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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Secret engagement

9 replies

Gudinne · 23/10/2025 08:27

Hiya, looking for some advice. I am a domestic abuse survivor. Abusers are my parents rather than intimate partner. No contact with abusers for some time. My sister, who I have maintained a relationship with, is still friendly with them. I am getting married next year. I told my sister and brother in law yesterday, invited them to my wedding and asked them not to tell anyone about it. I explained that I didn't want my abusers to have the opportunity to do anything to spoil things or to try to make my marriage about them instead of about me and my husband. I imagine if they were to learn of the wedding they would make spurious objections perhaps on the day, belittle, name call, threaten and look to be doing that in advance of the wedding as well as on the day. My sister agreed to not say anything but her husband said I was not being very nice to them, because if they keep my secret they, and especially my sister, will face backlash from the abusers when it comes out that they knew I was getting married but didn't tell. I have told my sister the date of the wedding, but don't intend to share the time or venue with any of my blood relatives, I think this will reduce the risk of the abusers turning up on the day. I have told my sister that I will send a car to collect her at a specific time on the day and the venue can be a lovely surprise. My sister has three adult children who I really want to celebrate the day with. To minimise risk, I am thinking of not telling them I am getting married but instead inviting them to a family photo shoot on that day followed by some food and drinks, with me paying for the photos and food. I will tell them it's really important to me for them to be included in the photos but I think there's a higher risk of them saying they can't come, can't get away from work that day or whatever, than if they knew it was my wedding. I think their grandparents are likely to discourage their attendance at a photo shoot with me. Does anyone have any better ideas for my nieces/ nephews to attend my wedding without risking them disclosing it in advance to their grandparents? I imagine, based on my lived experience, that the backlash for secret keepers will be rabid ranting (frothing at the mouth with spit flying), name calling, silent treatment, exclusion, perhaps grandmother threatening to commit suicide (more likely to be implied by openly mixing alcohol and lots of prescription meds to 'deal with the pain of betrayal' because they didn't share the information, perhaps saying things like she wishes she could go asleep and not have to wake up to another day like this), grandfather aggressively shouting and suggesting they are to blame for grandmother's mental health will be to blame if grandmother does top herself and anybody who has kept a secret like that would be shot if there were any justice in the world.

OP posts:
Gudinne · 23/10/2025 09:42

Or maybe not a photo shoot. How about celebrating a small win and work bonus I got last year and wanting to treat them to a meal out. Good food, good vibes, and a chance to catch up without the usual rush?

OP posts:
Abracadabrador · 23/10/2025 09:49

Gudinne · 23/10/2025 09:42

Or maybe not a photo shoot. How about celebrating a small win and work bonus I got last year and wanting to treat them to a meal out. Good food, good vibes, and a chance to catch up without the usual rush?

Yeah, do that, it's a big ask to expect all these people to keep a secret forever.
I too share genetic material with people who do the demonic snarling rants and saying they wish they 'never wake up again' and all that nonsense.

Life is bliss without them, protect your peace.

BauhausOfEliott · 23/10/2025 09:50

Honestly, if your sister and adult nieces and nephews will be at risk from abuse if the secret gets out, I don’t think it’s reasonable to ask them to keep it.

My sister has previously asked me to keep very significant secrets from my parents - not in an abusive situation - and to be brutally frank, it’s really bloody stressful and difficult to have a big secret like that weighing on you. I would imagine it’s even more so if there’s potential for abuse.

rainbowstardrops · 23/10/2025 09:53

I can understand why you don’t want your parents to know about your wedding but I think it’s a bit unfair to make other people complicit in it as you’ve said they would most likely receive a backlash for it. That’s not fair on them.
Could you not elope and then have a party with them once you’re back?

Gudinne · 23/10/2025 11:27

@rainbowstardrops we want our children, siblings, nieces, nephews and the grooms parents to be part of the day, so elopement is not for us. But, I will go with the advice received and just invite my relatives out closer to the day for a celebration to be paid for out the bonus I got this year. Hope they will come but if anyone declines I will sub in some friends who I can be open with and who I think would be really pleased to celebrate with us.

OP posts:
UpDownAllAround1 · 23/10/2025 11:30

The cat is out of the bag now. Just go to Gretna Green (is that a thing still I wonder? )

DaisyChain505 · 23/10/2025 11:33

I think it’s sad you would potentially not invite family that you love and actually want there just because you’re frightening your abusers may find out where the venue is.

My advice would be to invite who you want, hire security for the day who know exactly who shouldn’t be allowed in and enjoy your day with your loved ones whilst someone else worries about potential intruders.

mindutopia · 23/10/2025 11:39

I am NC with my family as well, so I do understand how critical it is to keep information from getting back to them. I’ve worked for 3 years to keep mine from working out my new address after I moved. It took 3 years but they finally figured it out this year and have started posting stuff to my house. 😩 3 years of peace was so lovely.

The thing is, I think you have to cut contact or not. I think it’s very difficult to be half way out like this. Fine if your sister and her family are not close to them. But if they are, I think her husband is kind of right. It’s not really fair to ask them to keep a secret. You either have to not have these family in your life or you have to accept your parents will get wind of things.

Me personally, I’ve cut off everyone around them who might share information back. It took time to work out who exactly that needed to be. I think you either invite your sister and family and are honest about what you have planned, accepting the risk that comes with that, or you don’t invite them and keep this a quiet safe day for you and your partner.

ForTipsyFinch · 23/10/2025 12:12

mindutopia · 23/10/2025 11:39

I am NC with my family as well, so I do understand how critical it is to keep information from getting back to them. I’ve worked for 3 years to keep mine from working out my new address after I moved. It took 3 years but they finally figured it out this year and have started posting stuff to my house. 😩 3 years of peace was so lovely.

The thing is, I think you have to cut contact or not. I think it’s very difficult to be half way out like this. Fine if your sister and her family are not close to them. But if they are, I think her husband is kind of right. It’s not really fair to ask them to keep a secret. You either have to not have these family in your life or you have to accept your parents will get wind of things.

Me personally, I’ve cut off everyone around them who might share information back. It took time to work out who exactly that needed to be. I think you either invite your sister and family and are honest about what you have planned, accepting the risk that comes with that, or you don’t invite them and keep this a quiet safe day for you and your partner.

The last time my mother had my address she sent me a letter with a mars bar in it saying I hope you don’t choke on this - various other things too, but that was a stand out. She hasn’t had my address for 15 years now and it’s blissful. I’m sorry she’s got hold of your address again.

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