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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The Ten White Horsemen Of The Apocalypse Wedding Part 2

844 replies

jessicawessica · 23/04/2019 13:27

I've never had to start a second thread so no idea if I've done this right.
I couldn't resist the title.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
OhDearGodLookAtThisMess · 28/04/2019 15:20

I'd need to go back to the previous thread to check (and am on my phone so not easy).
Thinking about it though, the confusion might have come from the fact that the OP's mum is to be seated next to the neighbour and someone else said that he could be the dn's mum's best friend and the OP then said she doubted it as he was in his 80s and she (presumably dn's mum) was in her 50s.

Isthisafreename · 28/04/2019 15:24

Op - I think some of the advice you are getting re falling out with your mother over this is not good.

I mentioned up thread about my cousin's wedding where one out of his 3 cousins was invited with dp and adult dc. This caused major upset to my mother as the wedding was huge and she is extremely close to her db, who "approved" the guest list. I was one of the 2 not invited. To be honest, I was just as pleased but ended up very annoyed as it upset my mother so much. She would have been fine with none of the cousins being invited, it was the arbitrary selection that upset her.

She brought it up with her brother, who did the whole "nothing to do with me" bit. However, he let it slip that he had been consulted on the guest list but not mentioned the exclusion.

My dsis, who was invited, and her adult dc, were going to decline as I wasn't invited. I told them not to do that on my behalf as that would have caused more friction. I did hold my uncle responsible for the mess as he could easily have told his son to either invite all 3 or none but he was more concerned about ensuring his friends were there. However, I told my mother that it wasn't uncle's fault, that it was up to cousin who he invited etc.

The reason I did that was not because I cared about uncle/cousin but because I didn't want my mother to feel she had to choose. She adores her brother and would have been broken hearted to have a major falling out with him.

I think the best thing for you to do would be similar. Make very little of the snub. Don't make your mother feel like she needs to choose. Obviously, let dn/db organise transport for your dm and don't get into discussions about the wedding.

That way, there will be minimal fall-out. You know your dn is an asshole. You know db1 is a weak, inconsiderate person but at least you will maintain relations with your dm and she won't irrevocably break relations with db1 and dn.

Motoko · 28/04/2019 15:26

One point about the OP’s mum, she must be quite elderly, she obviously isn’t able to drive hence the need for a lift. Do we know her age?

OP's mum is able to drive, but just doesn't have a car at the moment.

ByeClaire · 28/04/2019 15:40

Obviously, let dn/db organise transport for your dm and don't get into discussions about the wedding

@isthisafreename well that’s the thing, there is no obviously here as the OP has already said she or her DB2 will take and collect the DM.

So if your advice is that she shouldn’t do this, then you’re saying exactly the same as me and some others. Very few if any people are saying fall out over it.

Isthisafreename · 28/04/2019 15:53

@ByeClaire - So if your advice is that she shouldn’t do this, then you’re saying exactly the same as me and some others. Very few if any people are saying fall out over it.

I didn't say my advice was unique. However, there were a few posts saying that if dm went to the wedding she'd be taking sides and that they would fall out over that. There has also been a number of posts saying that the mother is stirring and making it all about her. I was simply adding my voice to those who were advising a calmer approach.

In the situation in my family, I could have stirred the shit, resulting in my dm falling out with her db. I chose instead to minimise the friction and allow my mother to maintain relations with her db. Although she does think my cousin is an asshole Wink.

ByeClaire · 28/04/2019 16:07

FWIW I don’t think the DM is taking sides by going to the wedding and I don’t have view either way as to whether she should or not, i think both going and not going would be understandable.

I do however think the DM is being v unreasonable though by not putting the kabosh on the OP (or DB2) driving her there and back - she’s been told this will happen by the OP & DB2 and appears to be fine with this. IMO if she was being fair and trying to keep things as calm as possible, she’d have said absolutely no way, it’s my, DN and DB1’s problem. I think it’s insulting that she didn’t tbh because it’s awkward for all, and arguably humiliating for the OP and DB2, to do a taxi service for a wedding ceremony they weren’t invited to.

Purpleartichoke · 28/04/2019 16:11

It’s her grandson’s wedding. She isn’t doing anything wrong by attending.

The groom should figure out transportation for her. One of the many groomsmen would be an excellent choice to the venue. I wouldn’t trust them to be sober enough to get her home though.

Lizzie48 · 28/04/2019 16:25

I think the DM might be trying not to add to the drama by getting involved herself in the argument. The OP and DB2 have already said no firmly. It’s not as if there are no others capable of chauffeuring her to the wedding. (One of the ten groomsmen can do it, as has been suggested.)

I think the OP and DB2 should just disengage. Their not going so it isn’t their problem.

Lizzie48 · 28/04/2019 16:26

Flipping autocorrect! I meant they’re not their.

OhDearGodLookAtThisMess · 28/04/2019 16:40

I suspect that the DN will absolve himself from any responsibility for (or interest in) how his grandmother will get to and from his wedding. He has invited her and from then on, he will consider it her problem.
And therefore, the OP and/or her other brother will end up stepping forward to assist, so as not to penalise her.
Job done! DN (and DB) get what they want!

Graphista · 28/04/2019 16:56

It's really shocking that Dn hasn't even considered his guests comfort beyond showing off.

I married an English chap and we married in England mainly as his gran was more elderly and very infirm, my grans were younger and fitter/healthier but it meant they were kind enough to accept a considerable journey to our wedding (as did the rest of my family). We arranged transport from Scotland, accommodation for the 2 nights they stayed in England and transport to and from the wedding on the day. My grooms gran was brought by his parents as their car was already adjusted for her and her needs (food at times other guests weren't necessarily being fed, so she could take meds, ditto drinks, a room for her to take a rest in if she was feeling overwhelmed, though this was also available to a couple of heavily pregnant guests)

Wouldn't have dreamt of doing otherwise.

And this guy won't even HELP organise transport for his gran on the day and make sure she's sat with someone she knows and is comfortable with? Not just lack of manners but complete lack of care for his gran.

MulticolourMophead · 28/04/2019 17:03

I agree with Graphista, it makes it more firm in my eyes that the wedding is indeed a "show off" event.

JessieMcJessie · 28/04/2019 17:07

The explanation about OP’s Mum’s age and the NDN is right. Someone said “don’t get too annoyed at the NDN being invited, they could be the Groom’s Mum’s best friend”.

OP replied and said “yeah, if a 50 year old woman has a male BF in his 80s” i.e. sarcastically saying that was not the case.
Nothing to do with OP’s Mum’s age (which I am feeling is late 60s early 70s maybe?).

I don’t think OP’s Mum is “taking the wrong side” by going. It’s her grandson’s wedding. But equally she’s not BU to be talking about how unhappy she is with the arrangements.

SunshineCake · 28/04/2019 18:11

How's your mum now?

Notaprimeminister · 28/04/2019 18:13

The OP was talking about her DN's mother (DB1's ex) being in her 50's in response to someone saying that maybe the DN's mother and the NDN were best friends. She said something like "Yeah maybe, if a woman in her 50's could be best friends with an 80 year old male pensioner". She wasn't talking about her DM.

Pretty sure that DB1 and his ex are the ones in their 50s and OP's DM is at least 70.

Innernutshell · 28/04/2019 18:14

If your family wasn't so small it might be more acceptable OP. What a CF your DN is.

Perhaps he doesn't want too many family members at the wedding because the whole thing is less a traditional wedding and more a modern style networking event.

With the apopletic groomsmen a entertainment.

Might the rest of your proper family chave their own Crazy Horse themed party on the day instead?

Trot on!
SunshineCake · 28/04/2019 18:16

NotAPrimeminitse, if that's aimed at me I haven't read all the thread and was asking how op mum is after her large gin / upset.

diddl · 28/04/2019 18:38

I think wanting a gm there but not aunts/uncles/cousins isn't so bad in itself.

Odd if they all regularly meet up though!

Butterymuffin · 28/04/2019 18:40

I think wanting a gm there but not aunts/uncles/cousins isn't so bad in itself.

But then expecting the aunt to drive the gm to the wedding, yet wait around somewhere else as an uninvited guest? That's bad.

diddl · 28/04/2019 18:45

Are they expecting Op/her brother to drive their mum?

RLABC · 28/04/2019 19:05

Yes @diddl, the nephew told his nan that he assumed OP would ferry her about. Now he's said they'll probably get her a lift from someone.

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 28/04/2019 19:23

Motoko I'd forgotten about the wedding being held in a country house.
I think my brain was a bit addled from the combination of reading about Gary Lineker, Gazza, The Queen Mum's teeth & tossed salad on the now zapped Prince William threads. Plus I'm sure watching Casualty, texting my friend & drinking wine at the same time didn't help.
I should know by now to not throw MNetting in to my multi-tasking mix Grin

TapasForTwo · 28/04/2019 19:25

How has your Sunday gone OP?

NigellaAwesome · 28/04/2019 19:37

I really think this should have been a matter of least said soonest mended, but it might be too late for that by now.

We invited people to the evening do of our wedding, who on reflection should have been invited to the whole day. They were completely gracious, and never said anything. They attended and wished us well and we still see them. There was no animosity or drama.

We were also strong-armed by MIL into inviting people we had never even met to the full day, and 15 years on I still (slightly) resent her for it, but again, no drama was made of it.

Weddings are difficult, stressful things to arrange, and even going by the threads on here, it is a rare person who gets everything completely right. I do think both the B & G have been crass and thoughtless to have banged on about it for however long every week to you, but I think for your benefit, and that of your DM and wider family, it would be better to put it behind you now.

bubblegumunicorn · 28/04/2019 19:41

I honestly think people saying your DM is being selfish are so wrong in honestly DB1 should have sat his DS down before now and told him to make sure family are on the guest list! I keep thinking back to my wedding and their is no way my DM would have let me forget any family from the invite list and DHs mum did the same! Because family should always come first on invite lists and then friends unless they are estranged but that is a different conversation!