Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Weddings

Chat to other Mumsnetters on our Wedding forum.

Son not invited to cousin's wedding but his brother is

466 replies

Aprilcherry04 · 28/02/2022 23:41

My nephew is getting married in a few months time. I was chatting to my sister earlier and she was talking about the wedding and she was telling me that the invites would be out soon. She said of course myself and my husband would be and my eldest son and partner would be evening guests but my youngest son (age 20)who has learning disabilities would not as her son and his fiancée have concerns that my DS2 would behave inappropriately. I explained to her that I would have no one to look after DS2 and she said perhaps my DS1 would look after him to allow me to attend. I would feel bad asking my elder to miss out on the evening party so wouldn't do that. I feel very upset for my DS2 and feel ostracised by my own family. I have cried solidly for 3 hours. DH has stated that we will just politely decline the invitation. My sister seemed surprised that I was hurt but my DS2 is the only one of the cousins not invited. I understand that it is up to the couple who they want to invite but I am still valid in feeling upset. If my own family cannot accept my son's limitations then how can I expect the rest of society to do so.

OP posts:
Aprilcherry04 · 01/03/2022 11:26

@FairyCakeWings I'm not upset at all that he's not invited to the whole day. None of the cousins are. Cousins are only invited at night.

OP posts:
Polyputthekettleon · 01/03/2022 11:26

I am with your dh on this. Your whole family should politely decline. If they then issue your ds2 with an invite, say you've already made other plans for the day.

Nanny0gg · 01/03/2022 11:27

@Dillydollydingdong

I went to my nephew's wedding recently. Me and my partner were invited, plus DS2 and his wife and family. Ds1 was not invited partly because he doesn't keep in contact with the nephew, but also because he's likely to get drunk, make a fool of himself and embarrass everyone. Fair enough. I can understand that. I know the situation is different from yours but maybe the happy couple just don't want to take the risk of their big day being spoilt.
Yes. You're right,

The situation is different

Completely and utterly different.

How dare you compare a drunk to someone with a disability?

Nanny0gg · 01/03/2022 11:27

@Polyputthekettleon

I am with your dh on this. Your whole family should politely decline. If they then issue your ds2 with an invite, say you've already made other plans for the day.
I'm not.

There shouldn't be anything 'polite' about it.

And there'd definitely be no gift

MrsVeryTired · 01/03/2022 11:28

I'd be declining the invite too. That's rubbish, you are a family.

I'm getting married this year, you and your son can come to my wedding instead Flowers

SleepingStandingUp · 01/03/2022 11:31

Just step back and assess. Because your sis has been honest and upfront about it. She may have even said it in a nice way so if Sis had said that OPs son with her second husband couldn't come because he's mixed heritage, but she was honest and upfront about it, and had even said it in "nice" way, would that be OK? Oh because his Dad is Sikh he might not understand a Christian wedding and might not like the English food and might make people uncomfortable with his confusion.
What about her gay son? Well he might not feel comfortable at a heterosexual wedding and wouldn't want people to feel uncomfortable with people seeing him and his bf slow dancing?
I mean, as long as we say "look, I am disablist but I'm trying to use gentle works and a kind tone" do you seriously think it's OK?

alreadytaken · 01/03/2022 11:32

My attitude has always been if my child is not welcome neither am I. I dont attend child free weddings but I may still sent a gift. In this situation I wouldnt do either.

ImAvingOops · 01/03/2022 11:33

It might be that this is coming from your nephew's fiancée who doesn't know your son and your sister has been dumped with telling you and she is trying to make this seem reasonable because otherwise it means admitting to herself that her son and his future wife really aren't being very nice.

SleepingStandingUp · 01/03/2022 11:36

@ImAvingOops

It might be that this is coming from your nephew's fiancée who doesn't know your son and your sister has been dumped with telling you and she is trying to make this seem reasonable because otherwise it means admitting to herself that her son and his future wife really aren't being very nice.
Not an excuse.

Mom, Sally said Jack can't come to the wedding because he had DS and I told her he once asked Jenny to dance at a family party. Can you tell Aunty Julie?

Er, no. That's an awful reason to exclude someone, I'm rely embarrassed you're going along with it and I'm not getting involved.

But Momm.. Mm, its not fairrrrrr, I have to do as I'm told but I don't want to deal with it so you have to fiiiiiix it!!!!!!!!

If you're old enough to get married, you're old enough to deal with this.

See how short that conversation was?

loobylou10 · 01/03/2022 11:38

@Clymene put it perfectly for me!

Tell them to fuck off. No attending, no gift.

Disablist arseholes

Nothing more to say.

TakeMe2Insanity · 01/03/2022 11:40

@Aprilcherry04

The thing is he does know his cousin very well and he also does understand what a wedding is. I know that my DS1 will also be offended that his brother has not been invited and probably not attend either and this will create a family rift.
If a rift is created it is by their doing and not yours. As sad as it is you’ve just had your eyes opened.
NewtoHolland · 01/03/2022 11:45

Some of the responses on here are blowing my mind, the blatant and ignorant disablism is scary.
Like a PP said this man is not a creepy sexual predator, he is a friendly man with Downs who accepts people saying no.

Bromse · 01/03/2022 11:45

@Aprilcherry04

The thing is he does know his cousin very well and he also does understand what a wedding is. I know that my DS1 will also be offended that his brother has not been invited and probably not attend either and this will create a family rift.
I would, frankly, not go. I know it's difficult but it is quite offensive that your youngest son is not invited. What is wrong with him dancing with or without girls? I presume he doesn't do anything untoward. He will have his dad and brother there to make sure he doesn't become too boisterous and if as you say he likes his cousin and knows about weddings, he can be told to reign it in - which might not be necessary.

There are often embarrassing people at weddings who don't have learning difficulties! I remember a wedding where a grandmother had too much to drink, collapsed on the floor and had to be dragged out of the room :-). She was too heavy to pick up. Often there are men who drink who are suggestive with women, and girls who act daft. When I was child, one of my cousin's husbands got drunk and objectionable at a family wedding, drove home would you believe and crashed the car. Thankfully nobody was hurt.

Your son won't do any of that!

The days of banishing people with disabilities should be behind us. I am appalled that it was even suggested but it was obviously not your sister in law's or her son's idea.

Just don't go, all of you; I'm with your husband on that. Even if they change their minds, it's been said. I'm not surprised you have been crying, I am appalled on your behalf.

Derbee · 01/03/2022 11:48

DH has stated that we will just politely decline the invitation

This is all you need to do. It’s incredibly rude and hurtful not to invite your son, but just don’t go. If I was your other son, I wouldn’t go either.

Who cares about a family rift? They started it, and your loyalty is to your son

BoodleBug51 · 01/03/2022 11:50

I'd decline politely, and don't send a gift or a detailed explananation why.

My family never fail to disappoint me, OP, if it's any consolation.

BitOutOfPractice · 01/03/2022 11:51

Why is everyone saying OP should "politely decline"? No way would I be polite.

maddy68 · 01/03/2022 11:53

It's horrible. But I can kinda understand. They will have a lot of people at the wedding and if your son in likely to prevent then from having a good time then the majority win here I'm afraid

Blinkingbatshit · 01/03/2022 11:56

Your DH is right - politely decline. I am so sorry they have put you in this position 💐

peachy3 · 01/03/2022 11:59

Oh bless your son, this really is rather cruel of them. I’m sure you would be keeping an eye on him as you would in most situations due to his special needs, they’ve said it as if you’d be bringing a overactive dog off it’s lead with you. I definitely wouldn’t be going, they have some serious issues with disrespect around disability and I think they need educating.

ineedsun · 01/03/2022 11:59

@maddy68

It's horrible. But I can kinda understand. They will have a lot of people at the wedding and if your son in likely to prevent then from having a good time then the majority win here I'm afraid
Is this a joke?
NiLunNiLautre · 01/03/2022 12:00

Fuck being polite. These people are disablist arseholes... against their own family member.

HoppingPavlova · 01/03/2022 12:01

Boycott the whole thing. Maybe spend the $$ you would have spent on new outfits, a gift, potentially accommodation etc on a weekend away for you all at the time of the wedding. Order a nice cocktail each, raise you glasses and give the toast ‘fuck them’.

Clymene · 01/03/2022 12:01

@maddy68

It's horrible. But I can kinda understand. They will have a lot of people at the wedding and if your son in likely to prevent then from having a good time then the majority win here I'm afraid
In what way do you think the presence of the groom's cousin who has Down's syndrome is likely to prevent people from having a good time? Confused
TreatTrimTame · 01/03/2022 12:03

Singling out one cousin is horrible. The fact his learning disabilities is the reason he has done this is unforgiveable to me. I also would not be going. You're a family and its one or all. Please don't go without him.

sashh · 01/03/2022 12:05

OP

I really cannot imagine doing that to a relative.

Save the money you would have spent on attending and take your DS somewhere for the weekend.

You might find something like this near you, a ball and awards ceremony, I'm not sure if there is dancing.

Your poor little boy, I know he is an adult but he is still your little boy.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mayors-ball-and-civic-awards-tickets-260261949497?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Swipe left for the next trending thread