from his parents approval. Fuck them.

PyongyangKipperbang · 13/09/2026 18:17

I think we should all save ourselves the bother of replying.

Its perfectly clear what the OP will do, and she will be back here at some point because her marriage has fallen apart, her IL's have circled the wagons against her so co-parenting will by nigh on impossible, and her friends have all cut her off.

Monty36 · 13/09/2026 18:16

Organising a wedding in six weeks takes some doing. She must have known she was getting married before six weeks ago.

mopandsmiff · 13/09/2026 18:15

I suppose the cowardly way out (which admittedly I might take) would be to tell both of them that you’re going, and then on the day itself you and DH both come down with terrible food poisoning and send your apologies.

Abricot1983 · 13/09/2026 18:11

What horrible family dynamics with the parents in law enablers and the queen bee SIL. What roles do you and your husband play in these family dynamics? Scape goat?

if you don’t go to this SIL wedding they will react by pushing you out of the family. How nearby do they live? I’d go to your friend’s wedding

Londonwelshie · 13/09/2026 18:10

Watdidusay · 13/09/2026 12:03

So many people have said let DH go to SILs wedding but I know my friend will still be upset at the cancellation from DH. If it's inevitable then I am weighing up if it's a much of a muchness if we both cancel and go to SILs wedding as one is cancelling anyway. I paid for my bridesmaids dress anyway so she won't be out on that. I feel like I can't really win here.

That would be such a dick move OP. I can’t believe you’re even considering not going given it’s a close enough friend that you’re in the wedding party.

I thought from this thread that you had a DH problem, but it seems you’re the problem too. FWIW, I think your DH still needs to attend the friend’s wedding. I don’t think it’s acceptable for either of you to pull out. But even if your DH decides to go to his sister’s wedding, you certainly still need to attend your friends wedding otherwise you will cause undue stress to the bride by being a terrible friend and ruining her longstanding plans.

Moellen54 · 13/09/2026 18:09

Who expects people to be available at such short notice?
Dorry SIL you dip out on this one. I dont even think hubby should go if she cant be arsed to ask him sooner

JuliettaCaeser · 13/09/2026 18:07

Your power balance with your in laws sounds really weird. My MIL would not even dare trying this nonsense on me.

JuliettaCaeser · 13/09/2026 18:05

If you don’t go to the friends wedding you will feel like a bad person. Because that is what a bad person would do.

mopandsmiff · 13/09/2026 18:03

Peonies12 · 12/09/2026 21:20

My god that’s a tough one. I am pretty shocked someone is only sending invites 6 weeks out, without at least checking availability first? Honestly id probably go to your friends wedding and let DH go to his sisters.

Agree with this

Aluna · 13/09/2026 18:03

Watdidusay · 13/09/2026 12:03

So many people have said let DH go to SILs wedding but I know my friend will still be upset at the cancellation from DH. If it's inevitable then I am weighing up if it's a much of a muchness if we both cancel and go to SILs wedding as one is cancelling anyway. I paid for my bridesmaids dress anyway so she won't be out on that. I feel like I can't really win here.

You can win, you can develop a backbone and insist that both you and DH go to your friend’s wedding as you should.

Family with such low intelligence and poor values to have an issue with this are not worth placating.

Julimia · 13/09/2026 18:02

Go to the wedding youve prepared for and paid for.obviously over a long time and a lot of thought. 6 weeks at is nothing. do not feel guilty in any way. She will have known i am sure about your previous commitment. Have a lovely time.

ilovesushi · 13/09/2026 18:00

Oh my god you already have a bridesmaid dress for wedding 1!!!!!???? You absolutely cannot pull out. It would be the absolute end of that friendship. Yes she might be gutted if your DH doesn't come, but I'm presuming he's not in the wedding party - or is he? Perfectly reasonable (but annoying) for someone to say my sibling is getting married that day. It was very short notice but I can't miss it then a ton of apologies. But you CANNOT miss it for an in laws wedding. Let your in laws be annoyed. Their choice. Stop people pleasing where the result is dishonourable behaviour to people you genuinely care about.

Whynottryagain · 13/09/2026 17:58

Watdidusay · 13/09/2026 12:03

So many people have said let DH go to SILs wedding but I know my friend will still be upset at the cancellation from DH. If it's inevitable then I am weighing up if it's a much of a muchness if we both cancel and go to SILs wedding as one is cancelling anyway. I paid for my bridesmaids dress anyway so she won't be out on that. I feel like I can't really win here.

Personally I don't think it's much of a muchness at all. One person, who presumably is NOT in the bridal party, cancelling because his literal sister is marrying on the same day I would think was unfortunate but would accept. A bridesmaid dropping out because a SiL she didn't even like (?) was getting married with no notice is pretty unforgivable tbh.

I really think the right thing to do is obvious in this case.

Cotopaxi · 13/09/2026 17:58

Your SIL is never going to show you any gratitude for turning up at her wedding, because you will have just done as you were told, and she expects it. If you don't go, she'll just carry on being the spoilt bitch she already is.

Your friend, on the other hand, will be thrilled to have you as her bridesmaid, and devastated if you let her down now. You will lose a friend.

Ronathediva13 · 13/09/2026 17:57

If your husband is so spineless he can’t stand up to his family, you’re going to need your friends for the day in the future when his family pushes you too far.

you are not an evening guest at your friend’s wedding, you are a bridesmaid, so one of the people she most wants to be part of her day. You obviously wanted to be a part of it too as you’ve spent money booking everything for it. Why should you drop her now for another offer - not even a better one, although that would also be a dick move - but to dump her on the biggest day of her life so far just because you Sister in law has said JUMP!

Ask your husband’s family how they would feel if their wedding had been planned for months and at six weeks to go you told them another invite had come in and you were choosing that instead.

ByRealLemonFox · 13/09/2026 17:56

Already committed to your friends wedding. 100% go to it otherwise she might not be your friend for long. The family wedding is short notice. Not your fault you already have commitments.

TheSunIsAlwaysThere · 13/09/2026 17:56

If you cancel your friends wedding you'll lose a friend. If you don't go to your SIL you'll thankfully maybe lose family. Definitely do the latter. They aren't family, they just use it to bully people.