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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Went to wedding reception without me

473 replies

Caton · 26/02/2026 11:20

Yesterday morning, I asked my partner whether one of his friends got married last year - he had said mid year that his friend was getting married after the summer. I had heard nothing since and it popped into my head - thinking oh did the wedding actually go ahead. He said, yes I went to the reception. Unbeknownst to me. That weekend, he had stayed at his brothers house which is a 3/4 hour drive to this wedding reception. His only child also attends university about 20 minutes away from the venue. He only told me he was driving up to spend some time with his child. I had no idea about that being the reception/wedding date. He reserved a hotel when he got the invite (which I never saw) and didn't say that either. I was incensed - and frankly incandescent - so much that I hopped in the car drove to get a coffee and some fresh air. He had been staying at mine whilst he had appointments in town - His current situation is rather chaotic. He separated from his long term partner 18 months ago and moved out of the house definitively in October last year. For the past 6 months he has stayed either with his family or with a set of friends house-sitting as they travel quite a bit. He has looked to get his own place but that is still awhile away - and also he will have to put this jointly owned property up for sale in the next 12 months. It seems to me he likes to separate and compartmentalise his relationships. I have never met his child - nor any of his long term friends nor his family members. As a mature woman (formerly married) I find his behaviour, and secrecy very very odd. He seems to think he has done nothing wrong. Oh I didn't mention the difficulty I also have as the friend who got married is female and her close friend was in a casual relationship for many years with my partner, whilst he was living with his former partner - and naturally was present - with her partner at this wedding reception. I just find this odd and am reconsidering this relationship. He is panicking and wants to go to couples counselling to discuss - as he doesn't understand why I am so incensed. Am I being unreasonable as I feel like I'm being asked to accept what is frankly unacceptable. He also said the invite was only for him - and that (conveniently) the invite was part of the whatsapp messages that were lost when he upgraded his phone.

OP posts:
Mix56 · 26/02/2026 13:18

He is not committed to you & is still keeping his options open.
You are a convenient free housing solution with benefits.
I would not want to be duped off either,

BudgetBuster · 26/02/2026 13:18

Caton · 26/02/2026 13:14

@BudgetBuster I wouldn't say that. He left his partner for himself. They had both checked out of the relationship many years before - and I wasn't going to be involved with someone who was in a relationship.

He doesn't know how to be a partner or how to be alone.

For 25 yrs he was in a relationship, 15yrs he cheated, 5 years he's been friends with you and obviously had an emotional affair at the very least with you.

Honestly he has more baggage than Gatwick airport

DeftGoldHedgehog · 26/02/2026 13:19

Sounds like he would have found it awkward to have you there and didn't want to bring it up and tell you that.

He is a cheat anyway and not to be trusted.

livingthenotebook · 26/02/2026 13:19

Are you the only person in a relationship with this man? Sounds very cagey

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 26/02/2026 13:23

I voted YABU immediately after reading your opening post, not because I think his lies and decieit are OK but because it was clear that you were using the term 'partner' very loosely. A partner is someone who is committed to you and shares your life. From the very first it was clear he is no way committed to you and does not share your life so IMO you were being unrealistic and unreasonable in your expectations of him.

Everything you have posted since has confirmed my gut reaction. This man is a long term serial cheater, unreliable and dishonest. You know all this about him and yet you are surprised when you catch him out in a lie. That's both unreasonable and naive.

Most people reading this thread know that's just the lie you have discovered. There will be many more.

I would say LTB but you can't leave something that doesn't exist. So I'll just say - move on.

JustAnotherWhinger · 26/02/2026 13:23

So a man known to lie to his partner and hide things has lied to you and hidden things?

why did you think he’d treat you any differently to his parter of many years?

You also say he plays the victim a lot - yet you’ve taken his answers about his ex at face value and have decided that she was abusive and coercive. Why is that?

Caddycat · 26/02/2026 13:24

I can't imagine being in a relationship with someone and "I've got x's wedding reception coming up" or "There's no +1 on the invite to x's wedding, but it's near my son's so I'll go there for the week end" not coming up in conversation. He hid it on purpose. YANBU, personally I'd think something is going on.

Ophir · 26/02/2026 13:26

This is dodgy as fuck, waste no more time on him

LivingwithHopenowandforever · 26/02/2026 13:26

OP this is not your person. Too many red flags. I feel like he is only using you & why be so secretive about the wedding?! Pls don’t waste any more of your time on him.

ChalkOrCheese · 26/02/2026 13:28

You've wasted 18 months.

It's massively overcomplicated and stressful for a boyfriend who seems to be living such a chaotic life.

You're more stable alone. He doesnt add anything tangible. Move on.

lazyarse123 · 26/02/2026 13:29

Far too many entangled relationships for me. In a long term relationship but also seeing someone for sex for 15 years. He's been with you 18 months but moved out of his home in October.
I'm either not understanding the timeline or he's messing you around. Either way I 'd be done after not even telling you he was going.

EvangelineTheNightStar · 26/02/2026 13:30

Ophir · 26/02/2026 13:26

This is dodgy as fuck, waste no more time on him

This, knowing his pretty grim history @Caton what on earth attracts you to him?

Caton · 26/02/2026 13:32

@JustAnotherWhinger I have that view because I have spoken to her on several occasions.

OP posts:
Judellie · 26/02/2026 13:32

Just bin him. You'll definitely be happier - who cares whether he is?

Aluna · 26/02/2026 13:51

close friend was in a casual relationship for many years with my partner, whilst he was living with his former partner

Was his former partner aware of this? Were they in an open relationship? Or was he cheating on her for many years. If the answer to ether of those questions is yes - why are you with him?

JustAnotherWhinger · 26/02/2026 13:51

Caton · 26/02/2026 13:32

@JustAnotherWhinger I have that view because I have spoken to her on several occasions.

Yet earlier in the thread you said you believed that from his answers to your questions?

If you’ve never met any of his family or friends then in what capacity have you spoken with his ex?

Aluna · 26/02/2026 13:51

EvangelineTheNightStar · 26/02/2026 13:30

This, knowing his pretty grim history @Caton what on earth attracts you to him?

Right.

Caddycat · 26/02/2026 13:53

If I were you OP, I'd be going through social media to find photos of said wedding reception. My money is on him being there with the OW.

Caton · 26/02/2026 13:57

@JustAnotherWhinger We spoke on several occasions last year - I can't say more (as it may be outing0 just it was important and she reached out to me on several occasions. Nothing illegal or reported in the news - but can't elaborate more.

OP posts:
Caton · 26/02/2026 13:59

@Aluna all good points.

OP posts:
PudgeJudy · 26/02/2026 14:00

I’ve voted you are being unreasonable, but only because expecting ANYTHING from this man is ridiculously unreasonable (and rather stupid in actuality). I was initially thinking you were unreasonable to expect an invite so early on in a relationship, but that’s the least of the issues here. This will not end well for you, sorry.

MyMilchick · 26/02/2026 14:03

It is weird that he never mentioned it, then you have to ask yourself why did he never mention it? What did he want to hide about it?

BudgetBuster · 26/02/2026 14:07

Caton · 26/02/2026 13:57

@JustAnotherWhinger We spoke on several occasions last year - I can't say more (as it may be outing0 just it was important and she reached out to me on several occasions. Nothing illegal or reported in the news - but can't elaborate more.

Ahhh he sounds even more dodgy now that his ex has had to reach out to you on multiple occasions.

What does this man actually bring to your life? How do you feel knowing that you were his friend first then made some emotional connection whilst he was partnered up (albeit in a shoddy relationship by all accounts anyway)... then he left and now you are supposedly together? Can you honestly say if he ever met a female friend you wouldn't be thinking 'I wonder when he'll go off with her"

Caton · 26/02/2026 14:09

@BudgetBuster No I can't say. You are correct. It has crossed my mind.

OP posts:
ScribblingPixie · 26/02/2026 14:12

You're correct to say you've been compartmentalised. Hard to see a better way forward than ending the relationship.