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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have another rant about friend's wedding

507 replies

cathyscarlett · 25/01/2015 16:19

I posted on here recently about my friend who's getting married in November. I'm a bridesmaid, and the cost is already tipping £1,500 for each of us. She is one of my oldest friends, and she is a really lovely person, but she has become utterly self absorbed and obsessed with her wedding (which she has been planning for the past few years).

I have just received a text from another bridesmaid asking each of the six of us for £45 in order to make a 'bride goody bag' for the night before the wedding, including personalised pyjamas, make up, champagne etc. She has stated that the bride asked her to do this. It's not the cost I mind, I was planning to take champagne for the night before anyway, it's being asked to spend yet more of my money on her wedding.

AIBU to think my friend has a bloody cheek to keep continuously asking us all for more money?

OP posts:
QTPie · 26/01/2015 09:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

CharityD · 26/01/2015 09:54

I don't understand (genuinely) how adults are capable of this amount of delusion about themselves, people gasping in church at them and whatnot.
But even worse are those who indulge it.
OP, get out now. It's beyond ridiculous spending all that money on someone else's wedding.

pictish · 26/01/2015 09:58

Too much tv and reading Cosmo and the like.

Thurlow · 26/01/2015 10:05

Can we all chip in £1 each so that Cathy can afford to keep going and stay friends - purely because I want to know what the First Person in the World to have a Baby will be like? Grin

DeliciousIrony · 26/01/2015 10:12

Oh, you must back up your sensible bridesmaid ally - I think you do need to find a way to speak to her about this face to face, as texts can be taken the wrong way.

I think someone suggested you meet her for a coffee, just the two of you - that could work, you won't even need to think 'how am I going to bring this up?' as you said that all she does is bang on about the wedding. I think you'll just need to be very blunt and honest, it doesn't sound like she'll respond to subtle hints that she's asking too much of you.

You've already made a list of the breakdown of costs - you could show her that and explain why you needed to cancel the hotel, and that you just can't pay any more! You're still getting her a wedding gift (although I am resentful on your behalf that you would have to)..."[other Bridesmaid] thinks you are expecting a gift hamper from us the night before the wedding....you've not really asked for that, have you?"

It matters NOT ONE BIT if she is planning on getting you all goody bags. It is quite common to give bridesmaids a small gift as a gesture of appreciation, and frankly it is the least she can do after making you all fork out for your own (expensive) dresses, shoes that you will feel uncomfortable in and never wear again, makeup, hair, nails...I for would bet that whatever she is getting you, she is expecting much more valuable presents in return, hence the £45 per person.

(FWIW, if I was getting married and had to ask bridesmaids to cover their own costs, I would let them pick their own dresses and emphasize that I would not expect a wedding present from them, nor was there an obligation to take part. But that's just me).

Nobody can accuse you of being tight, not with your money or with your time. You have been so patient to listen to all this shite for years. But you must get this out in the open sooner rather than later, and if she sacks you then so be it.

(The waiting for gasps thing is hilarious, btw. Please keep us updated on the whole situation!)

PasstheDaimbars · 26/01/2015 10:20

I've only met one person that has come slightly close to this; though at least it was her own money and her parents that she was chucking around; was separated within 5 months, and then I believe got the whole thing annulled.

While she wasn't demanding everyone spend money, she was a total time suck and assumed that all anyone was interested in was her wedding.

Funnily enough the lack of sex was an issue there too.

SuperFlyHigh · 26/01/2015 10:21

Delicious - maybe the sensible BM and Cathy could speak to the Bride together in person?!

when I was BM in USA I had to buy my own dress etc but got some jewellery and a paid for hotel room as part of the deal.

BM in UK - dress etc bought for me, all I had to buy and source were shoes, makeup (manicure etc) and hair. Bride had I think 5 BMs then so cost would have been a lot for hair etc... I was given hair ornaments. The dresses strangely enough were the type you could wear again.

This bride sounds like she's something out of Hollyoaks/gossip magazines etc combined with a wannabee celeb lifestyle and seems to have the attitude of "they all love me so of course they'll contribute". It wouldn't surprise me and I'm sure OP has said that she's a bit self absorbed etc... so the behavior is hardly out of character.

dinkystinky · 26/01/2015 10:25

Wow - this is taking Bridezilla to a whole new level. Thought 5 years in the planning probably makes for a lot of time to come up with lots of new extreme demands... It does seem unfair that the brides friends are having to stump up all this cash for extras when the grooms friends in the wedding aren't.

I'm with you Cathy and your sensible BM friend. It is possible to have a wonderful wedding and fabulous day with friends and loved ones without bankrupting them! Take the champagne, take popcorn and a funny dvd and sit about laughing and chatting and having run rather than fuming over the bad taste all these demands on cash and time are leaving in peoples mouths.

Jumbooats · 26/01/2015 10:27

How ON EARTH did she get to be so self entitled? Is she an only child? is she her father's 'Little Princess'?? Has she overdosed on Dont tell the Bride??? Buy her 45 pounds worth of junk you'd find in crackers - wrap each item individually - be ready to capture her 'surprised' expression on camera.

DeliciousIrony · 26/01/2015 10:28

Might seem a bit like ganging up with two of them, putting the bride on the defensive straight away? But then it might be necessary if the OP doesn't feel comfortable doing it on her own.

There are 6 bridesmaids, right? Do you know what the other 3 think about it all?

cathyscarlett · 26/01/2015 10:31

Well bride replied to sensible bridesmaid this morning. She said she was just excited because she had been planning our gifts for a long time, and she doesn't expect anything from anyone. She said she's grateful we're going to be part of her wedding day, she's got us gift bags but she doesn't expect the same to be done for her. She says that yes, she's spent quite a bit on us, but she doesn't mind as she's enjoyed doing it, and for us to just get or not get her whatever we think is right because she doesn't expect anything.

Then finishes with 'I'm just getting upset about my wedding because no one is asking me about it unless I bring it up'.

Still, that's a definite breakthrough.

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 26/01/2015 10:32

Send an email now to the bride to be agreeing with everything sensible bridesmaid has said. You're pissed off and this is the perfect opportunity.

If you don't then there is no point to this thread really-I don't see why you'd just pay out and let her get away with it?

angelos02 · 26/01/2015 10:37

'I'm just getting upset about my wedding because no one is asking me about it unless I bring it up'.

Also, 6 bridesmaids??? I've never heard of anyone having that many. I didn't have any.

FFS. She does realise it is just a wedding. Dafty.

Only1scoop · 26/01/2015 10:38

As you have had to dress yourself.... accommodate yourself....and act like a bunch of idiots....then just accept the trashy gifts with a thank you.

Blimey it's all so crass.... She shouldn't even be telling you about the tacky 'gift bags' let alone wanting one herself. It's the least the grabby zilla can do.

Glad other BM had enough about her to email regarding the forthcoming circus....hopefully has saved you all more cringe and a few quid to boot

Chocolatefudgebrownieicecream · 26/01/2015 10:43

Definitely reply quick mentioning how much you have already spent. I bet her gift bag for you (if in fact she has even done them and it wasn't just a quick save for herself) pails in comparison to the amount you have spent. End it with sonething like 'people probably have lots if friends getting married this year so don't always want to talk about weddings, they want to know what else you have been doing too '

Aeroflotgirl · 26/01/2015 10:44

No I disagree, bride needs to know that people are finding it hard to afford all of this, and it is getting too much. Yes of course people don't feel they want to talk about the wedding as they are probably tired of hearing about it. Gosh that e mail is awkward, that's a different impression to what she is currently giving you. Its like making you feel guilty a bit really. Op from now on, be honest with her, if you cannot afford something say. Or suggest something of a lower budget.

Damnautocorrect · 26/01/2015 10:46

Can anyone else picture the bride walking down the aisle, getting to the alter. Having a hissy fit "where are all the gasps?" "right, let's try that again. I'm going to walk back up the aisle and I want all the gasps".

Is it one of those places where you can only hold the wedding if you 'buy' all the hotel rooms as well

Aeroflotgirl · 26/01/2015 10:46

If she had any grace, she would not have mentioned the gift bags, bring it round to me me me again.

angelos02 · 26/01/2015 10:49

A bridesmaid shouldn't be out of pocket at all IMO. It is enough that you have given up a day to celebrate her day with her.

pictish · 26/01/2015 10:50

It might be prudent to gently point out that her wedding is only the hot topic for her. That no one else goes away wondering about it, as they have their own stuff going on.

Or send her this as a card saying 'Yes...you!'

To have another rant about friend's wedding
Floggingmolly · 26/01/2015 10:56

I'm just getting upset about my wedding because no one is asking me about it unless I bring it up
You think that's a breakthrough?? Hmm Toughen up, ffs, op.

Floggingmolly · 26/01/2015 10:57

Ha, I love that, pictish Grin

cathyscarlett · 26/01/2015 11:01

That sums it up pictish!

No Flogging, I meant the first paragraph was a breakthrough. That second part spoilt it a bit.

OP posts:
CharityD · 26/01/2015 11:03

Love it pictish

So that's a breakthrough yet nobody has pointed out to the bride how much the shindig is costing them? Confused

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