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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Told future SIL our wedding date, she wants it moved.

135 replies

GammaLupin · 28/04/2022 11:36

I got engaged to my partner in 2020, all was great. We decided there was no point trying to get married in 21 because of pandemic problems, so we announced, mid 2021, to our families that we'd get married in [month- sorry I'm being vague, I'm scared she'll find this)] of 2022.

Everyone seemed fine with this, so we went ahead and started making arrangements for our chosen date.

Our date is ideal because it's a week before school holidays, so we can take our honeymoon during the school holiday week, and we have two young kids who would otherwise need to be at school during this time, so it all works in perfectly.

Partner and I made it clear to both families that our chosen date was going ahead- this was back in November of 2021.
Again, nobody objected.

I have two future SILs.
SIL 1 lives in the UK, runs her own business, and although she's there pretty much 24/7, she's fine to close for the wedding day.

SIL 2 lives abroad. She has two older teenage children and a husband. Both adults work regularly, both kids are at school.

A few days back, I messaged the family group chat to excitedly talk about how much progress has been made for our chosen date.
SIL 2 then writes and deletes a message, then writes another very passive aggressive one.
Basically, the school holidays for them have now changed, so our date is no longer convenient.
Her attitude was that we should change it.
She made a big thing of how they'd probably not manage to get over for that weekend because they'd have to ask for a day off school.

I'd like to say that these kids are really smart. One day missed would not damage their education. She's told us all about their glowing reports, and all the extracurricular activities they exceed at.

My fiancé was really upset by her message. He hasn't messaged her at all, since.
After a night of processing what she'd said, I found a polite way of saying that it'd be nice if their family could make it over, but we understood if they couldn't, and we could always Zoom video call the wedding.

I've tried to keep things civil and open as possible, I always try to look for diplomatic solutions, but now SIL 2 is ignoring my messages, and just responding to other family members in the group.

My fiancé doesn't want to change the date, and neither do I.
I'm not sure how to fix the rift that it feels like is forming.

Worse still, SIL 2 and family are visiting the UK this week, and we're supposed to be meeting up tomorrow for a bit. And then my fiancé, alone, is due to attend a dinner with them. (I'd suggested this quite some time before the rift, as I felt it would be nice for him to have some alone time with his relatives, and I'd stay home with the kids.)

I'm really worried SIL 2 is going to try coercing him into changing the wedding date when they're alone, and while I know he feels strongly about not changing it, I worry how this will effect his mental health.

What can I do? What should I do? AIBU not to change my wedding date?

OP posts:
Calphurnia88 · 28/04/2022 14:27

Family confirmed no issues with chosen date five months ago, you've planned accordingly, and presumably will lose out financially by moving the date, and the wedding/honeymoon you wanted, including other guests being able to attend.

SIL is being ridiculously selfish to think you would rearrange your wedding to accommodate her at this stage, or at any stage to be honest.

This suggested response from PP should suffice, and shouldn't be entertained any further:

"So sorry, we can't change the date at this late stage, too many other arrangements have already been made and paid for."

curlyLJ · 28/04/2022 14:29

Its one day. Of course she could take her kids out of school.
Sometimes you have to put things into perspective - a family wedding is important to kids and missing one day's education is not going to ruin their lives!
The government closed schools for months on end during the pandemic. One day is nothing, her child could just be off sick or something.

I say this as someone who is taking my kids out of school (for more than 1 day) to attend a wedding abroad. After the last 2 years we've had, it's my belief that being away for a special event for the whole family is just as important as their schooling. They will have memories that will last forever.

Ponderingwindow · 28/04/2022 14:29

The negative reaction is a bit over the top. You made sure the date worked originally which was appropriate. The school calendar changed and now SiL and her family will have problems attending. Can people not understand they are disappointed by that? She wants to be at her brothers wedding. The reality is that moving the wedding just isn’t practical. Venues and vendors are booked. Deposits are in place. Other people have already made travel plans and asked for time off work. Sil probably wasn’t thinking about all of that when she got the calendar change. All she thought about was not being able to be there to see her brother get married.

Responding to your SIL with a bit of understanding would have gone a long way. Your fiancé should probably do that during the visit, though really the sooner the conversation happens the better. Explain the practicalities and let her know he wants her there and he hopes she can work something out, but he understands it’s a difficult problem to solve. There may be something he can do to help, but it is unlikely. The only thing I can really think of is flights chosen to minimize missed school time and perhaps needing help with that expense if those cost more.

sillysmiles · 28/04/2022 14:30

She cannot take her teenagers out of school, YABU for even suggesting that.

Not really. Here (Ireland) that wouldn't even raise an eyebrow. I'm pretty sure my brother's wedding was during term time abroad, all nieces and nephews attended and there were no issues.

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/04/2022 14:31

I voted YABU but only because of all this drama.

You said no, you meant no, don't entertain nonsense. Simple assertiveness shouldn't adversely affect MH. I find people who get very worried or dramatic about boundaries have poor ones and create many more issues for themselves than those who are just sure and calm from the beginning. No excuses or reasons, just a firm no.

RedToothBrush · 28/04/2022 14:32

ShirleyPhallus · 28/04/2022 11:52

I’d let your husband deal with it, it’s his sister

This.

And if he decides to pick his sister over you, then he's opening up a world of problems...

He just needs to deal with it.

Ponderingwindow · 28/04/2022 14:34

Depending on which country she is in, those school days in July may be exam days. You can’t miss those for a trip. Am unexcused absence during the end of year exam period means failing the entire year and having to repeat it.

Horst · 28/04/2022 14:37

Yanbu to not change the date yabu for all the drama around it. She asked you said no. Although her brother should of been the one too. Your thinking she’s deliberately not talking to you now in the group chat maybe she just doesn’t have anything relevant to you posting.

also I wouldn’t take my children out of school for a wedding. Only time my children are off school is if they are sick not for holidays or weddings or funerals.

Seaweed42 · 28/04/2022 14:49

Your fiance should be dealing with this crap from his sister not you. It baffles me how often women get annoyed with another woman, while the man skillfully gets to stay stepped away and avoid any conflict. And he doesn't get blamed either because men's feelings have to be minded.
Why are you worried about your fiance's mental health instead of saying to him 'listen, can you pick up the phone and talk that through with her'.
So hand it back to him. Does your fiance have severe mental health problems that affect the family?

timeisnotaline · 28/04/2022 14:49

I wouldn’t dream of changing it. If she doesn’t go then she will be the one who refused to go to a family wedding - you will just be the woman who turned up to her own wedding and had a fabulous time, no skin off your nose! Remind your dh before going out this week that there are two people needed at that altar to make it a wedding and you will be there on the date you have booked and you aren’t interested in turning up on any other dates .

Triffid1 · 28/04/2022 14:52

I can't help thinking there must be more to this because otherwise she's just being SOOOO unreasonable. Is your wedding just the registrar's office followed by a nice dinner for 12 people in a fancy restaurant and therefore, theoretically, easily changed? Because surely there isn't a single person on the planet who doesn't understand that changing the date of a wedding at short notice is actually quite difficult, complicated and, potentially, expensive!?

Rondvassbu · 28/04/2022 15:00

The wedding can't be changed at short notice.
If she's unable to come that's a shame but nothing anyone can do about it.

impossible · 28/04/2022 15:05

Can you change your wedding date to a day that would still work for everyone concerned and at no extra cost? Surely that's the question. If no then to there's no discussion to be had.

Message SIL something like... I'm afraid we can't change our wedding date for x reasons. We will be sorry to miss you and hope you might feel able to take DCs out if school for a day as we'd love to see you there.

Good luck.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 28/04/2022 15:11

so she just can't come then! its not that big of a deal!

My sisters wedding is on a week day - my husband really can't get the time off - So he is gonna stay home with our baby and drop her at Nursery that day and i'm going alone!! It's a bit crap - but what can you do

She can come alone or not come if she really can't take the kids out of school

Booklover3 · 28/04/2022 15:16

Just say no

WouldBeGood · 28/04/2022 15:35

YANBU. If you changed it anyway, what if someone else then couldn’t come?

She’s actually being very rude.

LightEveningsAreBack · 28/04/2022 15:36

Gosh you don't change your wedding date for your sil, maybe if the groom can't make it or your own children but you'd never find a date to suit everyone. You inform people when the wedding is, if they cant make the date and dont want to change their own plans, well that's on them. If they can't make it your reply should be "oh well that's a shame, would have been nice if you could have celebrated with us".

My sil had a trip to Australia with her husband booked that clashed with our wedding, her husband was presenting at a conference and they were turning it into a holiday. My sil said they were away, but she decided to change her flight to attend our wedding, her husband attended his work conference, she went out a few days late. She didn't expect us to move our wedding (and never suggested it!), if she had I'd have laughed. She's a pain in the arse too, even she wasn't so entitled to think we'd move our wedding for her.

Georgesgrumpymedicine · 28/04/2022 15:41

I wouldn't take my kids out if school for anything except a funeral for close family. And I never once missed a day of school except when I was ill.

I know different families have different opinions but I don't think she's being selfish.

Abuildingwith4wallsandtmrinsid · 28/04/2022 15:41

Sil can attend on her own, problem solved

Frazzled2207 · 28/04/2022 15:53

i'd put money on her having got her school hols dates wrong in the first place. As pp said, everywhere I've ever worked (including 3 foreign countries) always has this stuff set in stone at least 2 years in advance.

Anyway do NOT change the date. Presumably if you did that mucks up your honeymoon plans and there will be guaranteed someone else that then can't come.

DH is just going to have to deal with it. I wouldn't worry about him being 'coerced' to change it, unless he is a total lightweight.

Blarting · 28/04/2022 15:55

She's being guestzilla!

Quartz2208 · 28/04/2022 16:00

I am not sure she is being guestzilla - it is hard to know because a lot of it is about how OP and her fiance reacted rather than actually what the SIL said

Which seems to just be one message

@GammaLupin what has your SIL actually said, in one or more message? BEcause I think it is a possible a rift will form because of you thinking one is (self fulfilling prophecy) and your fiance inability to actually face up to this and speak to her

Knifer · 28/04/2022 16:04

Ugh. My husband and I married 7 years ago and his brother and wife still haven't spoken to us because we wouldn't change our wedding date to suit their travel plans. The day we chose was really important to us and they felt we should sacrifice that so they didn't have the inconvenience of rescheduling their flights (spent half year in U.K., half year in China) by one week. Flights they booked AFTER we booked our venue. After they tried to convince us to hold it midsummer as that felt "more wedding like" to them instead of the autumn wedding we had.

Basically, I feel if someone is going to be an arse about someone else's wedding, they'll determinedly be one no matter what and can piss right off. But the rift and the issues his damn brother has tried to cause are still bothering us now. DH says the rift would have been bigger if we had capitulated because he would have had his way and we would have been resentful at our wedding being planned to suit the most entitled couple I've ever met.

SillySallySassySausage · 28/04/2022 16:05

What a shame such an awkward, passive aggressive troublemaker can't attend your wedding …Halo

iklboo · 28/04/2022 16:06

Send her a bridge so she can get over herself.