Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Wedding guests

346 replies

Neapwind · 25/10/2021 19:32

My granddaughter is getting married and only has one female cousin. She is not inviting her to the wedding as she is only 11 and they want NO children there. This has hurt me and surely one little girl who thinks she is going to the wedding will be very upset. Asking her to be a flower girl would be wonderful.
Other peoples thoughts please.

OP posts:
Lifeisntfair2020 · 26/10/2021 08:59

My husband and I will have a mini wedding with granddaughter while we look after her.

So as well your husband can't come. It takes two adults to look after a "quiet" eleven year old? The favoritism is pretty sickening. To be honest this sort of behavior can split up a family, I would think very seriously about this if I was you. For the eleven year old it's one day, for your granddaughter it's one of the most important days of her life. Are you hoping to have a relationship with your potential future great grandchildren?

toastofthetown · 26/10/2021 09:03

@Derbee

Also, child free weddings are usually pretty joyless affairs, and it’s not even reasonable to count an 11 year old as a child. Surely the child free thing is because people don’t want unnecessary noise, not because they don’t even want to SEE an under 18 anywhere in the vicinity. It’s bizarre not to invite her either way
I've asked this before but is that just for weddings where children could have been invited but weren't? Are weddings where children were invited, but their parents opted to leave them with childcare miserable too? Or where a couple gets married younger and there are no children to invite? If the youngest guest is a 17 year old, does that change the day from joyless, or does the child have to be eligible for the children’s menu to be a joyful occasion?
Nanny0gg · 26/10/2021 09:07

@multiplemum3

You're hurt about something that has literally nothing to do with you?
So she's excluding her soon-to-be stepdaughter? And the child's father is happy with that?

That bodes well for the future for her

MaggieFS · 26/10/2021 09:09

OP, why are you choosing to babysit and requiring your husband to babysit rather than DGD's father do it?

Nanny0gg · 26/10/2021 09:13

@nordicnorth

Why are the feelings of your 11th at old granddaughter more important than your grandchild who's actual wedding it is?! I'd find it a bit insulting if my grandmother was reacting like this about my wedding plans. You're not the main character here.
You can't help your reactions! And she's allowed to be upset

She's posting on here, not sharing them with the B&G so I don't understand all the vitriol she's getting.

And as a GM, I'd be disappointed. Family weddings used to be the one time you'd have everyone together.

Nanny0gg · 26/10/2021 09:15

@brokenbiscuitsx

Several comments on this thread saying that child free weddings are joyless affairs! Wtf? That's a terrible, judgemental statement.

I find it’s often boring people who say that. Boring people who can’t just relax and have fun with adults and need children around for entertainment.

Another judgemental post
Nanny0gg · 26/10/2021 09:22

@Kara198

I had this this when I got married. I have v small family and 2 cousins who are a lot younger. Dh has huge family (his dad was 1 of 9 kids and his mum 1 of 4) and over 30 cousins. We decided to only invite aunts and uncles to the day and cousins to the evening. I really upset my gran and aunt and uncle but honestly how else could we do it without being unfair to everyone else? Unfortunately guestlists can prove really stressful and I'm sure it's not a decision they've taken lightly
30 cousins v 1 cousin

Not quite the same.

MichelleScarn · 26/10/2021 09:23

And as a GM, I'd be disappointed. Family weddings used to be the one time you'd have everyone together.

What's stopping op/someone else throwing and funding a party for the whole family at any point they want?

starrynight87 · 26/10/2021 09:26

I do agree that it's their wedding, and besides that she would be bored without anyone to chat/play with.

inappropriateraspberry · 26/10/2021 09:32

You're being a martyr. Accept the bride's decision and make your plans accordingly. TBH, if I was the bride, I don't think I'd want you at the wedding, sulking and upset because you're favourite granddaughter wasn't invited.
But please, don't have a 'mini wedding' whatever that is - if you look after her, just have a nice day out.

NessieMcNessface · 26/10/2021 09:34

You have every right to feel a bit hurt over this OP and some of the replies here have been unnecessarily harsh, one or two quite nasty and disrespectful. You’re only expressing your feelings on an anonymous forum and from what I can gather you haven’t shown your displeasure to the B and G. If you were being demanding, or trying to influence your granddaughter’s decision that would be different. I find it sad that you are not able to go to the wedding. Your granddaughter who is getting married is presumably aware of this as she must know that you will have to look after your younger granddaughter if she will only stay with you or her parents. So by excluding the younger child she is also excluding you. But if that is her decision it has to be respected.

SeasonFinale · 26/10/2021 09:40

@NessieMcNessface

You have every right to feel a bit hurt over this OP and some of the replies here have been unnecessarily harsh, one or two quite nasty and disrespectful. You’re only expressing your feelings on an anonymous forum and from what I can gather you haven’t shown your displeasure to the B and G. If you were being demanding, or trying to influence your granddaughter’s decision that would be different. I find it sad that you are not able to go to the wedding. Your granddaughter who is getting married is presumably aware of this as she must know that you will have to look after your younger granddaughter if she will only stay with you or her parents. So by excluding the younger child she is also excluding you. But if that is her decision it has to be respected.
What rubbish. She would not be expecting her grandmother to be the one volunteering not to come to the wedding. the bride has not excluded her grandmother and as far as I know the bride does not yet know that her grandmother has decided to exclude herself because she favours her other grandaughter.
ItsAllMumboJumbo · 26/10/2021 09:49

They have made their choice over their wedding. You have made yours
. There is not much more to say, just have a lovely day with your GD

Goawaymorningsickeness · 26/10/2021 09:58

It’s not your wedding so you don’t get a say. If they don’t want children there, it’s up to them. It’s not really for you to be upset about it either. Let it go, it’s not something you have control over.

Cuntness · 26/10/2021 09:59

I have a feeling this is bullshit.

OP won't answer why she is missing the wedding and not the parent of the 11 year old who isn't blood related to the bride.

The autism drip feed.

The overly emotive language.

Ignoring accusations of blatant favouritism.

The subject of child free weddings always cause a stir on here...

ILoveYou3000 · 26/10/2021 10:05

@Neapwind

Are you able to clarify; does the bride have any younger cousins on the other side of the family? Not just your grandchildren. As you made a point of saying the 11 year old was the only female cousin, which would infer there are younger male cousins. Does the groom have any younger cousins?

As for the poster wondering why the 16yo brother of the bride has been invited, the answer is surely in the question. He's the brother of the bride. There's a world of difference between brother and much younger cousin.

RRK593 · 26/10/2021 10:06

@Lifeisntfair2020

My husband and I will have a mini wedding with granddaughter while we look after her.

So as well your husband can't come. It takes two adults to look after a "quiet" eleven year old? The favoritism is pretty sickening. To be honest this sort of behavior can split up a family, I would think very seriously about this if I was you. For the eleven year old it's one day, for your granddaughter it's one of the most important days of her life. Are you hoping to have a relationship with your potential future great grandchildren?

This!

"her autism does not affect her behaviour. Just makes her quiet"

Why can't she stay with her other grandparents or even the her dad who isn't blood related. Even just for the duration of the ceremony?

LizzieAnt · 26/10/2021 10:27

Yes. Have you? How many people with ASD do you know who simplycan'tbe left in their own home with anyone other than their parents, but would be perfectly fine at a typical wedding and reception? That isn't common, to put it mildly. Either she could be left with someone else if the parents wanted to go that route and grandma is just inventing reasons not to attend in an attempt to force the bride's hand, or the child is effectively guaranteed to have a meltdown at that wedding. I've seen more than enough full-on meltdowns to understand why no one wants that at their wedding. It's not like a toddler crying where they've usually forgotten about it and are perfectly happy five minutes later.

The problem isn't necessarily that she might "struggle" in that setting. It's even that by using "struggling" as a very transparent euphemism for "completely ruining everyone else's experience," you're attempting to shift the burden from herself and her parents to ensure appropriate behavior, onto everyone else to tolerate whatever happens because she's just "struggling." It's that her parents clearly don't view her "struggling" as anything they need to inconvenience themselves by attempting to address or avoid.

@PurpleOkapi
I guess you've heard the expression 'If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism'. I do know someone like that, or at least a child - who can't be left with babysitters owing to anxiety - who'd like to attend a wedding, and who could, at least partially. No scenes at the church or reception, though the parents would be working hard in the background. I find your assumptions about autism worryingly prejudiced, and surprising for someone accustomed to the condition. There is nothing in the OP to indicate that the 11-year-old would disrupt the wedding with screaming meltdowns. And no, I am not using 'struggling' as a 'transparent euphemism for ruining everyone else's experience'. I'm using it for quiet distress of which only her parents might be aware, and which could be managed with some (or lots) of pre-planning on their part. I suspect if this child had the epic public meltdowns you're suggesting that she may have been diagnosed ealier. Some autistic people are very sociable and enjoy meeting people. That doesn't mean they find the experience easy or straightforward. It doesn't mean they want to be left out either.

This day isn't really about what the child wants though. As I said upthread, this is absolutely the bride and groom's decision and they should have the wedding they want. Nevertheless, I find it disturbing that you have changed the narrative from a couple simply wanting a child-free wedding to a couple who are actively discriminating against a little cousin who has autism.

TheGirlCat · 26/10/2021 11:14

Two points occur to me. 1. Doesn't she have a school friend she could stay over with or have a play date with on the day of the wedding?

  1. Please don't have a mini wedding with the girl, that will only make the wedding into a big deal and make her realise what she is missing out on and getting upset that she can't be there. Best not to mention it at all, pretend her parents are going out to visit friends or something.
LadyMuckington · 26/10/2021 11:14

@Carboncheque

Does your granddaughter know that you’ll have to miss her wedding to babysit? That’s likely to cause much more general upset.
Yes does she? Are you the only person who can baby sit?

If this was me I’d much prefer my grandparents to come to my wedding over who I presume is an auntie and uncle and I’d make that very much known if I knew what was about to happen. So is your granddaughter aware of all of the facts?

Furtherdownthespiral · 26/10/2021 11:16

It's pretty clear which granddaughter is the favourite here, and I'm sure it's just as obvious to the bride to be who will be punished by not having her grandparents at her wedding. Poor girl. Don't be surprised if she wants nothing to do with you after this.

By the way, the autism diagnosis has literally nothing at all to do with the wedding, it's weird that you are making this link and overreacting so badly. They are cousins, with a significant age gap, are they even close? I don't even know most of my cousins.

Out of interest what's your relationship like with the girls' parents? You make a thing of saying how the younger girl's parents will be able to have a break and a weekend away because you're looking after her, so it sounds as if you're putting them over yourself but what about your other child, the parent of the bride to be? Honestly, is there a bit of favouritism going on there too? I may be way off the mark (and I hope for all of your sakes that I am) but this is exactly the sort of dramatic shit my mother would pull and she is all about the golden child/scapegoat dynamic.

Furtherdownthespiral · 26/10/2021 11:17

Also, sorry but the "mini-wedding" thing is super weird, she is ELEVEN not three and it would be odd at three. It's not her day, it's not about her at all

TheGirlCat · 26/10/2021 11:18

@Derbee

Also, child free weddings are usually pretty joyless affairs, and it’s not even reasonable to count an 11 year old as a child. Surely the child free thing is because people don’t want unnecessary noise, not because they don’t even want to SEE an under 18 anywhere in the vicinity. It’s bizarre not to invite her either way
@Derbee On the contrary, weddings with children are joyless affairs. Childfree weddings are more livelier and let your hair down affairs. Much, much better. Children do not belong at weddings.
Lime37 · 26/10/2021 11:33

Would it not make more sence for you and your husband to go as you are her nan and grandad. Rarther then her aunty and uncle.

Lime37 · 26/10/2021 11:35

Also what is a mini wedding that seems a bit strange. Or do you mean you will go out for dinner with the bride and groom to celebrate there wedding. I read it as doing something with the child 😂😂😂