Hi everyone, I hope you are well.
I’ve been invited to a friend from my postgraduate course’ wedding abroad in Croatia this August. I got the invite last year. I’m part of a “trio” of 2 other female friends and one of them is the bride. I very excitedly accepted the wedding invite, and myself and our other friend have booked an airbnb for one week. I was very excited, and happy to be going with our other friend too as its non-plus ones for us, and I don’t really know her other friends or family (though I’m invited to the hen do in June)
I met up with our other friend over the weekend, and she told me that our bride friend asked her to be one of her bridesmaids. This really upset me. I used to live near to them but I had to relocate due to my relationship ending at the time. It meant that the two of them grew closer together, and I was left out a lot of the time due to the distance. I kept going to visit the two of them when I could, but neither of them visited me.
I completely spiralled with overthinking and worrying at the weekend. It’s bringing so much up for me like I am not good enough, I’m not a valued friend, I’ve been singled out etc etc.
she has already selected 4 other bridesmaids last year, and our friend being a 5th was a later decision that was made a month ago. I feel a bit blindsided by it. It also means that on the morning of the wedding, I’ll just be on my own getting ready and making my way over etc, and none of this has been explained to me etc. I do struggle with anxiety anyway and that’s my own stuff that I’m receiving therapy for currently. This has put a large black cloud over the upcoming hen do and wedding for me and tbh, I really don’t feel like going anymore. I just have images of me really struggling with anxiety the whole time, and feeling alone and left out.
am I being completely irrational and unreasonable here? I feel completely horrible and don’t want to upset my friends or take away from her special day either.
p.s. I’m not really big on hen dos, and the whole bridal party/bridesmaids things personally. I find it all quite toxic and just full of drama.
AIBU?
Friend’s Wedding Abroad…
RichTea90 · 26/03/2024 17:56
Am I being unreasonable?
501 votes. Final results.
POLLIvee · 26/03/2024 18:21
Wow, how annoying. I can see why you’re upset.
I’m sure that neither of your friends meant to hurt you. Bridesmaid-friend didn’t have much choice, and bride-friend is totally focused on the wedding and just hasn’t thought about you at all. But, the bride has been surprisingly selfish, it obviously hasn’t crossed her mind to wonder how your holiday would be. Or maybe she’s just an extrovert and assumes you’ll find random guests to hang out with. But I would never send invites to an overseas wedding that weren’t plusone. Because that’s just so selfish!
Anyway, going to an overseas wedding where you don’t know anyone, aren’t allowed a plus-one, and the person you’re airbnb-sharing with is in the bridal party but you aren’t, totally sucks and is not worth the money. So my question to you is: how much do you want to keep these friendships? Because if you cancel there’s a risk they’ll both be very annoyed/offended.
And my second question is: can you cancel the airbnb / flight without it costing you lots of money?!
If it was me I would trust in it being a real friendship - ie I would assume that the bride cares about my feelings at least a little bit - and I’d text her something like this:
”Hi [bride] hope all going well with the wedding planning. Hey so there’s something I need to explain, but it’s a bit awkward. Basically I’m not able to come to the wedding anymore. The plan was for me and [bridesmaid] to get an airbnb together and hang out together, which when I accepted the invite I thought would work well as we both don’t know anyone else going and our invites don’t include our partners. But now she’s become a bridesmaid she’ll be off doing bridal party stuff and that makes me a bit of a spare wheel 😬 and I’d be on my own the whole holiday feeling rubbish while she’s off elsewhere with you. I’m not asking to be a bridesmaid haha, you already have 5 and I totally understand that you guys have become closer what with living nearer etc. But, since she became a bridesmaid I just can’t see a way for me to come to the wedding without it being a rather lonely and miserable experience for me. I think it’s best if I just celebrate 1:1 with you in England sometime instead and don’t come to the Croatia bit. Hope you understand.”
Ivee · 26/03/2024 18:28
PS If you choose not to go to the wedding, don’t allow yourself to feel guilty about that decision for even a second. The bride has caused this whole situation by being very selfish and thoughtless. She could solve the problem in seconds by saying ‘Omg so sorry, when I asked X to be a bridesmaid I didn’t think through how it’d affect you, I would love so much if you can be there. Is there anyway I can tempt you to still come? I could change your invite to a plusone if that helps at all? Or I’d love you to be part of the wedding party and be a bridesmaid with X, we’d all have so much fun. But if you just don’t fancy the whole trip anymore no problem just let me know asap. Either way let’s definitely catch up for a drink soon xx”
I’m afraid she won’t respond like that though as she’s clearly rather self-centred.
neilyoungismyhero · 26/03/2024 18:56
I certainly wouldn't be going given this new set of circumstances. I'm not an unsociable person but certainly wouldn't relish being a Billy no mates guest on an occasion like this.
It might be she expects you to bond with other women at the hen night and arrange to meet up with someone at the wedding which may or may not happen.
I would be anxious about it all too and personally wouldn't go after explaining this to the bride.
Quizine · 26/03/2024 19:46
I'm wondering if your friend (the new bridesmaid) has made any comment to you about her elevation to special status, leaving you on your own basically?
I wouldn't go myself, not out of spite or anything, but I dislike weddings at the best of times, forced fun doesn't appeal to me. And to have to be all bright eyed and bushy tailed whilst mingling with strangers all day would annoy the hell out of me!
I'd go to the hens and leave it at that personally, but I'd give a decent wedding pressie just the same. The sense of relief you will feel will be immense.
I have declined wedding invites in the past for similar reasons, and while I know the inviters were well meaning I just felt alone and awkward. I politely declined, sent a gift, and honestly they didn't give a hoot. Too busy organising their weddings of the year!
RichTea90 · 26/03/2024 19:39
Appreciate the responses.
another thing I’d like to add is there are welcome drinks on day 1, then two days later it’s the wedding and then I think a beach party the day after.
I also feel like this is such a big expectation for people to attend all 3 of these things… whatever happened to just a UK evening reception?!
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Mintchocco · 26/03/2024 20:10
OP, gently, and as someone who also suffers with anxiety that is now thankfully under control with medication and cbt, your anxiety is not up to others to to accommodate.
If you really don't want to go, then that is your call but don't let your anxiety ruin this when the reality is I very much doubt that a. this has been done to make you feel left out in any way and b. that it will be anywhere near as bad as what you are building it up to be in your mind.
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