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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be angry about this 'non' wedding?

282 replies

Shufflebumnessie · 13/07/2017 14:53

My sister announced last year that she was getting married and the wedding would take place in the US (where she's lived for 10 years). We declined the invite as it was too expensive, sister kicks up a fuss and my parents kindly offered to pay for our flights in order to keep the peace.
Fast forward to now & the wedding is taking place in a few weeks - flights/hotels/car hire/parking etc are all paid for and it's cost us a small fortune even without the flights. Once we arrive in the US we have an 8 hour drive from the airport to where they live as it's pretty remote, which will take us 2 days as we'll have DS (5) & DD (5 months) with us & need plenty of stops etc. We then have 5 nights in the area they live followed by a repeat of the 8 hour drive to get back to the airport.
After the initial reluctance we were actually looking forward to it, especially the wedding. A few days ago, whilst mooching on Facebook, I saw some photos that my sister had been tagged in....on her wedding day!!! It turns out that they decided to get married on a whim (although still managed to invite a few friends and the grooms parents - who live a couple of hours drive from them). They've now decided the 'event' in August is a casual family get-together!!! Originally we were told there was a pre- wedding dinner, now that's become take -out pizza in the back yard and the actual 'wedding' (apparently there will still be a ceremony of some sort) is taking place in the back yard and everyone is expected to contribute some sort of food. When questioned about all this she just pretty much shrugged it off and said it will be a good opportunity for the family to get together - the only other family going are my parents and we see them all the time!! We also see my sister on a semi-regular basis as she comes to the UK for business a few times a year.

So now we're travelling thousands of miles with a young baby to attend a 'non' wedding, which is costing us a lot of money, is a logistical nightmare and now we have to take our own bloody food!! Am I justified in being absolutely fuming? I really wish we'd just declined my parents offer to pay and stuck with original plan of not going. We looked into cancelling but would have lost way too much money. Sorry for the long post I just needed to rant!

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 14/07/2017 23:10

OP so sorry at latest developments. It's such a shame.

Whichwayyisup · 14/07/2017 23:44

Your sister sounds like someone who wants and needs people to dance to her tune.

Seriously?

You would be an idiot to go

Beeziekn33ze · 15/07/2017 00:22

Southwinds - FWIT I don't think a 'newborn' can be 5 months old!

OP - What a nightmare for you all 💐

Rescuepuppydaft2 · 15/07/2017 00:33

I'm so sorry OP, its hard to have to come to terms with how little you mean, to what's meant to be a loved one. Its one thing to want a small wedding, with witnesses and parents but she didn't even give her parents the chance to be there. Costs for a wedding are very high, especially for Mother of the Bride, I bet your Mum has spent a small fortune on her outfit alone! Then you have had to buy wedding attire for yourself, your two little ones and possibly your dh. On top of that you have pre hired a car, made bookings for several hotels and most likely bought an expensive present that will meet your sisters standards.

My heart breaks for your poor parents, she has been unbelievably cruel to parents who obviously love her and were looking forward to watching their little girl get married. As a sister I could not ever forgive one of my siblings for behaving so cruelly, especially to my parents ( Im pretty sure that kind of shock could kill my Mother). What I don't understand is that this close to the wedding, she would lose all deposits/ money already paid and may have had to pay the full cost. Unless of course it was never booked in the first place...

Presuming that's not the case I can only imagine that they have pissed off a lot of people in the Grooms family too! I would be looking to recoup costs, can the flights be sold on (transferred to someone else), or can you swap to a different flight to somewhere else that you would rather visit. Can wedding attire be returned, can wedding gift be returned, can you get out of the hotel/ airbnb bookings. What has been the biggest outlay? If its spending money can you not go and book a holiday elsewhere with your parents? There must be some way of selling on the flights. It would be far too heartbreaking for your parents to go and have their noses rubbed in it! And I know I would be liable to tell my sister just how cruel and selfish she was, to exclude her family from a wedding they have spent a small fortune and a great deal of effort to come to!

What was your childhood like op? Were you and your sister close to your parents growing up? What was your sisters relationship growing up with your parents like? Its such an odd thing, for someone who wants to be centre of attention to do! You don't get any more centre of attention than being the bride in a beautiful dress amongst a large party of guests.

There is no excuse though, to allow you and your parents to find out via Facebook is beyond cruel! If they didn't have the money for a bigger ceremony it should have been discussed with your parents! If pregnancy or ill health were involved then it again should have been discussed...

Maryz · 15/07/2017 01:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SouthWindsWesterly · 15/07/2017 01:35

Beezie Meh! They're all little

Doremisofarsogood · 15/07/2017 06:51

I too have a diva for a sister who lives on the other side of the world (married a guy from there and stayed there). Announced wedding when I was v early days pregnant. Mum said she'd book our flights but I had to pay her back out of my maternity leave! We took an 8 month old on a 24 hour flight which actually turned out ok but a planning nightmare as she was on prescription only formula. Dsis put us up but was a terrible squeeze! Sis being a diva was a nightmare and the wedding was all about her and her friends. Mum ended up in tears over her attitude and told her how much her attitude stank (after the wedding). It all blew over as these things do but the resentment still bubbles years later and I wish we hadn't bothered.

Your sister has been an ultimate bitch. Whatever the reason for changing plans she should have had the decency to tell you and your parents given the efforts you're making to be there!

IHeartDodo · 15/07/2017 09:14

Just to point out - I think if you can't cancel your flights you can sometimes change the dates on them, so you could use them for your future trip??
My mum did this once for my sister.

minmooch · 15/07/2017 09:34

You know what? Life's too short - just go with it. Your parents have paid for the flights so they hadn't cost you anything.

An 8 hour drive? Well if you are doing it over 2 days that's just 4 hours a day. Two 2 hour stints is nothing - it takes me longer to drive up to Manchester and I do that 4 he journey there and back in a day just to take him to lunch.

Time one of the 2 hr stints with your kids nap time. Enjoy the scenery.

A casual family affair will be much more enjoyable with little kids than a formal wedding. And if you have to take a dish with you, is that really such a big deal? You can stop off at any number of supermarkets and buy stuff ready made.

I'd be disappointed to miss my sister's wedding (if I had one) but there's no reason you can't celebrate with her later.

If you get on with your family then just go and enjoy it. Take the drama out of it.

ProphetOfDoom · 15/07/2017 09:39

Poor you and your poor parents Sad

Perhaps OP if you give the airport you're flying into we can suggest how to have a much better time?

Jedimum1 · 15/07/2017 10:12

If you can really forgive her and try to have a nice time despite everything else, then what minmooch said just above. I'd ask the family there to find a flight from your US airport to their airport, as they might have different prices / websites and probably cheaper than the options you found. However, I wouldn't plan any excursion on the days you are driving the 4h. Plan to stay at a nice place, maybe some nice hotel, cottage or somewhere where you can fully relax and sleep, yet enjoy the landscape or food. You'll be extremely tired after the flight and the drive. You'll all have jet lag. Maybe start a couple of weeks earlier to change bed time times, so when you get there, the shock is less? Thinking of things such as putting them in bed earlier / later a bit each day.

If you cannot forgive and you are going to be upset... I think what this previous poster said is spot on:

"Isadorabubble
Problem is, by the time you get there with the hassle of all the travel you're going to be so p*ssed off that it's likely to end in a huge row. I think you should definitely try to have a discussion with your sister about it to see each other's points of view before (if) you go to try and alleviate any tensions"

I think you'll arrive very tired, you will know there will be no time to discuss this after the wedding and might have an argument as soon as you get there, due to tiredness and in response to questions such as how was the flight? That would put a mood to the day that won't be forgiven by any part and will make the trip completely pointless. I'd try to see your options again regarding changing flights or dates. Maybe move them to 2019 as initially intended. Ask the flight company, check their website too for small print, there might be a small charge to pay but compare it to the money you still have to spend once you are there, it might still be worth it. Check travel insurance too.

I did last year a trip to Spain with my DC, 1.5 and 3.5... I could have bitten anyone by the end of the day. It was an 1 drive, 3h flight, an 1 to change flights, a further 2h flight, an 1 drive. One of them was sick on the flight, the other one didn't want to sleep. We had too much luggage, too heavy: remember one of you will be dragging a pram and a changing bag, don't take one big wheelie suitcase each, plus hand luggage... The horror. If your eldest has a suitcase, Truki is good, don't be like us (we put her toys in), but put the flight essentials and have the child ride it / carry it: bottles, wipes, nappies, change of clothes for kids, dummies, snacks, maximum one toy. The Truki was the only suitcase that was small and easy to access, yet it was full of pointless things!

Shufflebumnessie · 15/07/2017 10:28

Thanks for all the replies - glad to see the majority think it's out of order!!

For those wondering why we're doing the 8 hour drive over 2 days (although I've previously answered this) is due to the fact that we have found a few places we'd like to stop at on the way which will give us a chance to get baby out of the car seat & let DS run around. We'll also need breaks for the toilet / food / breastfeeding (followed by keeping baby upright for a while due to bad wind) plus baby hates being in the car seat & driving to a back ground of continuous screaming is not pleasant!!).

To the person assuming that we've never been bothered to visit my sister, again I've already answered (as have others!!) - we have been to visit a couple of times.

Yes, sister did attend our wedding but she was living in the UK at that point so no travel required.

^I would be devastated if my sister refused to come to my wedding the following year due to cost.
That would tell me very clearly how important I really was to my sister.

I'm not surprised she thought 'Oh fuck it, lets just get married now, my family doesn't really give a shit about me anyway'.^
She told us in October 2016 for a wedding less than a year later. It must be nice to be able to drop a few thousand pounds on travel / hotels etc without a second thought but unfortunately we don't have that luxury. We moved house quite recently & I'm on maternity leave so savings are limited. We were planning a trip to visit her in 2019 (which she was aware of) which would give us time to save up. It has nothing to do with not giving a shit about my sister, it's about being able to pay the mortgage and survive financially - which I explained in full to my sister when we initially declined.

My parents are devastated but still want to go, I think we'll be going as well and trying to make the most of it. I'm busy researching the area to find things for us to do. As I said before, it's not the holiday destination of choice but I don't want to upset my parents even more & I guess we'll have a nice time being together. We were never staying with my sister & hotel has been booked for a while.

OP posts:
unusualmonday · 15/07/2017 10:28

I agree with minmooch - When life gives you lemons - make lemonaid!

RandomMess · 15/07/2017 10:41

Can you amend the trip and switch the hotel booking so its just around the airport area and get your sister to visit you guys instead???

It's just a horrible stunt of your sister to pull to kick off, get you all to come over and then effectively go away on holiday and not bother seeing you - she clearly isn't bothered about seeing you guys after all!

Delancy · 15/07/2017 10:48

Sorry to OP if my post yesterday reads as being offhand, it wasn't meant to be.

Of course YANBU to be angry about the messing about and changes in plans last minute and to find out something so big via Facebook is very upsetting. That is the obvious response.

However, I don't see the value of 200 posters saying the same thing over and over to the simple snapshot we've been given. Life is not really black and white is it, but shades of grey, and I don't think the polarisation of views will help you get any closer to your sister but only drive you further apart, which is not helpful to you or her, and is surely not what you want.

This is not your friend, or work colleague you are talking about here but your very own sister, and thus has far more importance.
I have more than one friend with a sister living on a different continent and their relationships with each other are extremely loving and close. They both look forward to saving up to see their sisters once every few years, and talk about it regularly.

If it was me I would like to think I could be brave and seriously consider whether there is anyway I may have directly or indirectly
contributed to this turn of events. That is hard to do, and you have young children and money pressures to boot. It might be too much for you right now, and that's OK. I guess I'm just trying to add a more balanced interpretation to all the others so that your relationship with your sister isn't shot to pieces because of this.

You don't sound very close to your sister right now, but that doesn't mean it always has to be that way.

Slimthistime · 15/07/2017 11:14

well I hope you enjoy the trip OP

I have a sister whom I absolutely adore - but if she did this to me, I wouldn't tbh. sorry.

JemmyBloocher · 15/07/2017 11:20

Wow. Absolute bollocks. What a selfish person. I am so sorry that you and your parents have to deal with that. Maybe it's a good job she's on another continent. Shame on her.

MrsPringles · 15/07/2017 11:42

That's absolutely awful behaviour from your sister Shock

JustDontGetItAtAll · 15/07/2017 11:42

Well said Delancy! Op please take what Delancy said seriously. Yes your sister is shockingly out of order but please don't let it drive a huge lifelong rift between you! X

In fact I would write an email to her explaining how unfair & inconsiderate you feel her behaviour is and that you expect her to offer some kind of compromise x

JessieMcJessie · 15/07/2017 11:44

Everything she's done is utterly inconsiderate and selfish but the bit that is the most eye-poppingly awful is that she is fucking off on holiday a day or so after you and her parents get there. How on earth does anyone rationalise inviting their family over to visit for a week and then not being there for most of it?!

OnTheRebound · 15/07/2017 12:18

notweavingbutdarning I'm in Virginia at the moment, but have spent 4 weeks this summer in Michigan. Loved it.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 15/07/2017 12:31

Why don't you see if you can move the tockets to that pre-planned trip in 2019z

Reebs123 · 15/07/2017 12:40

YANBU. Don't go to your sisters but book into somewhere like Disney world.

Doesntlooklikeanythingtome · 15/07/2017 13:25

What a piece of work! Hardly know how you'll be civil. You're going so make the most of it.

Blondeshavemorefun · 15/07/2017 15:17

i cant believe yours sister invites you all over for a wedding, long flight and 8hr drive which you then find out has already happened, then goes away on honeymoon the next day Hmm

i would see if she cant change her hm date, or i would change your hotel and not stay in her area for 5 days

but i would drive down to see her but in one day, yes 8hr is a long time and will need to stop every 2hrs for baby to stretch/out of car seat

we drove to devon from kent 3.5hr drive but made it in 5hrs due to stopping/feeding as had a 3mth old, so totally understand the stopping

but def easier to do in one day, then stay the night and almost waste a day

your parents must be gutted and tbh pissed off, they have spent a lot of money to see their daughter for 1 day