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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:
FrancisCrawford · 10/05/2017 12:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

grannytomine · 10/05/2017 12:40

Those close enough to know she is the grooms twin will probably be aware that she has spent years of being unpleasant to the bride.

The OP doesn't say she has been unpleasant, not going out of your way to be friends doesn't mean you are unpleasant.

Presumably because the bride has chosen her attendants she has and she has made clear that this branch of the family aren't included so she won't be upset that they have gone off to enjoy themselves elsewhere.

I hate the politics in weddings but it is foolish to pretend they don't exist.

grannytomine · 10/05/2017 12:41

Francis Crawford, really most people I know say the same thing, the guests will moan about where they are sitting, if there is a theme or no theme, if there is a money poem, if they like the dress, the venue and anything else you can mention. Have a look at some of the wedding threads on here, people argue about all sorts.

FrancisCrawford · 10/05/2017 12:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

grannytomine · 10/05/2017 12:55

The OP says her friend has, over the years, never really liked the bride and has never made an effort to cultivate a friendship. It's hard to imagine the bride isn't fully aware of this.

But that isn't the same as saying she has spent years being unpleasant to her. There are probably alot of people in the world you haven't made an effort to cultivate a friendship with but were you being unpleasant to them?

Justanothernameonthepage · 10/05/2017 12:58

Granny, I must have been a terrible bride then. Wanted a smaller relaxed chilled out wedding so didn't have any of my 4 SIL's as BMs and just had my sister as MoH. My SILs are lovely but loud and excitable and all I wanted was to relax and enjoy it. We did ask 3 of them to be ushers though, but not the 9yr old (although they pulled out at the last minute)

grannytomine · 10/05/2017 13:07

No justanothername on the page, you treated them equally, nothing terrible about that. If you had chosen three and left the 4th one out that wouldn't have been nice.

I had a very small wedding, we told people the day before and 12 of us went for a meal. Everyone treated equally, alot of people couldn't do it at short notice but that was fine, the ones who could came along, no worries about special outfits, presents etc. They just came along and we had a nice time and avoided all the conflict. I speak as someone with 15 female cousins, some of them already had daughters so can you imagine the politics of picking some and not others?

AmeliaLion · 10/05/2017 13:20

granny, I don't understand why it is necessary to treat everyone exactly the same. I have four sisters and would never expect all of us to be bridesmaids for each other. I certainly wouldn't expect to be bridesmaid at DBro's wedding, because I'm not particularly close to his girlfriend. DSis2 is though, and if she were asked I wouldn't dream of being offended.

I guess it depends on what you think the role of a bridesmaid is though. If it is all about being seen to be important I can understand the offense (though I think it is very childish). IMO a bridesmaid is there to support the bride - so she should be free to choose whoever she wants.

FrancisCrawford · 10/05/2017 13:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhereYouLeftIt · 10/05/2017 13:47

"Even her DM, who normally placates her no matter what, is upset."
And there is the source of the problem. Your friend has a long history of being pandered to by her mother, and as such expects to be pandered to by everyone.

Yes, she is attention-seeking, yes, she is being childish, and yes she is being spiteful. And a total arsehole.

OP, DO NOT APOLOGISE TO HER IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM. As has already been said, she will twist 'I'm sorry you are upset' into total vindication of her very bad behaviour. Don't do it. Hold your nerve and DO NOT APOLOGISE.

ILookedintheWater's suggested text is excellent.
" 'I consider you a dear and true friend. Real friends tell you the truth, even when it hurts. I love you and have been your friend for a long time. I can't stand by and let you ruin your relationship with your brother when you are in the wrong. I hope our friendship survives this and that you can understand that I will always do what I think is best for you because I care.' Melodramatic enough to fuel her need for drama/hopefully make her think but true enough to sock it to her again." And best of all, not a hint of apology. Because frankly you have absolutely nothing to apologise for, unlike her.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 10/05/2017 13:50

Dont apologise. My Dsis has two sisters, she picked our younger sister to a bridesmaid, along with her two closest friends. Did I care? Nope. Being bridesmaid is a hassle I couldnt have been arsed with.

Louiselouie0890 · 10/05/2017 13:56

YADNBU she soy ds exactly like my mother everything turns around to be about her and thinks she can go around throwing tantrums and people should just put up with it and then move on when she's done just to keep the peace it's so annoying. You were right she's an idiot I wouldn't give in she needs to grow the hell up.

user1493022461 · 10/05/2017 13:58

God, don't apologise, all she will hear is that you think she is in the right and you'll be legitimising her crazy shit.
It's about time someone told her

user1493022461 · 10/05/2017 14:00

She will feel humiliated as everyone will wonder why she was left out, I think the bride has been at best thoughtless and at worst nasty

Nobody will wonder, they will know why. And its not the bride that is nasty and thougthless.

RiversrunWoodville · 10/05/2017 14:03

Personally I wouldn't apologise, I can see why you were driven to deliver the sentiments the way you did and what you said about her behaviour was right. If friend has form for coming round like nothing has happened I'd sit it out. For her Db I hope she changes the holiday

grannytomine · 10/05/2017 14:04

AmeliaLion, you might not be offended if one of your sisters was a bridesmaid but you might feel different if all four were. Personally I can think of few things I would rather do, I have been asked to be a bridesmaid but I have never been one and I think I'm safe now, but this woman is upset. The OP who says she is her friend has been beyond blunt in her reply to someone who is upset regardless of if you, I or the queen thinks she should be upset.

user1493022461 · 10/05/2017 14:21

Just because someone is upset doesn't mean they have any rights to sympathy.
She caused the issue that caused her upset. She has upset lots of other people. Why not keep your concern for them?

Ginmakesitallok · 10/05/2017 14:25

She's being an arse. My twin brother got married earlier this year - it never entered my head that I should be bm - and I LIKE my new sil!

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 10/05/2017 14:25

Also OP, did she actually book the holiday or did she just say that in hope to get her own way?

Kokusai · 10/05/2017 14:30

The bridesmaid is all about sporting the bride and they generally choose their closest friends. They don't choose people to 'honer them with their importance'. The stupid drama lama friend doesn't even like the bride, so why woudl she want to be her bridesmaid?

She should be a big enough person to go to the bloody weding and support her twin brother FFS.

How on earth you can stand being friends with this toss pot I don't know OP.

Notonthestairs · 10/05/2017 17:30

Being a bridesmaid isn't just about wearing a dress and getting your photo taken. It's about supporting the bride in the run up to the wedding, helping her get dressed if needed, organising the hen do and keeping the bride calm and relaxed on the day - i.e being supportive, generous and kind to someone you care about.

Is the Groom's twin sister up for all of this and will be willing to enter in to the spirit of the day?
She hasn't really indicated any of this has she?

treaclesoda · 10/05/2017 17:56

I can see I'm swimming against the tide on this but I've never thought of being a bridesmaid as anything other than turning up on the day and wearing a dress. I've never really thought of getting married as something that needs support. My bridesmaid wasn't involved in my wedding preparations in any way. She just wore a fancy dress on the day. I've been bridesmaid three times and never did anything other than turn up on the day and wear what the bride wanted me to wear.

Notonthestairs · 10/05/2017 18:06

Fair enough Treacle.
As a bridesmaid (only 2x) I was expected to do quite a bit more and was happy to do so because both women were close and lovely friends.
My bridesmaid had to have a bloody lesson on how to get me in and out of my dress (it wasnt that hard there were just a lot tiny buttons - a big mistake if anyone is thinking of a dress like that). We also had a family bereavement in the run up to my wedding and she took on loads of stuff one the day before to ease a bit of the pressure. I liked having a good friend outside the church with me whilst my dad was freaking out - sometimes you need someone to help you see the funny side of it all.

ComputerUserNotTrained · 10/05/2017 18:08

Her behaviour over this is a perfect demonstration of why she wasn't asked to be a bridesmaid. She'd have been an absolute fucking nightmare.

I don't think you should apologise, op.

Iamastonished · 10/05/2017 19:18

I'm with Treaclesoda on this. My sister was my bridesmaid. She wore a suit of her own choosing, and just was behind me as I walked down the aisle. I didn't need any support. I didn't have a hen do as it never occurred to me. I'm not really sure they were much of a thing 36 years ago. I didn't have to do much organising and running around for my wedding as we had a simple church ceremony and a reception in the hotel near the church. We didn't have an evening do either.

I don't understand why brides need all this "support"