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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Second wedding presents

150 replies

WaffleTheFreezerAlligator · 10/05/2018 15:27

A few weeks ago, DH's cousin announced that her & her husband are having a second wedding.

Their first wedding was very quiet, immediately family only (so we weren't invited), and we found out about it after the fact. No problem with this at all. I'm a firm believer in doing what you want for your wedding. We weren't offended not to be invited as we are not really close to that part of the family, but were happy to hear the news and sent a card and a bottle of champagne.

The second wedding announcement was on Facebook with pictures from an engagement photoshoot and said something like "we're planning a big party, you all better be there!". Along with about 200 other people, both DH & I liked the status and sent texts saying that the party sounded fun and we're looking forward to it. I was a bit Hmm at the engagement photoshoot but thought each to their own, maybe they didn't get the ring / wedding they really wanted first time around and are making up for it now.

DH is away for work this week. Last night, DH's aunt (mother of the 'bride') rang me. Aunt starts by telling me how upset they are that we haven't sent an "engagement present" to the cousin yet. I laughed and said "but they are already married!" ( also thinking, regardless of whether we were to get them a second wedding gift whenever it happens, SURELY people don't give "second engagement" gifts to married people?)

DH's aunt has taken grievous offence at this and proceeded to tell me that it is unfair that we got "thousands and thousands of pounds worth of wedding presents" and her DD missed out. And that I "needn't think that bottle of champagne lets me off the hook" and that we're expected to get her DD a "proper wedding present".

She started to gear up to complain about various things about our wedding (which was nearly 5 years ago!) but I was having none of it and told her that I wasn't going to discuss this any further, we're not sending an "engagement present", we'll decide on anything further once a second wedding invitation actually materializes, and that if she wants to slag off our wedding she can ring someone else.

I've spoken to DH and told him to deal with his rude aunt when he's back from his trip. He was totally shocked at her cheek but mostly we had a laugh about it.

I've since spoken to my lovely MIL who has also had a call from the aunt along similar lines. Aunt & cousin don't think its fair that she "missed out" on having her day being the center of attention. She specifically brought up the amount of money her DD received as wedding presents vs what she thinks other family members received for their weddings.

I'm not being unreasonable am I? You don't just decide to have another wedding because you want to fleece your relatives? And even if you do have another wedding, you don't get flipping engagement presents? And if you want to tell someone the gift they got you was crap, you don't wait 3 years to do it! Grin

Also, just for context : DH's cousin is the same age as us (and we are all in our 30s!) We said "no gifts" for our wedding because most of guests were travelling a really long way. However, some people did choose to give us gifts anyway and we were really grateful for these.
The cousin didn't get us anything, and the aunt was very offended that we had said "no gifts" because this was apparently was a clever rouse to make people give us "thousands and thousands in cash" instead of presents. The aunt gave us a hideous fruit bowl about six months later and said "I don't agree with subsidizing people's honeymoons" when she handed it over Grin

OP posts:
Aprilmightbemynewname · 10/05/2018 15:30

Regift the fruit bowl. ..

OreoMini · 10/05/2018 15:31

Do not give them a gift.

CF alert!

theycallmebabydriver · 10/05/2018 15:36

Regift the fruit bowl...

april wins the thread 😂😂😂

Ohyesiam · 10/05/2018 15:37

Sorted, she’s getting the fruit bowl for a wedding present. To go with her fruit loop mother.

BryanAdamsLeftAnkle · 10/05/2018 15:37

Yup. Regift the fruit bowl...you don't even need to wash it out!

I'm going to need more popcorn for this thread. Can't wait for the updates WineGrin

runsmidgeOMG · 10/05/2018 15:48

Yanbu

Stinks of jealousy... This is what happens when materialistic people have a "small wedding" they then attend others and note all the pomp and circumstance they missed out on, though people were obviously generous at your wedding because you sound nice people and they wanted to wish you well. You didn't even need to send them a bottle of champagne !!

Any normal person would suck it up to experience and not pull a stunt like this... agree CF alert ! Her mum in particular sounds obnoxious and rude. You owe them nothing !!!

Lilacwine1 · 10/05/2018 15:48

Sounds to me as though they are only doing it all again, for material gains. Nobody forced them to have a quiet wedding. Wait and see if you get invited, if you do, then you can think about what sort of wedding present to buy. No way would I buy them an engagement present.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 10/05/2018 15:52

I don’t think I’d go. Arseholes.

blackteasplease · 10/05/2018 15:52

Regift the fruitbowl is brilliant.

Definitely a new phrase as in "cancel the cheque", "you are the carcass" etc

Birdshitbridgegotme · 10/05/2018 15:53

Oh my god! U HAVE TO RE GIFT THE FEUIT BOWL.......PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Grin

What is wrong with some people (them not you) just wow

weemouse · 10/05/2018 15:54

Regifting the fruit bowl is genius, you must do this!

19lottie82 · 10/05/2018 15:54

The aunt sounds like she’s a sandwich short of a picnic. Ignore her. Go to the party but I wouldn’t be taking a gift.

Trinity66 · 10/05/2018 15:57

Yes another agreeing with the fruit bowl regifting idea, I don't believe the neck of some people. seriously

dizzy174 · 10/05/2018 15:58

Oh my god! U HAVE TO RE GIFT THE FRUIT BOWL.......PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Leckhamptonmummy · 10/05/2018 16:01

Vote for fruit bowl!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 10/05/2018 16:08

Please, PLEASE, don't have "accidentally" dropped and broken the -horrible- fruit bowl! April's suggestion is right on the nose!

If you have, scour the charity shops for something equally, if mot more, hideous.

Bridezilla's Mumzilla seems to forget that a) they chose to have a quiet wedding and were lucky to get any gifts from people not invited, and b) big wedding may mean big gifts - but it also means big bills! I can't imagine that many people would "profit" from their wedding - and not a lot would expect to.

CloudCaptain · 10/05/2018 16:08

Wow. Is the Aunt on glue? Even if you are a grabby cheeky fucker it's not socially acceptable to just come out and say it. I would regift the fruit bowl or a lump of coal.

Knittedfairies · 10/05/2018 16:09

They’re not having a second wedding if they are already married; a renewal of vows at best. An engagement present? I’d like it to be known that the gifts I received when I was christened we’re not up to scratch, so I’m considering a re-run. I’ll keep doing it until I get the gifts I deserve. Probably a fruit bowl...

Knittedfairies · 10/05/2018 16:09

were obviously.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 10/05/2018 16:20

I’m considering a re-run. I’ll keep doing it until I get the gifts I deserve. Probably a fruit bowl...

Fairies

Grin
WaffleTheFreezerAlligator · 10/05/2018 16:21

Thank you all for replying, I'm so glad it isn't just me that thinks this is CF-ery!

And, I CANNOT BELIEVE that I didn't think of re-gifting the fruit bowl, what a brilliant suggestion! Grin Grin Grin

I'm having lunch with my MIL on Sunday so will hopefully get some more gossip then!

OP posts:
MiddleClassProblem · 10/05/2018 16:26

Please still have that fruit bowl ready to wrap

WaffleTheFreezerAlligator · 10/05/2018 16:26

Knittedfairies your post made me laugh out loud Grin I'm going to make a list of events I would like to re-run until I get the presents I want!

Schadenfreude I might be extra generous and scour charity shops for something hideous perfect to accompany the fruit bowl Wink

OP posts:
fc301 · 10/05/2018 16:31

B.A.T.S.H.I.T. Avoid. Although I would be tempted to write and say you won't be attending wedding after being so insulted.

Furano · 10/05/2018 16:33

Regift the fruit bowl. ..

Thread closed. Best post ever!

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