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.

to not agree that I ruined this girl’s wedding?

334 replies

itsbritneybitch92 · 04/03/2022 23:45

I was friends with a girl who I met in uni at 18. She immediately referred to me as her best friend, though I don’t think we were ever that close. She was quite clingy and would often have feuds with random people for little reason. She’d never confront the person, but would just be extremely passive aggressive around them.

When we were around 22, after a summer break, she suddenly ghosted me. She wouldn’t respond to any messages and would avoid me in person. She created social events and made sure that I was the only mutual friend excluded. She used to take photos of a group of us in a lecture hall and then crop me out and post it on Facebook. If I sat at a table for lunch with our mutual friends, she’d get up and leave immediately. She referred to a new girl as her best friend. I didn’t know why this happened. A year later, a mutual friend told me it was because I didn’t contact her enough over the summer as she had gone through a rough time. If I’d checked in enough with her I’d know. Fair enough, I was sorry.

At age 24 and about to graduate, she suddenly started to talk to me again but it was awkward. Whatever. I wasn’t interested in drama.

At age 28, she invites me to dinner. It’s very unexpected. She tells me that she’s getting married and I’m going to be her bridesmaid. I didn’t say anything but I really like having friends so I thought it’d be a fresh start. Following this, I tried to keep up with her regularly with texts and calls but she’d either not reply or respond with a vague message. We arranged to meet up five times and every single time she cancelled hours before. The other bridesmaids are mutual friends and I know she was happily hanging out with them.

Covid lockdown number one - my dad died. We were going to meet up on the day. I said I can’t because my dad is unwell with covid (bear in mind this was when we knew barely anything about covid, it was scary). She didn’t respond.

Next day, she then texted me a copy paste job which detailed how sad she was to postpone her wedding. But couldn’t even respond to my message.

Months pass. I’m struggling. It’s 8 months until the wedding. There hasn’t been any planning, bridesmaid dresses, hen do etc. I can’t be her bridesmaid and I tell her that. She doesn’t respond. She then sends out another copy paste message to say that only close family and friends can come to the wedding and she is so very sorry that I can’t be there.

Now it is 6 months after the wedding…according to her best friend and husband, I’ve ruined her wedding. I should’ve been more grateful to be a bridesmaid and I should not have cancelled with such short notice. I saw her wedding photos, she started off with 4 bridesmaids and in the photos, there were 6. There was zero planning from/for the bridesmaids at the time that I left. She also invited a lot of mutual friends to the wedding who she actually isn’t even that close to. They want an apology. I’m 30 years old and sick of this. AIBU?

OP posts:
YouHaveYourFathersBreasts · 05/03/2022 09:41

She’s not right in the head and all those people enabling her by feeding her dramas (why fgs?!) are not helping.

Block her and everyone else who is involving themselves in this whole stupid thing. It’s nice to have friends but quality not quantity is what’s important imo. I’d rather have no friends than friends like that tbh.

rifling · 05/03/2022 09:51

No, you weren't unreasonable. I would block her and her family. They are obviously only going to ever cause trouble and have no idea how to relate to people. You don't need them in your life.

ThreeRingCircus · 05/03/2022 09:55

"I went through a very tough time after my father died and had to step down from bridesmaid duties. I'm sorry if you feel that 8 months was not enough notice and consequently ruined your wedding. I'm afraid my father didn't have any control over the timing of his death."

Then block and ignore.

Minionbums · 05/03/2022 09:56

Only question I’d ask you is why you felt you couldn’t be her bridesmaid, given the wedding was so far away - and did you explain that to her? It could have looked differently from her side if you just said you couldn’t do it.

saleorbouy · 05/03/2022 09:56

Since you are likely to bump into them just send an apology for not being able to attend and explain about the loss of your father.
Then I'd distance yourself from them, you don't need people like this in your life.

Branleuse · 05/03/2022 09:58

Simple reply to friend and husband that you didnt ruin a damn thing and resent that implication after the way youve been treated. That you gave a years notice that you werent going to be able to do it for personal reasons. That she didnt even respond when your father died, and that youre fed up with her running hot and cold and playing mind games, so can they all fuck off with their cheeky apology request, as it is never going to happen. Theyre all welcone to her

MerryMarigold · 05/03/2022 09:59

Sorry but she took from 18 to when she was 24 to graduate from Uni. 😱

BlueOverYellow · 05/03/2022 10:02

@itsbritneybitch92

Sadly I live in the same area as her and her family. I’ve actually purchased there so I can’t leave. I bumped into her husband somewhere recently and this is when the request for the apology was made.
I'd politely and calmly tell him you have nothing to apologise for. If he persists, tell him you hope he's getting some professional help for her, since there's clearly something going on, but you don't owe her an apology. If anything, the reverse is true.
MrsLargeEmbodied · 05/03/2022 10:04

We are not friends
i think would be a good phrase if anyone asks.

Erinyes · 05/03/2022 10:04

@MerryMarigold

Sorry but she took from 18 to when she was 24 to graduate from Uni. 😱
Some degrees are that long!

OP, you were unreasonable to go along with a ‘best friendship’ that was entirely one-sided in the first place, and to passively respond to her deciding you were her new best friend, new worst enemy, wedding ruiner etc.

If the husband of some batshit undergraduate acquaintance came up to me on the street and asked for an a apology for some imagined slight, I would either howl with laughter or tell him a few uncomfortable home truths.

Don’t give this a second more headspace. And if anyone ever decides they’re your best friend again, tell them that requires a mutual liking.

lljkk · 05/03/2022 10:10

Smile, be pleasant but distant, & hold your head high, OP. You did nothing wrong. I live in a small town & empathise with the awkwardness of knowing you'll bump into them.

Poor husband. Heaven knows what a weird story she told him. Let us know how the marriage goes (you'll soon know in a small town).

EmpressCixi · 05/03/2022 10:11

YANBU or rude, sounds like a real Bride-Zilla situation to me.

lljkk · 05/03/2022 10:12

ps: and it being a small community, I probably wouldn't block, just ignore.

dworky · 05/03/2022 10:12

She's not mentally well, is she?

Ignore any comments in reference to her, it's only a matter of time before they will also be on the receiving end of her instability.

JedEye · 05/03/2022 10:19

‘She used to take photos of a group of us in a lecture hall and then crop me out and post it on Facebook. If I sat at a table for lunch with our mutual friends, she’d get up and leave immediately.‘

This tells you everything you need to know about her. It’s your turn to leave this circus.

WisherWood · 05/03/2022 10:21

This might make me a complete wet blanket, but for the sake of a peaceful life when you live around her and her family, personally I would give her her apology before having nothing else to do with her.

Don't apologise to her. Don't ever apologise to people like this. Giving them what they want does not make them back down, it makes them do more of the same shit. It teaches them that if they behave in a certain way, they will get what they want. So don't give it to them. It won't give you a quiet life. It will lead you to be manipulated by them for evermore and will erode your self-esteem. And the OP appears to have very little self-esteem to erode.

OP just ignore them. Block them on any electronic means of communication. If you see them when you're out and about treat them as you would a complete stranger. So you can be polite, but just act like you don't know them. 'I'm sorry, why are you talking to me about a wedding? Who are you? I think you're mistaken me for someone else'.

No, you weren't rude. And you don't tell people they are a bridesmaid. You ask if they want to be and you're grateful if they accept.

MRex · 05/03/2022 10:29

You didn't put her to any additional cost, and she had other people to attend her wedding. There is nothing that you owe her, just remain polite and aloof.

If anyone asks, say "I don't recognise the version of events that ex-friend appears to be giving people. I would appreciate you leaving me out of the drama. Thanks."
You don't need to give people details, that's suggesting your "side" of the story needs validation, and it doesn't. It's then up to your friends to leave you out of it, and those who won't aren't friends so nothing lost by dropping them too.

Shakeyshakeyshake · 05/03/2022 10:31

Isn’t it a sad reflection on the girl that by giving notice and saying you couldn’t be her bridesmaid that apparently it ruined the wedding? The husband should be wondering at that….

SeptemberAlexandra · 05/03/2022 10:33

Don’t give the drama any oxygen.

You do not need to apologise for grieving.

NotSorry · 05/03/2022 10:34

@SheldonesqueTheBstard

No feedy da drama muppet.
Grin Grin Grin
BigupPemberleyMassive · 05/03/2022 10:34

don't feed the drama llama

No.

Women are socialised to sit down, shut up and put up with bad behaviour.

It needs to be called out. If people then realize there is going to be pushback when they start nonsense, maybe they'll think twice.

Don't just be meek. You won't 'inherit the earth'. You'll just get an ulcer and be dusty from being walked all over.

Erinyes · 05/03/2022 10:38

@Shakeyshakeyshake

Isn’t it a sad reflection on the girl that by giving notice and saying you couldn’t be her bridesmaid that apparently it ruined the wedding? The husband should be wondering at that….
Perhaps he is reflecting grimly on how ‘opting out’ of being the groom might have been a good call?
lightisnotwhite · 05/03/2022 10:40

Well you live close by and BF and her DH are able to contact you so whilst I agree with disengagement maybe put your viewpoint first. Point out the behaviour without resorting to personality.

“You didn’t respond or reach out when my father died, I gave 8 months notice about being a bridesmaid and you blow hot and cold when suits. Let’s call it quits as clearly the friendship doesn’t work”

Also you know she’s being a dick. Why are you asking if you were rude?

grapewines · 05/03/2022 10:40

@maddening

Your reply is, fuck off, you are obviously unhinged, do not contact me ever again.
I honestly would. Subtle wouldn't work with this woman.
SaggyTights · 05/03/2022 10:42

She sounds like extremely hard work and I’d be glad you’re no longer ‘friends’ with her if I were you.