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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this isn't my job? (Wedding related!)

40 replies

NickNacks · 18/12/2015 17:57

Dd is going to be a bridesmaid for sil in January. Sil has now asked if she can read a poem and dd is very excited to. I've asked sil this week if we could have the poem to practise as dd is only 6 and will need to go through it a few times to make sure it's right on the day. Sil has text back today to say she thought I was sorting it?

A miscommunication has obviously occurred but on what planet is this my job to sort? I don't have time to do this and I don't want to do it. I'm right to hand it over to her aren't I?

OP posts:
SilentlyScreamingAgain · 18/12/2015 17:58

You could have loads of fun with that.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/12/2015 17:59

I'd be uncomfortable choosing a poem in case it was "wrong", myself.

RNBrie · 18/12/2015 18:01

Here you go Op, pick one of these. Job done Grin

www.weddingideasmag.com/4-of-the-best-wedding-readings-for-children/

honeysucklejasmine · 18/12/2015 18:01

Just text her a succession of inappropriate poems (e.g. The Raven, Please Mrs Butler, etc) and after she rejects a couple, suggest she chooses one.

redexpat · 18/12/2015 18:02

Yes you are right.

Unless a text along the lines of "I really like this particular poem but dont have a copy - could you please find it?" has got lost somewhere.

Tiggeryoubastard · 18/12/2015 18:03

Pick a Spike Milligan Poem. People will remember. Grin

ghostyslovesheep · 18/12/2015 18:04

maybe try one of Baldricks War Poems?

iklboo · 18/12/2015 18:05

Evidently Chickentown by John Cooper ClarkGrin

Tiggeryoubastard · 18/12/2015 18:07

johncooperclarke.com/?p=43

Tiggeryoubastard · 18/12/2015 18:07

iklboo you beat me to it whilst I was finding the one I wanted! Grin

VioletEffingham · 18/12/2015 18:11

The Ballad of Eskimo Nell would liven up proceedings.

FairNotFair · 18/12/2015 18:13

"This be the verse" by Philip Larkin. Trust me, OP, they'll love it.

iklboo · 18/12/2015 18:18

We wanted it for our wedding but thought it might finish off DH's gran. We settled for I Rely On You by Hovis Presley instead.

Tiggeryoubastard · 18/12/2015 18:24

Your wedding sounds fantastic!

Tiggeryoubastard · 18/12/2015 18:26

I'm guessing you came from a similar part if the country to myself. My cousin was at the same school and in his year.

mmmminx · 18/12/2015 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SaucyJack · 18/12/2015 18:29

There once was a lazy young bride
Whose arse was incredibly wide
She demanded a verse
So we decided to curse
Her with this poem so snide

BondJayneBond · 18/12/2015 18:29

When I got married, we had a pack from the registry office detailing what kind of readings were acceptable (basically, avoid religion) and with a booklet containing a selection of acceptable poems / readings.

The Owl and The Pussycat was one of the poems listed. DH and I were falling about in fits of laughter at the (hopefully unintended) innuendo in that one.

But seriously, in my experience, it's normal for the bride and groom to pick the poems they like. It's very risky to leave it to other people who might accidentally pick something the bride and groom hate.
Personally, I'd either give her a few suggestions and say "how about one of these?", or tell her that I wanted her to pick because I was worried about getting it wrong.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 18/12/2015 18:31

I don't really see why it's a big deal. My SILs would have no idea of DS' reading ability so I'd think it made sense for me to choose something that we could practise.

DinosaursRoar · 18/12/2015 18:34

The Owl and the Pussy cat. Definately the owl and the pussy cat.

It'll make any childish guests giggle at:
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

But is 'child poem' enough for most people to say "oh lovely"

arethereanyleftatall · 18/12/2015 18:37

It's unusual to ask and not choose herself, but perhaps as your dd is only 6, perhaps she thinks your best placed to choose one she can actually deliver. It's also quite nice that she trusts you to do this.

In terms of 'it's not my job', it'll take 2 minutes of googling and printing, probably less time than it took you to type this thread and read the replies.

MrsHathaway · 18/12/2015 18:41

At six DS1 memorised this to recite at his aunt SIL's wedding. Very sweet, and realistic. Would she get it?

MrsHathaway · 18/12/2015 18:43

Dinosaurs we went to a wedding where one of the readings was "Wherever I am, there's always Pooh" by A A Milne.

The couple behind us thought I was having an actual fit as I desperately tried not to laugh out loud.

DinosaursRoar · 18/12/2015 18:46

I went to a wedding where they did actually have someone read "the owl and the pussy cat" - made better as the man who read it out was rather like the Thespians in Blackadder III - big booming voice reciting this was hilarious, and wonderfully odd.

It would be fabulous.

Actually OP, AA Miles Us two (the "always pooh" poem) would be fabulous as well. It would be very cute.

Bogeyface · 18/12/2015 18:48

I love Evidently Chickentown, its my second favourite behind This Be The Verse which has already been mentioned!

I agree with a pp that you should text her a few suggestions and ask her to pick one. The last thing you need is her going off on one and deciding what you picked was totally wrong, she could hold that against you for years!