Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel awkward about attending this wedding?

33 replies

Kitteninblack · 26/05/2026 10:03

Been invited to a family member’s wedding (cousin) who I haven’t seen in many years. Whenever I do see them, they don’t really speak to me much. I’m quite confused as to the invitation. My parents are going and they said we can travel with them. They think myself, DH and DC should attend as other family members are going and it’ll look ‘bad’.
I’m assuming it’s just an invite out of duty or politeness. I feel awkward about going.
We saw each other more when our grandparents were alive.

WWYD?

OP posts:
Crunched · 26/05/2026 11:08

The older I get, the less I see my cousins. I was never that close (certainly not geographically) but we share family history and, for some reason, that means something.
Also I find my DC don't know my family dynamics from previous generations- sometimes I wish they knew more family.
Accept the invitation if you want to go. If you refuse, consider the next time you see your cousin may be a funeral and think if you retrospectively wish you'd shared a happy occasion with them.

Anarchy99 · 26/05/2026 11:11

Kitteninblack · 26/05/2026 10:07

@LeedsLoiner Do you think? I don’t understand why you’d invite people you don’t want there though?

Obligation, simple as that probably. You aren’t close so just turn it down - less hassle for you and they don’t have to fork out - it’s a win/win

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 26/05/2026 11:12

Lomonald · 26/05/2026 10:10

Why would anybody go to the bother of inviting people if they didn't want them there ?

Because they feel obliged to. As PP said, they are probably hoping OP declines.

DappledThings · 26/05/2026 11:14

It's a bit sad how many people assume it's just obligation. We invited all our cousins, regardless of how much we knew or saw them because we wanted to and it was a family occasion we wanted to share.

Wasn't at all offended when some declined either but the invitation was entirely genuine.

Paddlein · 26/05/2026 11:14

Maybe they feel sad that there is less family “glue” now the grandparents are gone and would like to make sure that they keep in touch with you. You don’t have to be best buddies with cousins. I’d go.

wherearethesnacks · 26/05/2026 11:16

I hate weddings. Luckily, I often seem to have a holiday or some other committment coincidentally booked for the same day.

Just send your regrets and a gift and nobody will care.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 26/05/2026 11:17

It could be obligatory invite, it could be their spouse-to-be are very close to their cousins /have a much larger family and want to balance the sides.

But also it could be for their parents sake who want their DNs at their dcs wedding. It could be they see weddings as not just about them but also as a family event, that they’ve attended other people’s events within the family and view it as their turn. That perhaps while they don’t see you regularly they view family as important and so want to hold a family event, not just a party.

SunnyRedSnail · 26/05/2026 11:21

Sometimes it's nice to get the family all together...

Either go or don't go. Depends on the inconvenience of going.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page