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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To drop future SIL from being a bridesmaid?

105 replies

Faraway11 · Yesterday 11:12

I hope you’re sat with a cuppa because it’s abit of a long one. My Fiancé and I have been planning our wedding for a long time. We get married in less than 2 weeks, so this happened a while ago but I’ve only just decided to discuss it as it still weighs on me. Initially, my plan was to have my best friend as my maid of honour, one of my closest friends as a bridesmaid and my SIL as a bridesmaid too. We had come out of a rough patch a few months prior, after she cut me off for not being able to attend her birthday drinks due to my car breaking and me not being able to afford it. She eventually apologised and we moved on. After asking her to be a bridesmaid she seemed happy and accepted. I reached out to the girls asking for a date we could all go dress shopping for my wedding dress as I needed input. On the day or shopping for my dress, SIL could not have looked any more miserable. I messaged her after I got home to ask if she was okay. She was annoyed because she thought she was getting her dress too that day and said she had to book time off work for it. It got smoothed over and I forgot about it. We eventually went to go and get the bridesmaid dresses, she seemed very happy on that day and it all went great. Between then and now, I’ve been having health issues, I’ve been diagnosed with ME/CFS and have been having extreme bouts of depression, but have been doing my best to function with the support of my family and friends. Back in April, my MOH asked what I’d like for my hen party. I explained I was more than happy to have a girly sleepover with some games, a takeaway and some cheesy films. I’m not one for being a party animal. My friends tried to get SIL on board with this, SIL mentioned wanting to go to a magic mike show, but that’s not something I’m interested in. So over the months leading up to the hen, my friends tried and tried to ask SIL if she was coming, she kept saying she didn’t know if she’d be at work (this was 6 months before the hen), then she was talking about not having enough money. My friends said they were happy to chip in and help her out if it meant her being there for my hen do. Eventually about 3 weeks before the hen, my bridesmaid messaged her again about it. SIL replied to say she didn’t want to come, because apparently my attitude and demeanor has been depressing lately, she didn’t want to sit in a room with a ‘mood hoover’ all night making her feel depressed, and also because she can sit and watch films at home. My bridesmaid immediately had my back and called her out on this, SIL replied to say that she’s had it hard too but she just got on with it. Obviously with my bridesmaid being a very close friend, she told me straight away. Myself and my partner phoned his mum, we explained that SIL was still more than welcome to attend the wedding, but she is no longer required as a bridesmaid and is not to contact me at all. Since then, I haven’t spoken to her, but she is point blank refusing to attend the wedding at all. I honestly don’t care, it’s my partner I feel sorry for, even though he has constantly supported me and expressed he also doesn’t care wether she attends. I’ve heard that she also thinks I’m taking advantage of my partner due to him covering bills whilst I’ve been unwell. Her reasoning for not attending the wedding continues to fluctuate between not wanting to be around my friends, and just saying she doesn’t want to go. Was i unreasonable?

OP posts:
Violinorbanjo · Yesterday 17:30

Could not read the whole story, sorry.

ScreamingBeans · Yesterday 18:03

You need to divide this posts up into paragraphs so that it's easier to read.

SueKeeper · Yesterday 18:10

I think you've over reacted and escalated a situation that will now drag on and on. She wasn't great, but doesn't sound out of place compared to everyone else in this drama.

It sounds like you weren't particularly close, but she was asked to be bridesmaid because of her relationship with DH, rather than you. Then she was expected to step up and act like a bff to you as you have a set idea of what bridesmaids should be doing. It was too much and instead of anyone taking a hint, she lashes out, you blew it up and between you damaged her relationship with her brother.

It's all so unnecessary, I would actually reach out an olive branch. It would make the day better for MIL and DH and it would be the mature thing to do. I bet if you reach out, apologise and explain it hit a nerve, she will do similar and it will be actually over with rather than dragging on to her wedding, for example.

IReallyDontKnowClouds · Yesterday 18:10

This is slightly off topic, but my nephew had CFS for years. My sister took him on a course called The Lightening Process and said it was absolutely AMAZING. I just looked at the testimonials and lots of them are people who had CFS or long covid. I just thought is pass it on in case you want to check it out.

i wish you all the best and have a beautiful wedding 🫶🏻

Raspyhen · Yesterday 18:14

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viques · Yesterday 18:15

She is an adult bridesmaid, not a cute little flower girl toddling down the aisle. Adults make their own decisions, if she has decided not to be part of the wedding then that is fine. She had the chance to be a bridesmaid and has blown that by her nastiness and spite.

Have a wonderful day in two weeks, by then this miserable rain should have disappeared and we will be back to sunshine. Remember that a wedding is to celebrate two peoples commitment in front of people who love them, and wish them well, not to pander to the tantrums of a sulky mean girl.

Ohnobackagain · Yesterday 18:36

I bet she thought everything would go her way @Faraway11 and it hasn’t. Serves her right. Glad your fiancé and MIL to be have your back. SIL to be sounds impossible.

nomas · Yesterday 18:43

The reason SIL used the term ‘mood hoover’ is because on a basic level, she knows she’s the mood hoover.

I have a relative like this, they are inflated with their own sense of importance.

You were right to go LC, I would be wary of her ruining the wedding.

Ponderingwindow · Yesterday 18:44

I would be the bigger person and include her in final catering counts and planning just in case. It is his sister after all. If she decides to show up, act like it is perfectly normal. If not, ignore.

ExtraOnions · Yesterday 18:44

Did you try to talk to her first about what your friend reported back? Ensure it wasn’t a case of misinterpretation?

Not sure why your first option was to go full scorched earth, ring her mum (I mean how old are you), ban her from being a Bridesmaid (again juvenile stuff), and then pass a message on not to contact you at all - so she couldn’t even explain herself if she wanted to.

Massive unnecessary escalation

Mightymighty · Yesterday 18:47

I’d withdraw her invite to the wedding, leaving no room for her to change her mind.

Faraway11 · Yesterday 18:49

It wasn’t misinterpreted, I saw the whole conversation. I’m not sure how I’ve ramped things up by decided to go low/no contact. It’s been building up a while and she truly has been awful to me in the past. Maybe I should have included that in the post. I’m just tired

OP posts:
MyIcyHeart · Yesterday 18:54

Fucking hell...SO much unnecessary drama!
I feel exhausted just reading your post.
Are you all in your early 20s, perchance?
Just enjoy your bloody wedding day and leave SIL to sulk.

EmmaB1309 · Yesterday 19:00

Her behaviour was out of order re the hen, but it was wrong of you to tell her through her mother that you no longer wanted her to be bridesmaid. That was cowardly of you.

cooldarkroom · Yesterday 19:01

Sorry, you are marrying the man you love, she is being a MOH-zilla.
Believe me, Life is too short
Your Fiancée can call her, leave a message, say “stop being a royal prima donna. Come or don’t. It won’t change the day”

DidntLikeTheEnding · Yesterday 19:01

I would absolutely love to hear the SIL's side of the story here...

Wre · Yesterday 19:07

Does she live very far from you?

NameChangeMay2026 · Yesterday 19:11

Oh, dear. Thing is, this is not like a falling-out with a friend; it's much worse. She's going to be in your life forever, she's going to be your kids' aunt (if you have kids) and people decades from now will be looking at your family wedding photos and going "Where's Sarah?" You'll have to deal with her when your PILs get old and sick, and for many family events between now and then. You are going to be family.

For all these reasons, I think it's worth trying to smooth things over with her. I know you said you're not up for it, but try. Send her a message saying that you really hope she will come to the wedding, and invite her out for afternoon tea with you beforehand to try to smooth things over. Point out to her that you're going to be family for a long time and aunts to each other's kids, so it would be really nice if you could start again.

Even if it doesn't work, I think you will be really happy that you tried.

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · Yesterday 19:20

It all sounds like it has got a bit over the top, which is not surprising because weddings and families can be a real nightmare!! Personally, if a bridesmaid was like this, I'd have probably ignored it and let it go because I don't need the drama around my wedding of demoting people publicly after buying a dress for them, and people can be odd around weddings. You chose her, so you knew the potential risk and clearly actuallt don't like her or vice versa - so recipe for disaster really and i don't think you should have asked her at the start and then demoted her in front of everyone when she was true to form. I think given you decided with partner to remove her as bridesmaid, you or he should've messaged her direct and gone with "appreciate you didn't fancy the hen and felt I wasn't great to hang out with right now, so it probably makes sense if you don't have to stick with me all day at the wedding, we would still love you to come as a normal guest and you can have fun without having to be next to me all day"

I think by going via future MiL you've given the impression you aren't speaking to her, plus you've dragged in another person creating yet more drama. However, it is what it is. Neither you nor your partner care about it really, so deep breath and let it go. Let her do whatever she wants and don't give it a 2nd thought. If you do any more calling/messaging etc it'll just add fuel, you've said your bit and demoted her, she has reacted how she has- that's it done, leave it alone. You're both as bad as each other really for creating drama, leave it alone and focus on enjoying your wedding without her.

Hairtycoon · Yesterday 19:21

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Ireallycantthinkofagoodone · Yesterday 19:22

You don’t sound sufficiently mature to be getting married.

MyDeftDuck · Yesterday 19:23

How old is she……6?? Just let her get on with her stroppy sulky episode and enjoy your hen with your friends! Best wishes for the forthcoming wedding OP 💐🥂🍾

Evaka · Yesterday 19:25

Lots of mean/obtuse responses. She's a dick but it's sorted now. Move on and have a great wedding day x

Hairtycoon · Yesterday 19:27

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Stressedoutmummyof3 · Yesterday 19:38

It's really crappy to make another adult pass the message on. You could have texted or left a voicemail, you didn't have to involve MIL.
Other than that you don't want her to come, your partner says he doesn't and your SIL doesn't want to come so what's the issue? She doesn't come and everyone is happy. You don't need to do anything except concentrate on having a lovely day with people who care about you.

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