Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

I don't want to invite my stepmother to my wedding

69 replies

bloodyigglepiggle · 15/01/2019 18:33

NC for this as quite outing. Growing up my "D"F was pretty emotionally abusive to my DM, my DSIS and I. DM eventually managed to get the strength to leave him when we were teenagers, helped in no small way by one of her very good friends who treated us as family.

To cut a long story short, five years later it turned out my father was in a relationship with this woman. When my mother confronted her about it she said that DM had lied about DF's behaviour. Turned out all the while she had been pretending to be DM's friend she had been in contact with my father behind her back. I know maybe it won't sound like much to many on here perhaps but it was just such a betrayal. My father's abuse is incredibly subtle - think gaslighting and emotional manipulation rather than shouting/screaming/physical violence. This woman had talked to us all extensively about what he had been like to live with and then to just go and dismiss it all - just, I felt I could never forgive her or him. I didn't speak to him for a few years after that happened and I haven't seen her at all since.

I eventually regained some sort of semblance of a relationship with my father , it's not great but it's ok. I am now engaged and getting married in the Spring. I have chosen not to invite my father's partner to the wedding. He has made me feel incredibly guilty about this. I have told him I understand if he feels he can't attend himself but he says he "has" to as he is my father. I don't really want him there either if I'm honest but I know that would cause family ructions on his side that I just don't have the emotional strength to deal with.

Anyway, now he has found out that I am inviting my mother's husband and all hell has broken loose. Like, of course I am going to invite my stepfather. He is an absolutely lovely man, treats my mother like a Queen, has worked hard to build a relationship with my sister and I, is a wonderful father to his own three children (who I get along well with and will also be there).

I am now feeling massively pressured that I need to invite my father's partner too (as far as I know they aren't married but with my Dad you never know, he never tells you anything - he was married twice before my my mum but she only found that out when they were getting divorced). I just don't want to see her.

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 15/01/2019 18:36

Then refuse to engage

He’s asked you’ve said no

His choice to attend or not

Somerville · 15/01/2019 18:36

Tell him she's not invited and that if he raises it again he will no longer be welcome either. Hopefully he'll give you the excuse you need to uninvite him.

Congrtulations on your impending marriage.

Sausagefingers9 · 15/01/2019 18:36

It’s your wedding, your choice.

If it was me I would just suck it up and invite her to make life easy.

Disfordarkchocolate · 15/01/2019 18:36

You have ructions already. You have been strong enough to deal with your father before. You are strong enough to say neither of you are coming. Instead of him being emotionally abusive and gaslighting you he now has a partner in this crap. Be strong.

bloodyigglepiggle · 15/01/2019 18:37

If it was me I would just suck it up and invite her to make life easy.

I physically don't think I can handle seeing her, it would ruin the day for me.

OP posts:
QueenofallIsee · 15/01/2019 18:39

I wouldn’t have her - you don’t like her, your forgiveness of your fathers abuse is admirable and you owe him and his partner nothing more. Fuck em I say

Sausagefingers9 · 15/01/2019 18:40

Don’t invite her then. It’s completely your choice.
Would you be ok with your dad not going in solidarity?

It’s tough, a very awkward situation. Good luck.

bloodyigglepiggle · 15/01/2019 18:41

yes. If he doesn't want to come that's his prerogative. I have told him that. In response he says he "has" to come.

OP posts:
QueenofallIsee · 15/01/2019 18:42

If he ‘has’ to come then he will ‘have’ to suck it up won’t he. Sucks to be him when his bad behaviour bites him on the arse but that’s not your problem. Stand firm lovely x

PerfectPenquins · 15/01/2019 18:43

Tell your father to pack it in with the tantrums, he either comes or he dosnt, his choice but no way does his partner step foot at your wedding. Whoever is putting pressure on you should get told the same.

Disfordarkchocolate · 15/01/2019 18:43

It is not an easy life when you do things that enable people to treat us badly, it's a sign you have been abused in some way, it's a sign you are still dealing with how they hurt you.

parrotonthesofa · 15/01/2019 18:43

Definitely don't invite her.

IsobelKarev · 15/01/2019 18:44

I wouldn't invite my step mother in your shoes. Stick with "Who to invite is my choice. Your choice is only whether or not to come yourself." Don't let him bully you.

Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 15/01/2019 18:44

We uninvited mil from our wedding. Fil attended though. Not sure I would want my df there is I was you..
I had neither of my dps at my wedding.
Your day, your choices. Don't be bullied into changing them.

MamaLovesMango · 15/01/2019 18:45

He has the choice whether to attend or not. I don’t think you should just suck it up. Stand your ground and force him to make the choice, if you don’t want him there in the first place, it might turn out in your favour. If he gets abusive, make it clear that if he carries on he will have spoiled any relationship you have managed to regain and to stop that happening he needs to stop. If he doesn’t, block him.

CoastalLife · 15/01/2019 18:45

I think perhaps this is one of those situations where the less you say the better. If your father thinks that your stepdad is comparable to his partner, given all the history you've detailed, he obviously just doesn't get it and nothing you can say or do will change that.

If I were you, I'd not be drawn on a debate. I'd simply say "Your partner is not invited. There is too much water under the bridge and I won't be made to feel uncomfortable or reminded of painful past events on my wedding day. I would like you to attend alone, but if you aren't prepared to do so, then that's your choice. I won't be discussing it further." Every time he brings it up, just tell him you've said your piece and it's not up for discussion.

Soontobe60 · 15/01/2019 18:45

Think about how your mum might feel if this other woman turns up. Under no circumstances would I invite her. If your dad can't see how difficult it would be if she came, then he's being very selfish. Do not allow him to morally blackmail you.

WoWsers16 · 15/01/2019 18:45

I had the kind of same situation at my wedding- my mum had had an affair with dads best friend so Dad was completely heart broken and it was an awful time. Mum and Dad were fab to me growing up tho.
When the wedding date came I had already decided (even tho it was over 10 years ago) that Dad and his new partner would be invited and I invited my mum but we sat down and discussed and I said I couldn’t invite her partner as there is still
So much hatred and my dad is the main thought in this process. Mum said she wouldn’t come if her partner wasn’t coming but she totally understood and to be honest it hasn’t effected our relationship at all. It made my day easier to be honest! My dad admitted he could maybe cope with mum there but would struggle with her partner and I did not want my dad to feel awkward on the day xxx

FrogsLegs33 · 15/01/2019 18:45

Uninvite your father. Even without her there given what you have said about him, he sounds like he will find a way to make your day awkward or derailed anyway.

pusspuss9 · 15/01/2019 18:46

I definitely wouldn't invite her. Even having to deal with this at this time must make you feel quite stressed and you don't need that in your life. Tell him the thought of her makes you feel quite ill.

RolandDeschainsGilly · 15/01/2019 18:47

Cheeky bastard! You’ve had zero to do with step Mum but he thinks she should be at your wedding? Ah hell nah. Fuck. That. Noise.

Stick to your guns. And tell him to shove his invite if he doesn’t like it and bollocks to any repercussions with his side of the family.

Snappedandfarted2019 · 15/01/2019 18:47

What has she done wrong to you tho other than be with you’re df?

mimibunz · 15/01/2019 18:47

He doesn’t have to come! He’s just trying to put you in a difficult position. You’ve told him you don’t want her there and that should be the end of it. I mean ffs, how can she think it’s ok to even show her face? What about your mother?

RebeccaCloud9 · 15/01/2019 18:47

Hold your ground. Absolutely do not invite anyone you do not want to be there (for totally valid reasons btw).
We didn't invite my husband's dad's new gf and he was a total shit about it but I don't regret it for 1 single second and wouldn't do it differently.

PatriciaHolm · 15/01/2019 18:48

Yep, I'm with the uninvite him camp too. Your wedding day should be a completely happy one, surrounded by people you love and who love you. He's going to be an arse if he comes without her, isn't he?