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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To Sack my Maid of Honour?

201 replies

ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:13

Ok, so perhaps not that dramatic, but I'm considering relieving my friend of some of her 'duties' for our wedding.

We're planning a very relaxed wedding and don't have a traditional bridal party as such, but we want our close friends to feel included and valued. When we got engaged, the conversation with one of my good friends turned to what sort of role she'd like to play, between us we agreed she would organise a hen do, wear a dress (of her choosing) that was in keeping with the colour scheme (we'd always commented it was our shared favourite colour and she couldn't wait till DP and I got married one day so she could finally wear a dress she liked - been a bridesmaid loads of times and been made to wear some shockers in the past), we talked about her potentially coming down the aisle if she wanted and carrying a bouquet. Tantamount to a maid of honour role, really.

She appeared to be keen and I let her lead the conversations when it came to working out the level of involvement she'd be comfortable with.

Now I most certainly do not expect anyone other than our parents to place any great importance on our wedding, but given the role she has agreed to play, I'm finding her lack of enthusiasm and my struggle to engage her with anything wedding related is now starting to make me feel a bit Sad. It's really come home to me this week, I'd been burying my feelings but DP's best man has been setting the wheels in motion for the stag do with such enthusiasm which has highlighted to me the stark contrast with my friend. The only things I've asked her to do about a month ago are to look at a particular website of dresses to see if there's anything she likes, and to perhaps come up with some initial thoughts about possible hen ideas.

I spoke to her this evening and after an hour and a half of her telling me about her life, I tentatively brought up the subject of dresses and she said she'd been too busy to look, then the subject drifted onto other things... I couldn't even bring myself to mention the hen do after that.

She briefly acknowledged her lack of wedding-related interest, but said she'd been really busy lately (she is busy, its true) and suggested we have another chat at the weekend. Now considering I've been trying to schedule tonights chat for over a week, this had the air of the final straw about it for me.

I think she just is too busy for the level of involvement/organisational responsibility we initially agreed. I knew she was busy when we decided it, but I thought that her enthusiasm would make up for that but it hasn't. She also lives abroad so while this shouldn't make a massive difference in this day and age, it makes quick, frequent catch-ups less feasible.

I've another very good friend who lives in the next city and I know would be amazing at organising a hen do, and would love to be asked. I'm thinking of emailing friend 1 tomorrow and gently explaining that I think it would be easier if friend 2 sets the wheels in motion with the hen do, and calls on friend 1 for a bit of support as and when? I've kind of regretted not asking friend 2 to be a bridesmaid, but I was never going to have any anyway. I know it would really mean a lot to her, so I think if I go down this route I may ask her if she'd like to wear a 'bridesmaidy' dress and lead the search for their dresses too?

What do you think, AIBU to send that email? Am I just a sap who needs to man the fuck up? I just don't want to be that bratty bride Sad

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PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 13/08/2012 23:18

Ask her honestly is it all too much? She might be busy and relieved. Then you can offer friend 2 to help.

ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:24

Pickles, DP suggested that, but I suspect she'll just feel massively guilty and heap on assurances that she still really wants to do it and excuses about how busy she's been with assurances that she'll try and get more involved.

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ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:25

how many assurances? Confused

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Sossiges · 13/08/2012 23:31

Lots, obviously Smile
Agree with Pickles but really lay it on thick that you can see how busy she is and tell her not to feel guilty, then she might give in.

Sossiges · 13/08/2012 23:33

Just send her the link to this thread, that'll give her a hint Wink

icecold · 13/08/2012 23:33

Organise your own hen do

Mostly friends don't want to feel involved and valued. They love you, they want to share your day, wish you well and party with you. Be the perfect bride and don't 'involve' anyone

fatfeckingmavis · 13/08/2012 23:35

Haha that is spooky! Def agree with the email idea :) xx

ChaoticismyLife · 13/08/2012 23:36

Lots of assurances :)

Maybe if you include in the email that you know that she is very busy and shouldn't feel guilty about being so busy that she hasn't been able to be as involved as you both would like her to be. Tell her that it's okay if she feels she can't commit the time needed and you'll be willing to ask other friend to do it with her in role as advisor if other friend needs advice.

ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:36

Hmm, icecold my friends do want to be involved, make no mistake. We've been quite overwhelmed by it, really.

Sossiges & pickles that made me Grin

Yes, I will lay it on thick. I don't think she'll be consciously relieved, just feel guilty and cross with herself about it. But her guilt and opinion of herself should be her lookout, really.

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anditwasallyellow · 13/08/2012 23:36

Organise your own hen do.

I never quite understand this thing about maid of honours and organising hen dos for people it all seems quite dated to me.

ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:37

Nice wording, Chaotic. I'm going to have to mention you in my speeches at this rate Wink

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aquashiv · 13/08/2012 23:38

What would you like to do for your hen do? Tell her specifically and see how she responds.
Maybe she really doesnt have a clue what you want to do and is just too embarrassed to say.

ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:39

She wanted to organise it, yellow. Trust me I'm more than prepared to sort it out myself. She's been MoH a few times now, and it was almost a given that she would organise mine, I just went along with it, and I thought it would be nice to have one less thing to worry about.

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ChaoticismyLife · 13/08/2012 23:39

Glad I could help :)

Wiggypigs · 13/08/2012 23:40

I was bridesmaid recently for a good friend of mine. I was one of 3. I work shifts and have a long commute and work quite a few weekends so really struggled to find time to help with the wedding plans. One of the other bridesmaids took it upon herself to be the main planner which was fine and I did a few bits and bobs. Why not spread the job out between a few people? As much as I love my friend and loved being part of her big day, I just did not have the time to plan everything needed.

ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:42

I've given her a couple of specific suggestions already, aqua. I can't remember much of a response from her about it. I suggested one idea that was really up our street, if a bit full-on, then another that was simple and cheap, and she never really said anything. That was when the alarm bells started ringing, but I just assumed she had ideas of her own, so that was when I suggested we'd have a chat sometime once she'd had some initial thoughts.

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ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:44

Thanks wiggy, I think I'm going to do it. Just a case of finding a way to do put it to with the least potential for misunderstanding or upset

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scarlettsmummy2 · 13/08/2012 23:44

When are you getting married?

icecold · 13/08/2012 23:47

Yeah, I think in theory friends want to be involved

But when it comes down to the nitty gritty, the actual logistics and putting in time and effort....not so much. People are busy

icecold · 13/08/2012 23:48

As evidenced here...

anditwasallyellow · 13/08/2012 23:49

Ah ok, perhaps then she volunteered but then later on regretted it as she was too busy.

In that case why not ask friend 2 to organise it. Tell friend 1 that friend 2 has asked if she can help to organise the hen do give them eachothers contact details and then leave friend 2 to do all the work but without friend 1 feeling as though she's been sacked.

ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:54

May 2013, Hen in April. Yes I know it's forever away, you can organise a few drinks down the WMC in less than a week.

But my friends with DCs have started asking me when/what it's likely to be/is it going to be the same weekend as the stag etc. Another good friend (very close friend of friend 1) has masses of commitments in April with work and is keen to know what dates are proposed. Friends also want to get giddy about it, asking what we've got planned. People are just excited, their DH/Ps have started getting all hyped about DPs stag and they want to join in too.

I'm not expecting a hen do 7 months away to be planned, booked and dusted by now, but it would be nice to be able to start thinking about it together.

I guess it's not just about the hen do, I was never even that fussed about having one initially, it's the feeling of being a bit let down by a friend.

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ViviPru · 13/08/2012 23:57

True, very true, ice

yellow I think you're right. I might start by having a chat with friend 2, she'll ask me about plans for the hen do (she usually does lately) and I'll see if she wants to help, then maybe put it to friend 1 in the way you suggest.

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icecold · 13/08/2012 23:58

I don't think she had let you down Confused

It's 7 months away. She doesn't want to talk about it for 7 months

But yes, get friend 2 to do it (then watch her enthusiasm wane...)

ViviPru · 14/08/2012 00:05

Well, considering we have barely spoken about the wedding/hen do, I don't think she has any concerns about me bending her ear about it for the next 7 months solid. Yes it's probably low down on her list of priorities (rightly so) but you'd think during a 2 hour conversation I don't think IABU to hope it might be mentioned at least once, considering she was the one in the first place who was so keen to to do it and the last time we spoke had specifically discussed her having some initial thoughts about it. Perhaps I am.

I don't think it's fair to paint me as someone demanding their poor put-upon friends organise me a hen do way too early in advance. that really is not the case here.

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