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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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AIMBU - to still not be bothered to talk to 1/2 my family after wedding?

121 replies

Rosenip · 19/08/2013 16:21

Just over a year ago I got married to my wonderful DP. After a 7 year relationship he proposed and we set a date for nearly 18 months in the future, my parents offered to help us out with paying for our wedding so we thought this was a reasonable timescale to commence the planning and the saving.

So began the countdown to the day - I couldn't wait, wished all the time away and loved planning and preparing. I asked 2 of my female cousins to be part of my bridal party (along with DPs family members and my sis). Her dad - a vicar, my uncle is to marry us.

Neither of the two cousins (aged 23 and 21) could make a trip from Bath to London that summer to meet me and the other bridesmaids and to get involved in the general merriment - commence the start of my wrath. They were too busy/poor (1 a student planning her summer trip to Canada, 1 working part time because she's not the kind to enjoy working full time - they are both very sweet, kindly, homely types).

A couple of months later the elder cousin brings her new bf to London to attend a party and wants to meet up for lunch. They announce their engagement to me then and there - both 23, Christians, no sex before marriage types and had been together about a month. They go on to say they are planning their wedding 4 months before mine. I feel miffed. I am not asked to be a bridesmaid, I feel more miffed. I also know that her parents- who are having to pay for all of their wedding, are really feeling the pressure financially because of the demanding timescale. Her mum doesn't work and her dad is the vicar I mentioned before. I don't understand why the cousin didn't feel bad about this?

The she starts to usurp the ideas I had discussed with my BM I wanted for my wedding, marquee, homemade bunting etc. This is now what she is having. Some of our family members live abroad and probably won't make it to both weddings, hers comes first. I am told the shared ideas are a coincidence.

Her wedding comes along, neither I, nor my immediate family are asked to be in any photos, her grandparents on the other side are openly rude to us because they know we are upset with the timing and other aspects of the wedding (justified or not) and then at about 3pm, all of their close family,including cousins on the other side go off to a restaurant dinner to close the day. We were not invited.

Our day comes along, the evening before, the younger of the cousins says she can't come over at 8am to have her hair done, she will just do it herself, she is tired from travelling from Bath the day before (she has ME). She is no good at hair, never does it or wears makeup. I explain I have paid for their hair to be done and I would really like her to come. She agrees to come, but a bit later on. I open a gift from my bridesmaids, a lovely necklace. It is signed from all the others, not the 2 cousins, they didn't want to contribute.

1 year later, I don't feel the need to go and visit them/their parents regularly as I used to, I still feel midly miffed enough to think about it sometimes.

Apparently they never understod why I might be miffed, the wedding had to take place quickly, they are christians (so I am btw but perhaps not so strict in every sense.... Wink) because 'they just wanted to BE together'. Their whole side of the family are very religious people, generally enjoying singing round the piano and baking cakes, so looking in from outside I imagine plenty of people feel they are too nice for me to be miffed at.

So, there you have it, AIBU to still feel miffed, will it ever go away, or AIBU about the whole thing?! Let me have it.... Grin

OP posts:
DropYourSword · 19/08/2013 16:55

You sound like quite a bridezilla...I thought that generally wore off after the wedding!!

Home made bunting and a marquee are hardly unique ideas. Surely you should just be happy that your family member found someone they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with.

Sounds like it's no great loss to either side that you're not in contact any more.

Rosenip · 19/08/2013 16:55

Hi all,

thanks for your comments, this is my first AIBU post and expected a grilling. Didnt' expect so few people to see if from my point of view however!

Don't think I was a Bridezilla, and fairly good at trying to internalise things, so didn't say any of this to anyone at the time, but I think my mum was a bit upset about a couple of things because it's her neice too afterall and we would have all liked to have been asked to be in a photo at least. I certainly did not display any kind of sour face on their special day, that would have been very unreasonable!

I guess the main point was... I though I was close enough to them to ask them to be my bridesmaids, I thought I had picked 2 of my best girls - what was the saddest bit of the situation in my view was that not only did she not ask me back which I hoped she would, but that she didn't even invite me to her whole day.

Yes, I do miss their company, but I feel silly that I appear to have over-valued how they felt about me.

Nope, not a joke/reversed AIBU. Realise I need to let it go, but you know sometimes these things are easier said than done! So though I'd get some outside views.

OP posts:
Trills · 19/08/2013 16:56

There are some things in here that it's not unreasonable to be sad about, but they are mixed in with a hefty dose of unreasonableness.

GobTheGoblin · 19/08/2013 16:59

This happened a year ago!

It sounds like you're still in bridezilla mode, let it go.

Groovee · 19/08/2013 16:59

My brother announced he was getting married 5 weeks before me with about 3 weeks notice. I was very miffed as everyone spent money on his wedding and cut right back at mine. Other people said they could only afford 1 wedding but as they'd already replied to mine felt they couldn't then back out.

My brother then spent my wedding slagging everything off. Told others that my spoilt brat ways would have us separated by Christmas! As it was it was him separated by Christmas.

You just have to move on and forget about it or it will keep eating away at you.

Pachacuti · 19/08/2013 17:01

YABU.

Of course they wanted a shortish engagement if they are no sex before marriage types and have decided that they are "the one" for each other. Would you have been miffed if they'd moved in together four months before your wedding? Or are you only cross because they chose to formalise that commitment? How long did you expect them to wait before having sex with each other in order to pay due respect to your wedding date?

You think their wedding was too extravagant/costing her parents too much money, yet you think she should have had a wedding with more bridesmaids and shouldn't have had homemade decorations?

You think that having a marquee and homemade bunting is quirky and original, rather than something every other wedding seems to have at the moment.

And then you were, presumably, sufficiently rude about those things that a whole year later her entire extended family knew how "upset" you were.

And then you're surprised/offended that you weren't asked to be a bridesmaid? And more surprised/offended that she doesn't contribute to a present that the other bridesmaids decided to buy you?

And you're still brooding that a "sweet, kindly" young woman who has ME wasn't feeling well enough to be on your doorstep at 8am?

You do sound like a Bridezilla, to be honest. But you aren't flouncing and saying "How DARE you all tell me that IABU???" so there is probably still some hope for you... Grin

Floggingmolly · 19/08/2013 17:06

They didn't want to come to London that summer to join in the general merriment - commence the start of your wrath? Confused Confused Confused
Then they had the ungodly nerve to steal your original ideas (a marquee decorated with bunting! Grin)
I'd advise you never to speak to them again, op.
For their sake. They'll be glad of the peace.

expatinscotland · 19/08/2013 17:07

Their wedding, as you put it, and then 'Our day'.

YABU and bridezilla.

sorryitsanotherpilone · 19/08/2013 17:13

I'm sure youre probably a really lovely person in real life but you sound so self obsessed in this thread.

You were upset your cousins couldn't afford your pre wedding bridesmaids stuff...well one was saving for Canada the other only worked part time...did you want them to absolutely skin themselves just to indulge you in pre wedding nonsense?

Your cousins family had an attitude with you at your cousins wedding because you and your family had made it quite clear your were upset about the wedding taking place? They probably felt sorry for the bride getting death stares off you and your family.

Your cousin got married before you? Do you expect the rest of your family to put their lives on hold so you can be the shining star for a year and a half.

I think you're lucky your cousins still want to speak to you after the way you have behaved towards them.

You sound like a bit of a brat tbh.

My best friend got engaged the morning of my wedding and got married a year later on my 1st wedding anniversary and also during my engagement my brother got engaged and married too and you know what.....I was pleased for them.

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 19/08/2013 17:13

Yabbridezilla.

Pachacuti · 19/08/2013 17:13

(expanding slightly) I think it's only natural to feel slightly miffed if a close family member decides to plan a wedding very close to yours (my brother got married two and a half months before me, at short notice, and there was a tiny little wormy piece of my soul that wanted to stamp its foot and sulk). But you should be aware that that's an emotional, irrational response and crucially the other person should never have the slightest idea that you are inwardly harbouring any reservations. If they suspect that you are feeling "wrath" then you have automatically BU; if you have left them in so little doubt of your wrath that they've been able to tell their grandparents about your attitude then you have not only BU but also amazingly rude.

firesidechat · 19/08/2013 17:22

Well I got married pretty quickly too and for all the reasons that your cousin gave, and just for that I am going to say YABU.

Are you really that annoyed about something that is done and dusted?

firesidechat · 19/08/2013 17:25

Oh and we had two family weddings about a month apart and no one thought to get their knickers in a twist over that.

So another YABU from me.

MrsKoala · 19/08/2013 17:26

YABU

You say you aren't Bridezilla and fairly good at trying to internalise things, so didn't say any of this to anyone at the time but you also say her grandparents on the other side are openly rude to us because they know we are upset with the timing and other aspects of the wedding So how did they know these things if you've git such a good poker face?

I think everything in your post is unreasonable. Peoples hair and make up is up to them, annoying if you've paid for it, but it sounds like the cousin didn't want to have it done by your hairdresser - ME or not.

'Your ideas' are not your ideas they are in every wedding magazine.

The timing of when people get married is non of your business - we got married in 6wks for a green card!

'the general merriment' is a lot of peoples idea of someone talking boringly at length about flower decorations and colour schemes.

If i was a BM i wouldn't want to be out of pocket to join in 'the general merriment' either. I travelled to BMs home town and took them shopping and bought a BM dress of their choice. The idea of expecting people to give up hours and £££s is insane.

You say they are feeling the pressure financially due to the timescale but do not seem to acknowledge this may be why you were not invited to be a BM or to a later meal (the meal thing should have been told to you before tho) or in photos - perhaps they could only afford a few snaps and prioritised grandparents.

It is traditional that YOU buy your BMs a present to give on the day - Not the other way round! Quite why you would expect them to contribute to a necklace (after you explain their financial situation) i have no idea.

Your 'day' is not important to anyone but you and maybe your parents. I'm afraid you are a bridezilla according to a lot of peoples standards - whether you think it or not.

WafflyVersatile · 19/08/2013 17:27

You can not bother with them. There are no rules saying you have to be close just because you are cousins.

MistressDeeCee · 19/08/2013 17:32

If I was asked to be bridesmaid by my cousin & during a whole summer period, couldnt find the time to travel from Bath to London (we're not talking abroad here) but could suddenly get to London with my boyfriend - that would mean, Im not really interested in being a bridesmaid. However Id have said so; I wouldnt have messed the bride-to-be around. I dont blame the OP for being pissed off at all. Was she supposed to smile happily? I get the idea brides-to-be arent meant to have feelings at all & if they feel the slightest bit anxious or unhappy about something, theyre immediately bridezillas. The usurped wedding ideas, fact that some family members cant afford to come to both weddings..who wouldnt be pissed off at all that? I hope you can get over this OP, doesnt sound pleasant at all..if you dont want to speak with them, then dont. They & you can get on with being happy in your lives, simple.

WilsonFrickett · 19/08/2013 17:36

I can understand why you were hurt not to be asked to 'bridesmaid back' - as you say, you asked the cousins because you were geniunely fond of them. But for everything else I'm afraid YABBZ (you are being bridezilla).

It's time to let it go, honestly, it is.

MrsKoala · 19/08/2013 17:40

MistressDeeCee i think peoples perceptions/expectations of being a BM are very different. If someone asked me (and they have) to be a BM all i would expect is a dress in my size and to turn up on the day/morning to get ready with everyone/or even meet them at the venue ready. If they said 'would you like to be my BM but i expect you to spend ££s you don't have travelling to 'join in the merriment' i would defo say no thanks! When you say 'not interested in being a BM' what do you mean? are there a list of 'duties' they need to perform other than stand around on the day wearing a matching frock? Confused

MrsKoala · 19/08/2013 17:42

But Wilson, if they were having a short engagement and had limited funds they probably couldn't afford OP to be BM back. 18months is ages to plan a wedding and save. Other people have different priorities.

Rosenip · 19/08/2013 17:42

Probably shouldn't have posted this whilst pregnant and hormonal, bit of a confidence bashing when pretty mug everyone thinks you're a bitch.

Appreciate your thoughts mistress - and I did buy all my bridesmaids a goody bag of gifts, and did absolutely not expect one in return! Also paid for their dresses etc

My mum mentioned something to her brother about the stuff in my op, I did not, and certainly didn't go around complaining about the whole thing.

I arranged my wedding date to accommodate the availability of my family and wedding party - choosing the summer holidays because younger cousin would have finished uni exams :( feeling sorry for myself because I did try to be nice. Thought meeting up with other bm in the summer before would have been fun, not a chore. I thought being asked to be a bm was a nice thing?

OP posts:
YouStayClassySanDiego · 19/08/2013 17:44

If you miss their company then why don't you try to rebuild the relationship.

pianodoodle · 19/08/2013 17:45

YABU

They knew you were annoyed about their wedding so if they were off with you that'll be why.

You put pressure on someone with ME who was tired.

Really it just sounds like you weren't seeing anyone else's point of view and we're focusing on yourself the whole time.

WafflyVersatile · 19/08/2013 17:47

Her wedding was different from yours. Her wedding.

would you have felt the same if the weddings had been years apart?

I can understand you might have been a bit miffed as things happened but I don't get that they were more than a day or two's miffedness.

YoniMitchell · 19/08/2013 17:49

Are you 12?

You need to move on.

Delayingtactic · 19/08/2013 17:51

Being asked to be a BM is a nice thing but only if its not done with a whole list of things to do too, including stuff months before.

Let it go. Why don't you reach out to your cousins? You're about to have a child, let bygones be bygones.