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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sacked as a bridesmaid

188 replies

rainbowsprinkle · 22/04/2019 10:58

So last week my SIL sacked me as. bridesmaid and I genuinely don't know whether IABU or her.

Just for context, I am a student and she is several years older than me and has lived with her fiancé for about six years. We were all delighted when he proposed last autumn because it's something she's wanted, and has made clear she's wanted, for a long time.

Anyway, there was an initial problem because she'd asked some family members to be bridesmaids (before the proposal) and changed her mind, leaving them pretty cross. As a consolation she told them that they could go wedding dress shopping with her, but on the week of the day said they couldn't come because there wasn't enough room in the taxi.

So - already some bad feeling in the family, but I was pleased to be asked and looking forward to it.

Even though the wedding was two years away I was asked to pay £60 for hair, £70 for make-up and £40 for specific coloured shoes. I said I would pay for hair and shoes but that I would do my make up myself. I'm good at it, and could definitely have done the make up she wanted, but she was cross about it (i should say that she's buying the dresses, which are £20 each).

Then a chat was set up to discuss the hen do. I won't have a car or an income, so said I would travel up to 90 mins (my mum would take me) and pay up to £150. Was this mean do you think? It felt in keeping with what everyone else was saying, and we found lovely properties that fit the bill. In the end, the bride chose something much further away. Those of us without transport were worried, so told her we would struggle to attend. She said she would do a meal for those of us who couldn't go, which was fine.

The last straw was finding out that she had been very critical and unkind about the fact that me and my bf got engaged. She had phoned and FaceTimed people to say that we had taken the shine off her wedding, had stolen her thunder, that it was her time to shine etc.

I contacted her to say that I'd heard about this and that we should clear the air, but instead I was sacked. I'm not worried about that really - in many ways it's a relief tbh - but if IABU then I need to apologise, because I always do if I'm wrong.

Again, for context, I didn't know that my bf was going to propose, it was a surprise. We've been together three years, so it felt right. We haven't set a date yet, so I don't think we've stolen her thunder and our wedding will definitely be after hers. I suppose that I have been talking about wedding stuff, because I'm excited, but imagined that we'd be able to talk about things together. She lives an hour away while we live in the same town as both of our families, so people have been taking an interest and asking lots of questions.

So in her last message she said that I had taken the attention away from her, that I had obstructed everything she'd planned, that I hadn't offered to help (I genuinely didn't know that she would need any help yet, absolutely expected to be helping with invitations and favours and things nearer the time).

So, I'm a lot younger than the other bridesmaids and feel that, if I've genuinely behaved badly or done something wrong, I need to make it right. So, AIBU?

OP posts:
CupOhTea · 22/04/2019 14:26

And fwiw, we each booked our weddings independently, before I think I’d even met her, so there was no “copying” involved. Weirdo.

Driftingthoughlife · 22/04/2019 14:28

What are the £20 dresses like op
We wore £30 dresses at my best friends wedding but they where the end of season sale in debhanhams and were gorgeous

DarlingNikita · 22/04/2019 14:30

She's a nightmare. Fuck her and fuck her wedding.

AssangesCat · 22/04/2019 14:37

Once you've married before her in a touching and beautiful ceremony, and been lucky enough to be expecting your first-born, when you shyly share the news at her wedding (maybe as part of one of the speeches) please do come back and post live from the reception.

If you crack on you might even have an adorable newborn to take to her wedding, and say to her with a wink "This is how thunder is stolen."

user1480880826 · 22/04/2019 14:41

I thought these things only happened on TV.

You’ve done nothing wrong so have nothing to apologise for. She sounds barking mad.

Is she always so high maintenance?

Confusedbeetle · 22/04/2019 14:44

Lucky escape

Lizzie48 · 22/04/2019 14:45

You’re well out of it, she sounds like a complete nightmare, throwing a childish strop. It reminds me of my 2 DDs shouting, ‘It’s my turn now! Mummy, she won’t let me have it!’

The thing is, you’re supposed to grow out of that behaviour. Grin

MollyYouInDangerGirl · 22/04/2019 14:50

Shes being crazy.

She got married in the autumn and now a good 6 months later you've got engaged and she thinks the shine has been taken off her? She needs to get a life

Also shes already dress shopping 2 years before the wedding? I find that weird

MollyYouInDangerGirl · 22/04/2019 14:50

Sorry I meant to say she got engaged in the autumn, not married

perfectstorm · 22/04/2019 14:54

I'll never comprehend how people think their wedding is the only one that has ever occurred or should ever occur. With very long engagements, it gets even more insane.

Ellenborough · 22/04/2019 14:59

So she's not getting married for approximately 18 months yet but she's still sulking because you've stolen her thunder by getting engaged? Hmm

And is she really only spending 20 quid on dresses or should that have said 200? Because if it's only 20 then sod paying to by your own shoes and having expensive hair and makeup, just so she can put you in a 20 quid dress. Hmm

Ellenborough · 22/04/2019 15:00

But frankly it sounds like you are well out of it. Just go as a guest and avoid all the drama. At least you won't have to be at her beck and call for the next year or so.

PregnantSea · 22/04/2019 15:01

This is insane. What a strange woman. I would just leave it and then be civil when you next have to see her. You don't want to poke the crazy bear - back away quietly!

Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe · 22/04/2019 15:04

please do not apologize for getting engaged and being happy....Your sister is batshit if thats what she thinkks you have done it for...She needs to grow up.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 22/04/2019 15:07

You have had such a lucky escape!

Your mission now is to have a better engagement party, hen do and wedding than her just to see how soon you can make her explode Wink

TapasForTwo · 22/04/2019 15:08

What's the betting that she falls out with several more friends before the hen do?

Lalliella · 22/04/2019 15:09

You’ve done nothing wrong OP. She is bridezilla. You need to make sure you get your money back. Say you need it for you’re own wedding which you’ve booked for a month before hers 😂

MockerstheFeManist · 22/04/2019 15:12

"Sacked as a bridesmaid"

  • 'Unfrocked,' shirley?
AwdBovril · 22/04/2019 15:14

She sounds like a lot of hard work. Perhaps, one day, she will realise that not everything is about her, & while she is naturally excited about her wedding, it's not at the forefront of other people's minds. You seem to have had a lucky escape.

rainbowsprinkle · 22/04/2019 15:23

Some of your suggestions are pure evilGrin

PP have asked about the bridesmaids dresses. They are indeed only costing £20 but I think that was a sale price. They wouldn't be my choice, but they're not awful.

Regarding the money for the make up, hair and shoes. I think I've misrepresented her there. We were given a link to order the shoes, and a photo of the preferred hair and make up, and told that she had booked the hairdresser/make up artist and how much it was going to be. I haven't actually handed over any money yet.

Rest assured that I shall be paying for my bridesmaids, and having a modest hen do close to home. Heaven forbid any of mine should end up on here complaining about me!

I did forget one other expense I've been asked to pay - compulsory to stay at the wedding venue on the night of the wedding and the night before, costing £100 per night. It really was all getting very expensive. I feel like such a weight has been lifted, knowing that other people agree with me. Thank you for taking the time to reply everyone!

OP posts:
daisychain01 · 22/04/2019 15:36

compulsory to stay at the wedding venue on the night of the wedding and the night before, costing £100 per night

AKA modernday equivalent of daylight robbery, designed by hotels to "invisibly" have the guests fund the B+Gs wedding.

Whatdoyouknowwhenyouknownowt · 22/04/2019 15:43

We went to a wedding a few years ago but my DH is too tight to pay for posh hotels, so we booked into the local (award-winning) Travelodge.

At the wedding itself, we had to listen to all the guests, including the bride's parents complain that the wedding hotel had hosted a different wedding to the wee small hours, followed by a fire alarm and that no-one had had any sleep. The in-laws sighed and literally said "Travelodge, we love them..."

Bride had spent the night marching around trying to get the wedding party shut down....

OP, still lovely, sit back and watch many more iterations of sackings!

bethy15 · 22/04/2019 15:44

She sounds awful. She'd already told some people they were to be her bridesmaids, then turned around and said she's changed her mind.

She got engaged last Autumn, and her wedding isn't for ages, yet she thinks everyone else should pause their life to not take the shine off her!

Then she's buying dresses for £20 but expecting you to pay £70 for make up?

She sounds like a complete loon and anyone who says a wedding day is 'their time to shine' really needs to catch themselves on and live in the real world.

ddl1 · 22/04/2019 16:01

Wow! She's already become a serious bridezilla, 2 years in advance! Just as well really that this happened now, before you had spent lots of time, money and effort on what would always be a futile attempt to please this prima donna. You are well out of it, and frankly I pity the man she marries. Congratulations on your own engagement!

girlywhirly · 22/04/2019 16:07

YANBU. I am struggling to see what the fiancé sees in her, I seriously doubt the wedding will go ahead after all you’ve told us, even if it did, it wouldn’t last with someone as emotionally immature as she is. Will there be anyone left that she hasn’t alienated and upset who wants to attend?

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