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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:
Colouringaddict · 25/10/2021 19:56

I assume you are the grand mother of both girls and that is why you want the 11 year old included. It isn’t your place to suggest anything, I understand why you want it that way and that you are hurt, but it is the wedding day of the bride and groom. They get to make all of the choices for the day

TractorAndHeadphones · 25/10/2021 19:57

HAHAHA OP did you tell her she was being invited to the wedding? Is that why you're 'hurt'? Or does her parents having to make other plans interfere with yours?
YABVVU

MsPavlichenko · 25/10/2021 19:57

Why are you hurt? It’s their wedding not your own. If you feel so strongly the wee one should be a flower girl get (re) married and ask her.

londonrach · 25/10/2021 19:57

Why you hurt? Vvv strange to be hurt on something that's nothing to do with you... It's not your wedding...bride and groom decision on guests.

multiplemum3 · 25/10/2021 19:59

You're hurt about something that has literally nothing to do with you?

TaraR2020 · 25/10/2021 19:59

Not your place, op. Sorry.

You need to consider also whether admitting her young cousin to the wedding party will create a whole host of other issues for the bride and groom to deal with. If they have other friends and family with small children, then to be seen breaking their own rules could go down very badly.

You don't have to search MN far to see how inflammatory this issue is.

Respect their decision and support them.

Atalune · 25/10/2021 19:59

Well I can understand you’d like the other GD included, but that’s not the plan. Unless like you say she becomes part of the wedding party.

KupoNutCoffee · 25/10/2021 20:00

Bride and Groom can invite who they like. Their say is final.

But, as a Bride to be, I as think a Grandparent, you do have a place to ask - (not demand to be clear!). Certainly if mine were to ask if someone was invited or otherwise, I would explain - not exactly justify or change - but at least pay heed.

Asking her to be flower girl is a little much! A - she's more a young bridesmaid, and B - that's not to say other closer-to-the-bride girls were passed up due to it being childfree

Are other cousins invited, and is this girl excluded only by virtue of her age - if so, it could be worth approaching from that angle - as in a bit unfair to exclude only one of your cousins.

If other cousins are not invited - fair enough, she shouldn't be invited just because she's the sole girl.

For comparison, I am generally not inviting cousins to the wedding itself - but I have mostly adult cousins. But the exception being 2 child cousins - because they will need to arrive with their parents and couldn't arrive just for the evening reception alone.

HoundofHades · 25/10/2021 20:00

My daughter's planning her wedding right now - and is adamant that she wants NO children there. Problem is that her partner has a 3 year old little girl whose grandmother has automatically assumed that the little darling is going to be a flower girl...

My future SIL couldn't give two shits as to whether his daughter (who's a sweetheart, to be fair) attends or not - all he cares about is keeping out of the row between my daughter and his mother. In other words? He's picked his battle. Not every bride wants her vows drowned out by small children screeching, her dress potentially touched by sticky fingers, or everyone "ah..."ing over cute toddlers carrying flowers and/or looking terrified. Your older granddaughter is probably wiser than you about these things, @Neapwind

neededafart · 25/10/2021 20:00

Absolutely nothing to do with you.

I love children at weddings, but I also enjoy receiving kid free wedding invites where I can palm off my little darlings and enjoy my evening.

The issue with no children including family children, if finding childcare usually. But at 11 surely she can stay with a friend for a sleepover.

drpet49 · 25/10/2021 20:01

Some really dickhead responses on here.

It is okay to feel hurt OP.

Crunchymum · 25/10/2021 20:01

@TractorAndHeadphones

HAHAHA OP did you tell her she was being invited to the wedding? Is that why you're 'hurt'? Or does her parents having to make other plans interfere with yours? YABVVU
I'd assume the 11yo mum or dad is sibling of the bride.

And the OP is granny to both the bride and 11yo.

And yes that makes a huge difference.

Are there many other children being excluded @Neapwind? Are there lots of guests who will have to come sans children?

neededafart · 25/10/2021 20:03

My daughter's planning her wedding right now - and is adamant that she wants NO children there. Problem is that her partner has a 3 year old little girl whose grandmother has automatically assumed that the little darling is going to be a flower girl...

See this is where I'm going to hugely contradict myself. I think assuming your granddaughter is going to part of their fathers wedding is a given. I think it's odd to not want to it own child at your wedding !

Crunchymum · 25/10/2021 20:03

@HoundofHades

What kind of nasty bastard excludes a step child from their wedding.

Your DD should be utterly ashamed of herself.

neededafart · 25/10/2021 20:04

Ignore what I said. @Crunchymum summed it up far more perfectly than I did !

Neapwind · 25/10/2021 20:06

No one said she was going but her parents were asked to save the date and naturally mentioned it. Very sadly 3 days earlier my granddaughter was diagnosed on the autistic spectrum which is why I am upset . Sorry to bother you all other Mumsnets.

OP posts:
lemonyfox · 25/10/2021 20:07

It's not about you or what you want! Not your wedding!

SummaLuvin · 25/10/2021 20:08

@KupoNutCoffee

Bride and Groom can invite who they like. Their say is final.

But, as a Bride to be, I as think a Grandparent, you do have a place to ask - (not demand to be clear!). Certainly if mine were to ask if someone was invited or otherwise, I would explain - not exactly justify or change - but at least pay heed.

Asking her to be flower girl is a little much! A - she's more a young bridesmaid, and B - that's not to say other closer-to-the-bride girls were passed up due to it being childfree

Are other cousins invited, and is this girl excluded only by virtue of her age - if so, it could be worth approaching from that angle - as in a bit unfair to exclude only one of your cousins.

If other cousins are not invited - fair enough, she shouldn't be invited just because she's the sole girl.

For comparison, I am generally not inviting cousins to the wedding itself - but I have mostly adult cousins. But the exception being 2 child cousins - because they will need to arrive with their parents and couldn't arrive just for the evening reception alone.

Don't do this. Don't ask for her to be invited. It's not a case of it slipping the bride and grooms mind where a reminder may be helpful (e.g don't forget that Uncle Matthew has been dating Sarah for a year now, so you might want to think about inviting her) they have thought about it and decided not to.
Lulu1919 · 25/10/2021 20:13

It's totally valid to feel upset or sad etc
But it could be a no child wedding....and if they then made your other grandchild welcome would that mean other children would be 'left out' so better to have NO children at all .

cosyto · 25/10/2021 20:14

Child free weddings are very common and very normal.

If she wants to wear a white dress, her choice. No need to be hurt. If she wants to serve people wedding cake. Her choice. No need to be hurt. If she wants to have it in a church. Her choice. No need to be hurt.
If she wants a child free wedding. Her choice. No need to be hurt.

sammylady37 · 25/10/2021 20:18

*My daughter's planning her wedding right now - and is adamant that she wants NO children there. Problem is that her partner has a 3 year old little girl whose grandmother has automatically assumed that the little darling is going to be a flower girl...

My future SIL couldn't give two shits as to whether his daughter (who's a sweetheart, to be fair) attends or not*

That poor child. Her father ‘couldn’t give two shots’ whether or not she attends his wedding and her step-mother to be actively doesn’t want her there. Neither of the adults are coming across well in this story.

TurquoiseDragon · 25/10/2021 20:19

I'd assume the 11yo mum or dad is sibling of the bride.

The 11yr old is a cousin to the bride, not a niece.

OP, I have to agree it's not your business. If the parents of the 11 yr old want to talk to the bride and groom, that's their lookout. But it's not yours.

Crunchymum · 25/10/2021 20:27

@TurquoiseDragon

I'd assume the 11yo mum or dad is sibling of the bride.

The 11yr old is a cousin to the bride, not a niece.

OP, I have to agree it's not your business. If the parents of the 11 yr old want to talk to the bride and groom, that's their lookout. But it's not yours.

Yes sorry. Mum or dad of 11yo and mum or dad of bride will be siblings.
Cuntness · 25/10/2021 20:29

@HoundofHades

My daughter's planning her wedding right now - and is adamant that she wants NO children there. Problem is that her partner has a 3 year old little girl whose grandmother has automatically assumed that the little darling is going to be a flower girl...

My future SIL couldn't give two shits as to whether his daughter (who's a sweetheart, to be fair) attends or not - all he cares about is keeping out of the row between my daughter and his mother. In other words? He's picked his battle. Not every bride wants her vows drowned out by small children screeching, her dress potentially touched by sticky fingers, or everyone "ah..."ing over cute toddlers carrying flowers and/or looking terrified. Your older granddaughter is probably wiser than you about these things, @Neapwind

Would your daughter exclude her own children?
Ionlydomassiveones · 25/10/2021 20:29

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This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

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