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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:
LovelyIssues · 25/04/2019 10:16

She sounds mental lol you had a lucky escape

Hanab · 25/04/2019 10:24

Congrats on your engagement!

Don’t bother with her tbh ...

She sounds like 2 handfuls!

AryaStarkWolf · 25/04/2019 10:27

Definitely not you BU, but if I were you I'd be happy to have been sacked, she sounds unhinged

Lizzie48 · 25/04/2019 10:39

What happened to being happy for the people we care about? You can’t have too much good news after all.
I think the suggestion that this may be because she feels like she’s in competition with her brother might well be spot on. Which is very sad for her but not your problem.

SleepingStandingUp · 25/04/2019 11:00

You havent done anything wrong.

She needs help? She should ask
She wants her bridesmaids at her hen do? She picks something reasonable
She wants to get engaged and married without anyone getting engaged in the interim? She has a short engagement

Just enjoy the day with your lovely DF, don;t apologise, and if it gets brought up just say you respect her decision to have what she wants at her wedding

myhamsteratefreddiestarr · 25/04/2019 11:02

I would thank your lucky stars that you are no longer involved as she sounds crazy. Did she expect noone else to get engage or move on with their lives in the next two years?

She sounds totally nuts, if she thinks the attention should all be on her for the next couple of years. Calm down Monica! Grin

I got engaged and married in 6 months, a couple of months after a friend who had been planning hers for 2 years. It never occurred to me that I should turn down the surprise proposal in case my friend was offended! XH and I decided to get married as soon as we could get a date as we didn't want to spend years planning it, we just wanted to be married.

(The only thing I didn't do was get married the week before her which was one of the dates our venue offered, I thought that would have been bang out of order). Grin

Ohyesiam · 25/04/2019 11:06

I don’t think you’ve got anything to feel bad about, you sound quite aware of yourself and the impact your actions may have.
The bride on the other hand.....
I’m getting married this summer and was SO PLEASED AND EXCITED when one of my best friend’s was proposed to recently.
You dodged a bullet op. There’ll be tears and drama to come!

InadvertentlyBrilliant · 25/04/2019 11:33

How often do you see your future SIL and how does your bf get on with his sis?

I hope he isn't the competitive type. It may have been her banging on about her wedding that made him propose.

InadvertentlyBrilliant · 25/04/2019 11:40

@LovelyIssues

"She sounds mental lol"
I understand that the SIL's behaviour is weird but your wording is inappropriate considering there is a health section on MN for Mental Health issues. Derisory comments like yours just add to the stigma of mental ill-health.

Cryalot2 · 25/04/2019 11:45

From what I see, she sounds a nightmare.
Congratulations on your engagement.
I think sacking you is a blessing , saving you stress and money.

PlatypusLeague · 25/04/2019 11:54

You've had a lucky escape from being a Zillamaid.

PlatypusLeague · 25/04/2019 11:55

Well said Inadvertently

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 26/04/2019 23:47

From what I see, she sounds a nightmare.

Well meant, I know, but a little bit offensive and dismissive for those of us who suffer from dream anxiety disorder.

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