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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have declined this wedding invitation

357 replies

Eminybob · 04/05/2014 07:57

I'll try and keep this brief, but also don't want to drip feed so bear with me!

DP and I have been invited to a very good friend of ours' wedding. In fact DP was asked to be best man.

We were told last summer that the date had been set for 2nd August 2014. No problems at all, DP accepted his best man role, he has been organising the stag do abroad and we said we were very excited for bride and groom and couldn't wait to see them get married.

However, during this time, DP and I had been TTC, probably since about the end of 2012, and had a MMC in May 2013.

So, when we found out in November I was pregnant we were over the moon! But, based on original lmp dates, my due date was.... You guessed it, 2nd August.

Didn't really think about it much at the time, obviously the excitement and scariness of the pregnancy was our main concern! Also of course, due to previous MC, weren't telling anyone until after 12 week scan. When we had that in January, dates changed slightly to 29th July due date. DP called groom to share great news mentioned when due but again didn't really think about the wedding.

When we next saw bride and groom (let's call them B & G) who live away (but the wedding is local to us) the dates were mentioned. DP and I had discussed it before hand and thought it best that he resigns his best man post as the likelihood is that we won't be able to make the wedding, and we'd need to decide what to do about the actual invite itself.

When we spoke to G, he was very blasé, oh you can bring the baby (um if it's born yet, may only be a couple of days old, I wouldn't feel up to it, or I may be overdue in which case not up to attending, and would need DP with me in case I went into labour)
We explained this, but G said he'll get a stand in best man, but still have DP as best man. DP said no, don't get him a suit etc as it's more likely than not he won't be able to be there. He said he'd still continue to arrange stag do.

G was getting more and more agitated, said, oh well we'll see closer to the time (umm my due date isn't going to change so why wait??) he has a bit of a "jokey" go at us about timing, and even B used the words "bad timing". They know we were TTC, and I'd told B about the MC so I was a bit upset and thought they were being rather insensitive (I may be being unreasonable about that)

We also told then at this time that we thought it best if they don't pay for a meal for as we are unlikely to be there to eat it (and we know their budget for the wedding is tight)

So, fast forward to April, and the official invitation arrives. In the mean time DP has told G several times that he is stepping down as best man, yet G texted him, asked if he had invite, mentioned something about getting measured for suits (!?) and asking for us to confirm.

We thought we had been clear, but DP text him back, a long heartfelt regretful text, no he will not be best man, we are declining the wedding invitation as we will more than likely be unable to attend, but if on the off chance baby is born early, DP will come to the evening reception, but don't order food etc for either of us. (This is all stuff we'd said before but I think they were hoping we'd change our minds)

Now we haven't heard anything back, G is not returning dp's texts.

They have obviously got the hump with us, but we are doing what's best for them, or so we think, we can't commit when we don't know what's going to happen.

So, are we BU? Or are they? And should I step in and text either B or G? And what would you say?

OP posts:
slithytove · 05/05/2014 11:28

You have had support from people other than expat btw Hmm

janey68 · 05/05/2014 11:30

Oops I meant her dp not husband

Kewcumber · 05/05/2014 11:31

I have never given birth.

I have never been a best man.

But I can't imagine wanting to prepare, write and deliver a speech at a wedding wondering if my wife would be in labour, wondering if I can leave my phone on during the service, wondering what would happen (full stop) the combined stress may well send me insane.

Does the poor stand in best man have to do all the preparation just in case?

Sounds mad to me.

I would do exactly as OP's DH has done.

"Not possible for me to be best man due to timing, if there's any chance I can make it I will but if you want to cancel the food for me then I won't be offended as I know budget is tight. DW will probably not be attending but will also attend the service if she feels up to it".

OP maybe your DH has phrased it more bluntly and they think he's not even going to try to attend.

In this situation before knowing what having a baby is like and after a miscarriage I would say there is nothing wrong with PFB - precious first born indeed. Being snide about it in situations like this shows an astonishing lack of empathy from other parents on here.

Bowlersarm · 05/05/2014 11:32

Agree with janey!

You clearly had no intention of doing anything differently than put in your original post, just wanting MN to validate your decision. When it hasn't, apart from a minority, you just dig your heals in even further.

And you say the bride and groom are insensitive.....

trixymalixy · 05/05/2014 11:33

I would prepare yourself for people irl thinking that your DH isn't going to the wedding because you won't "allow" him.

slithytove · 05/05/2014 11:36

He could prepare, write and record the speech now kew. Yes, he could leave his phone on in his pocket on silent, as well as giving the number of the venue to OP ice. I'm sure it could be arranged with B&G that if they want him there that badly that he could leave during the vows if needed.

Again, in a 5 week period of being at term, how likely is it that OP will need her DP in the half hour or so of vow saying?

No one has been snide about PFB, in fact it's been used as a very kind way of explaining away OP's slightly ott viewpoint.

Kewcumber · 05/05/2014 11:36

I suspect when the time comes, OP will have other things on her mind than what some wedding guests think of her and her DP's relationship and who told whom what.

expatinscotland · 05/05/2014 11:38

Or he can do what he's already done, stand down and decline the invitation.

janey68 · 05/05/2014 11:39

I suppose the crux is: what, essentially, is the difference between you possibly going into labour on the day before the wedding, and calling your dp to come home from work when you feel you need him (bearing in mind the early contractions might be a slight twinge and you'd merrily carry on with whatever you're doing) and the Same thing Happening on the day of the wedding ? The only difference seems to be that his work is 20 mins away and the wedding is 45 mins. In other words his decision is really 'does he want to go or not?' It's not really to do with the baby is it? Unless of course you're giving birth that day, or your baby is already both and very new?

tobysmum77 · 05/05/2014 11:41

and that is an issue trixy because? ????

Kewcumber · 05/05/2014 11:41

I don't think her view is OTT personally.

And I would find giving a speech at a wedding stressful at a time when I might be feeling stressed anyway and I wouldn't really want to do it. I would try to attend if it were sensible.

Of course you can tell me I shouldn't or wouldn't feel like that but that doesn't make it true just because you think it.

Bowlersarm · 05/05/2014 11:43

Quite important, kew, if the OP is close to the wedding party or friends to many of the guests.

expatinscotland · 05/05/2014 11:43

The crux is that the father doesn't want to go! He wants to, for whatever reason, not be that far away at a wedding.

Some people don't seem them as a big deal. Some people are PFB about their child. Some people would rather be around their heavily pregnant wife and/or newborn than their best friend.

Bowlersarm · 05/05/2014 11:43

Sorry, not kew, meant for toby,..

edamsavestheday · 05/05/2014 11:44

They really don't get it, do they? You are being extremely reasonable, they are as thick as bricks.

I think you should call the bride, since the groom is being such an arse, and explain a. you would really like to come but babies are very unpredictable b. very often they do not arrive on their due dates c. if baby has not arrived you may well not feel up to it d. if baby is a few days old you definitely won't be up to it e. if you are in labour neither you nor dh will be available to go to their poxy wedding!

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 05/05/2014 11:45

OP, YANBU at all

slithytove · 05/05/2014 11:51

The thing is if he is going to find giving a speech stressful on OPs due date, how will he feel performing at work when she is overdue?

I think some perspective is needed here.

Also, nothing wrong with a little levity "forgive me for being nervous, my wife is due today so I haven't even had a drink to calm my nerves".

There are several ways round this if that is what OP and DH want

expatinscotland · 05/05/2014 11:54

The man doesn't want to do it or go.

BIG difference between getting up and giving a speech and you day-to-day job.

He doesn't want to go!

expatinscotland · 05/05/2014 11:55

Why speculate or give comparisons? He doesn't want to go! It is not compulsory.

slithytove · 05/05/2014 11:55

In which case, he isn't that great a friend.

expatinscotland · 05/05/2014 11:56
Hmm

Neither is someone who doesn't take 'no' for an answer or accept that their wedding isn't the have all to end all.

slithytove · 05/05/2014 12:01

Touché Grin

Though I do suspect they really want them there out of love.

I also suspect that OP and DP do really want to be there despite DP's current annoyance.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 05/05/2014 12:04

Work isn't optional, being a best man is.

And he may not be at work by then anyway

slithytove · 05/05/2014 12:06

Just think they could regret this in the long run.

AnnieHoo · 05/05/2014 12:06

DP will come round and want to be best man again once he's come out of his man-cave and the bromance is back on.

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