Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell friend she WBU over DB's wedding?

181 replies

ridiculouscaper · 09/05/2017 19:49

Have name changed, as the details might out me.

A bit long, sorry.

My friend is upset with me, and has told my DP that she wants an apology. DP thinks I should apologise, but I don't want to as I don't think I've done anything wrong.

Background: My friend, though lovely, can be a bit thin-skinned and high maintenance. She takes offence quite easily and has a tendency to create drama where there really isn't any need for it. She also has very fixed ideas about how social/family things should and should not be done, even when these supposed social conventions are unknown to the rest of us!

This issue all started with her twin brother's upcoming wedding. Her DB and his future DW have been together a long time. My friend has never really liked the bride, and has never made an effort to cultivate a friendship or anything like that. Fair enough, there's no rule to say you have to be friends with a relative's DP! My friend's DSis is fairly chummy with the bride, on the other hand. The bride has now asked the DSis (along with her own DSis and best friend) to be bridesmaid. My friend was livid when she found this out a few days ago.

She reckons she should be bridesmaid because she's his twin, and is upset because she won't be a part of the wedding party, and (apparently??) that means she won't be in any of the photos. I thought she was BU, and told her so, pointing out that her DSis is much closer to the bride, it's the bride's choice, and that it's the bride and groom's day, blah blah blah. I was fairly diplomatic, I think. She calmed down a bit during our conversation, and while she was still pissed off about not being bridesmaid, I thought that was the end of it.

Yesterday afternoon, she sent me a text asking if I could talk. I told her I was a bit busy with a work-related deadline but said she could ring if it was important, if not I could speak to her that evening. She phoned me immediately. Turns out she was still furious about not being bridesmaid, and after she spoke to me a few days ago she went and booked a two-week holiday starting the day before the wedding!! Unsurprisingly, her DB is upset that his twin sister won't be there. Her DD is upset that she is going to miss her uncle's wedding. Even her DM, who normally placates her no matter what, is upset.

I told her I thought she was bang out of order. She disagreed. The conversation ended up getting quite heated. She said she couldn't understand why her DB was upset she wouldn't be there "as it's not like I'm even going to be a part of the wedding". She said her DM should back her up over the bride, and said her DSis had "betrayed" her by agreeing to be bridesmaid without asking if she was going to be one first. Her family have asked her to change the dates of the holiday. She does not want to because she will lose her deposit.

I tried to be diplomatic at first, but the conversation went around in circles and I ended up losing it with her (partly because I thought she was being an arsehole, and also because I was a bit stressed with work). I told her I thought she had no reason to be upset at not being bridesmaid in the first place, and that she had obviously only booked the holiday in a tantrum because she wouldn't be a key part of the wedding. I told her I thought she was being childish, spiteful and attention-seeking, and that she was being unfair stressing her mum out (her DM is getting on a bit, and has been in very poor health recently). I also told her I had better shit to be doing than listening to her whinge about not being the bridesmaid of someone she doesn't like and has made no effort with. She ended up hanging up on me (she has form for that).

She met DP in town today at lunchtime, and told him she was very upset and had been crying all evening because of how I had spoken to her. She told him to tell me she expects an apology or she will consider our friendship over.

WIBU? DP reckons I should apologise to keep the peace, and because it might makes things awkward with mutual friends. I don't think I have anything to apologise for. Maybe I should have been a bit calmer saying it, but I still agree with what I said. I also reckon it'll blow over, as she has told other people that their friendships are over in the past only to be best pals again a fortnight later Grin

So, Mumsnetters? Should I apologise?

OP posts:
guinnessgirl · 09/05/2017 20:28

I might apologise for being aggressive or rude, if I had been (can't quite gauge if you were as I wasn't there!), but I wouldn't be apologising for the content if I were you. You were just telling the truth, which, unfortunately, is not something people like to hear when they're being unreasonable.

messofajess · 09/05/2017 20:30

I second with @ilookedinthewater

missymayhemsmum · 09/05/2017 20:32

Let it blow over. or what I looked said.

PaulDacresFeministConscience · 09/05/2017 20:32

I think OP can be forgiven for being harsh with her though, given that OP had made it clear she was busy but available for something important - otherwise speaking in the evening would be easier. You have to be spectacularly self-centred and spoiled to immediately think that calling with your wedding related bullshit is urgent. If someone had done that to me when I was up against a work deadline then I would have given them both fucking barrels.

She needs a wake-up call and OP has given one. If OP's interested in maintaining the friendship then the suggested message from ilookedinthewater is good. Oh and OP's partner needs to find a pair and stop pacifying spoiled little madams just for an easy life!

longestlurkerever · 09/05/2017 20:32

Agree with everyone else. And if she's the one that is calling the friendship off there is no reason at all it should be awkward with mutual friends even if it doesn't blow over (and I agree it sounds like it will). You just continue to be polite and friendly in her company and crack on.

KERALA1 · 09/05/2017 20:34

Stropping about not being a bridesmaid - cringe. Is she 12?

DarklyDreamingDexter · 09/05/2017 20:34

No way. If she wants to piss off her entire family and lose a friendship to boot, just because she's not going to be bridesmaid for a woman she doesn't even like let her crack on. Do you need friends like that? I don't!

ridiculouscaper · 09/05/2017 20:35

Thanks everyone. I knew I wasn't wrong in that she was being ridiculous.

To those asking, DP just ran into her at lunchtime rather than by arrangement. Normally he's much less sympathetic about her dramas so it threw me a bit when he said I should apologise.

I was on your side until you callled her childish, spiteful and attention seeking and that you had better shit to be doing. Of course I agree with you but that had to hurt. I'd apologize for saying those things.
I know Tower, I did feel bad about that afterwards, I could have been more diplomatic about it.

Actually in her shoes I'd be incredibly hurt, and I think that whilst booking the holiday was pathetic behaviour your 'speaking your mind' to your friend was very harsh.
You could just say that the family being upset with her was entirely predictable and she should absolutely have expected back lash - no reason to be so personal and mean in what you said.

I thought it was harsh Political, that's why I came on here to canvas opinion. An you're right, it was very harsh, and if I'm honest with myself it was a bit mean. But I had tried to say everything you suggest before I lost my temper with her. I do feel bad for being so blunt with her, but as the conversation was just going around in circles as she tried to justify booking the holiday, and it was like she expected me to provide some sort of solution.

I've painted a picture of an awful person here, but she does have her good points or else I wouldn't be friends with her. She's very funny and is incredibly generous. She was very supportive when I was going through a tough time a few years back, and she's supported other friends with stuff in the past. It's probably the flip-side of her drama llama tendencies now that I think of it - she'll always stick up for a mate! So while she can be a PITA, I'd be sad to lose her friendship over something so ridiculous. We've known each other since we were in primary school.

While I know most of you have said that you wouldn't apologise, I think ILookedInTheWater's suggestion is really good and is pretty much bang on with how I'm feeling about the situation, so I think I'll send her a message along those lines.

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Mu123 · 09/05/2017 20:39

Ah cmon now op, what you really need to do now is try get yerself position of chief bridesmaid Grin

Jaxhog · 09/05/2017 20:41

Apologize for upsetting her. But not for what you said.

JessieLightyear · 09/05/2017 20:44

I actually agree that the bride shouldn't have picked one SIL and not the other. I mean I know is her right to choose etc, of course it is, but talk about stirring the pot.

I mean I don't enjoy being a bridesmaid in all honesty. But in that situation, I'd be a bit miffed on a point of principal, rather than because I actually wanted to be a bridesmaid if that makes sense.

That said, booking a holiday to deliberately miss your twin brothers wedding is batshit. I'd go with the text upthread that says you told her because true friends etc.

HildaOg · 09/05/2017 20:45

She's a spoiled brat because everybody has indulged her to this point. I would send her a message stating exactly that and stand by every word that was said. If she can't get her head out of her arse then that's her problem.

CouldntMakeThisShitUp · 09/05/2017 20:46

it's about time someone pointed out some harsh home truths to her.
her own family need to set her straight on it too and stop enabling her childish and immature behaviour.

MaisyPops · 09/05/2017 20:48

Don't apologise. Your friend is being high maintenance and trying to force people's hands.
It reflects on her if she does this just to try and get in some photos.

That said, it would never have crossed my mind to not have DSIL as one of my bridesmaids. It helps her and I are friends too but even if we weren't I'd have had her as a bridesmaid. Just like if I had a brother DH would have included him in his groomsmen. I do think that including siblings of the opposite sex in the bridal party is just a nice thing to do. Unless there's any history I don't get why the bride wouldn't have included her husbands sister. (But maybe that's just me. Siblings in wedding party is normal in my circle).

ridiculouscaper · 09/05/2017 20:48

Incidentally, I have a twin brother but couldn't care less if I end up in his wedding. In fact, I'd relish the chance to pick my own dress and get pissed
Zeppo!!! GrinGrinGrin I actually said something like that to her the day she found out - told her being a bridesmaid looks like hard work so she'd have more fun not being one!

The friend's future sil knows exactly how much trouble she's causing and probably did this with the expectation of this reaction [...] I bet this sudden friendship with the second sil ends soon after the wedding as she would have served her purpose.
Actually I don't think that's the case Logan, genuinely. The bride and the other sister have been quite friendly for a while so it's not a new thing. They have more shared interests than the bride and my friend, and IMO the lack of friendship between my friend and the bride is largely down to resistance from my friend's side. The bride wouldn't be my favourite person in the world, but she's nice enough. I've always had the impression my friend was a bit jealous of the ride's relationship with the twin - not in a creepy incestuous way, just that she felt like the bride had stolen her twin friendship or something (the bride and groom have been together since we were young teens, I reckon about 15 years now).

OP posts:
ridiculouscaper · 09/05/2017 20:52

Mu123 GrinGrinGrin now that would put the cat amongst the pigeons!

OP posts:
QuiteLikely5 · 09/05/2017 20:54

Sounds like the SiL from hell! Absolutely jealous and spiteful individual!

Eurghhhhh I bet the bride is delighted this horror is not coming!

It's a shame it was you and not her enabling family who had to call her out on her silly behaviour

CurlyBlueberry · 09/05/2017 20:55

I'm in the minority clearly but I never hesitated over having my DH's sister to be my bridesmaid. It felt like the right thing to do. Especially as she's his twin I can understand her being upset. I also feel asking one of his sisters and not the other was surely bound to cause a rift. It's not her day, granted, but it's also less than thoughtful on the bride and groom's part. That said, she has WAY overreacted with the whole holiday thing.

hidingmystatus · 09/05/2017 20:56

Why exactly should the bride pick someone who has never made an effort with her?

Hekabe · 09/05/2017 20:59

Agree with all of the above. It depends if you want the friendship... and if you want to he head (i.e. if it'll blow over then everything will fall on deaf ears after she's gotten over the outrage). I have a few friends like that.

Perhaps a "Look, I AM sorry that I snapped. You caught me at a bad time. However, I am your friend and I love you - I wouldn't be doing out relationship justice by telling you things that I feel are untrue, and I think you really should take a few days to consider what you think is important about the wedding (i.e. her brother), what are you trying to achieve? Do you want you brother to be happy? Because, from all aspects you've hurt a fair few people, and I wonder how you would feel with the shoe on the other twin."

Feel for the DB and his bride though. Awful.

Or if you're done, sod her. ignore it and move on.

Rubies12345 · 09/05/2017 20:59

TBH I think it was a bit rotten to have one sister and not the other but clearly I'm in the minority as well.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 09/05/2017 20:59

Your friend sounds like incredibly hard work and the kind of person who's often her own worst enemy. She really hasn't behaved well and she's been very self-absorbed. But I think of course being left out of the bridal party as the only sister (presuming here that the bride doesn't have another sister who also wasn't asked) was going to sting, and the bride could/should have foreseen this and either asked her too for the sake of diplomacy or she and the twin could have given her some kind of other role, such as groomswoman. As for what you said, I see you were driven to it by extreme provocation, and her self-absorption was infuriating, but (as you are aware) you went too far. I think I would be telling her that I was sorry she was hurt and that she was a lovely person but that her behaviour over this hadn't been good and I think she should reconsider.

AcrossthePond55 · 09/05/2017 21:01

Don't apologize. An apology in any form or for any part of your conversation will simply reaffirm to her that she is absolutely right.

Don't do it.

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/05/2017 21:02

Well I dont think it was cruel to tell her that she is being spiteful childish and attention seeking, because she was! You wont be the only person thinking that and one would hope that it would lead to a bit of self reflection that if one of her best friends is saying that then what is everyone else thinking........sounds like a vain hope though.

She was determined to make it all about her and she couldnt do that by being bridesmaid so she did it by being conspicuous by her absence knowing that all your DB will hear all day is "Where is X?" You cant get more attention seeking than that.

If I was to send her any message it would be

"I am sorry if what I said upset you but you have upset a hell of a lot of people with your own behaviour. I am your friend and because I am your friend I told you the truth, would expect any less of me? If you love your brother as much as I know you do, then will you please reconsider the holiday? Surely your love for your brother outweighs any anger or hurt you may feel because of the bride not asking you to be a BM? Can you not do it for him?"

InvisibleKittenAttack · 09/05/2017 21:04

Oh don't feed the drama llama.

Just ignore her until she's calmed down. She did need telling straight that it's clear she's just booked the holiday as an attention seeking, spiteful tantrum, that everyone will see it that way. Much better to have it spelt out to her while she's got time to 'fix' this rather than being he subject of family gossip at the wedding.