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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Only us and 2 friends at our upcoming secret wedding

68 replies

ThePeachLemur · 17/08/2025 18:15

We've been together 20 years this year and as we are now approaching our mid 50's, with a blended family (I have DD 26 from previous, other half has DS 28, from previous. We also have a DS 17, together). We have decided to get married. Decision made mostly due to legalities around the dreaded ' what happens if something happens to either of us'. We are very much happy as we are, but both feel its time to, well, put a ring on it. We have decided to ask our older, close friends to be our witnesses. My problem is I now feel very real 'mum guilt' over it all. We have talked over the years of just sodding off and doing it, so I dont think it'll come as any great shock to anyone. We've both been married before. My mum is elderly and I don't think she'd be upset. My brother much the same, though I think would be disappointed with no celebration. They live 400 miles away. In laws to be are down the road, but don't drive and are unaware we see partners sister ( a whole other subject of playing one sibling off against the other 🙄) and if we invite some people and not others, we run the risk of making a big 'thing"out of it all. Plus, there's the cost. We're not flush, not skint either, but would rather spend money on something we'd enjoy, like a decent holiday abroad next year, something we've not done for years. I want to have a nice wedding, meaningful but compact. We are taking the friends out for a nice meal after the ceremony. Its mid week, in late October. AIBU in not telling anyone? I'm rubbish at secrets and feel I'll be letting the kids down...help!

OP posts:
anytipswelcome · 18/08/2025 14:04

Choosing friends over your children seems an unnecessary and unusual choice tbh. I’d be upset if I was them, yes. If you went and did it without friends (just two strangers as witnesses or something) then less so but to know you did want some loved ones there, just not your kids, would likely sting massively.

SpamBeansAndWaffles · 18/08/2025 14:06

It's really hurtful to exclude your dc and parents to be honest. They'll hide their hurt from you but they will feel it. Your choice though if that's worth it.

SpamBeansAndWaffles · 18/08/2025 14:08

People always come on these these threads saying they have zero regrets from doing it but of course they are the ones who did it not those on the receiving end.

itsonlyjoan · 18/08/2025 14:09

At my wedding I had my dad hubby's mum ( our witnesses) my 4 kids my brother and sister

SpamBeansAndWaffles · 18/08/2025 15:11

I think adding your elderly Mum would also be something to consider. It would be unusual for a mum not to feel sad about not being part of a child's wedding. It's kind of a gratitude thing.

MrsMcGarry · 18/08/2025 15:53

I'm going to be doing something similar. Partly because my local register office only allows four people in, but partly because my two children really don't like his child and a "celebration" with the 5 of us would mean his son being loud, me and my kids being civil and him being disappointed.

We met when they were 16,16 and 14. Covid meant he moved in with me sooner than we would have liked 2 years later, but neither of us has ever played a parental role in the other's kids life. My kids like him a lot and like that I am happy, but they don't have a relationship with him outside of that. His son pretty much ignores me at their family gatherings, for which I am grateful because he is a belligerent bigot, which makes his father despair of him.

So we will marry with two good friends and my kids are fine with that.

Pessismistic · 18/08/2025 18:28

Definitely tell kids they will be hurt by the secrecy if you’re going to tell friends it’s only fair to tell dc. Explain it’s not a big deal and you’re not having guests but they are welcome and take them for the meal.

Madmumof769 · 18/08/2025 21:13

My mum got married overseas and didn’t invite me and my sister or her husband’s two children-all adults. There was no tension and we were all delighted about the marriage. They didn’t even want a small celebration when they got back. This was decades ago and I’m still a bit upset. At least have a dinner after the event for your family.

melisma · 18/08/2025 21:27

Sorry OP -I think if I were one of your kids I would be devastated to not know about this and to find that you had chosen friends over us.

Ballykissmangle · 18/08/2025 21:48

I would 100% do it, although I would probably not invite the friends and do it with two randoms.

It’s alright saying invite a few people but it’s the thin end of the wedge - it’s never ending. Before you know it, you’ve got 50, 100.

I had a wedding with 100 plus guests and whilst it was great to see all my friends and family, it’s one of my biggest regrets. The amount of money that was spent on it by my parents is embarrassing.

If I had my time again, I’d go to the register office, drag two randoms off the street and just do it.

MyFunSloth · 18/08/2025 21:55

Please consider inviting your children before it’s too late.

Donsyb · 18/08/2025 21:57

We just had a civil partnership for similar reasons and didn’t invite our families (although we did tell them we were doing it).

Just invited some close friends on the day and took them for lunch afterwards, and then had drinks at our house the following weekend for a wider group of friends.

Loubelou71 · 18/08/2025 22:18

You have to tell your kids. I'd be upset if I was excluded from that secret. Why not have them instead of your friends.

Speckly · 19/08/2025 12:56

My DD and DSM did exactly this… Him, his wife to be and 2 close friends went off and got married with a nice meal afterwards. I was really really upset not to have had the chance to share their special day as they were both such loved and important people in my life. Although I’m sure some will say they can do what they want and I’m being entitled or selfish, and obviously they can, it genuinely felt like a form of rejection.
I never voiced to either of them how upset and hurt I was, but it felt like us kids (4 in all. 2 of his and 2 of hers) just weren’t important enough to include. It felt like they chose friends over family and it hurt as we’d always been so close.
Please don’t do this to your kids!

MoreHairyThanScary · 21/08/2025 07:02

My nil did this then told dh a month later…. Even though they were particularly close it still stung. It reiterated he wasn’t important to her. Please consider invoking your children in some way

Rallentanda · 21/08/2025 08:05

My in-laws did this and the kids were fine. Have a lovely time!

SpamBeansAndWaffles · 25/08/2025 00:05

Definitely involve your dc and also your Mum. Most regard weddings as an opportunity to show people you love them and are grateful for them and what they've done for you. I cannot imagine not wanting my dc and dmum there.

Laura718 · 25/08/2025 00:24

DH and I got married for IHT reasons as I assume is the case with you. We didn’t tell anyone and just grabbed 2 random strangers as witnesses.

Nobody has any idea we’re now married. Our DS was 3 at the time so was too young to understand. Our parents, siblings and wider family all assume we’re still not married.

I’ve literally not told a single person, nor has DH.

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