Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

A
Just Said Yes February 2020

Bridesmaid with a... minus one?

Amanda, on August 17, 2018 at 3:07 PM

Posted in Family and Relationships 29

So my best friend of almost 10 years is getting married in a couple of months and her bachelorette party was last month. She had 2 as not all of the 6 bridesmaids could attend on certain days. So the first one on the Friday, I attended with 2 other bridesmaids and I was unable to attend the...

So my best friend of almost 10 years is getting married in a couple of months and her bachelorette party was last month. She had 2 as not all of the 6 bridesmaids could attend on certain days. So the first one on the Friday, I attended with 2 other bridesmaids and I was unable to attend the following Saturday, where only 3 could attend. It was an out of town bachelorette for the Saturday and I was fine with that when planning had commenced as I had assumed there would be a decent budget, but as the date grew closer, the price for the weekend away was adding up and getting to be really expensive. I have 3 weddings to attend this summer and other plans so I didn't want to go broke from this one weekend away. So as I attended one party already and didn't feel comfortable spending that much on the weekend away, I told my friend/the bride that I was sorry but due to the cost I would not be able to make it. She seemed to be ok with my decision, but obviously I knew she would be upset, as anyone would be. She recently just sent out her wedding invitations. She did the invitations via email through an online wedding site which you can RSVP right away online. So I got my invitation, set it aside for the weekend and about 4 or 5 days later, went through the steps to RSVP and there were a few spaces to fill out (complete mailing address, rsvp number for adult and children, which days of the event/weekend youll be attending, etc). So I filled it all out and filled out my RSVP for 2 adults, myself and my boyfriend. Now my boyfriend and I have been together for about 8 months and are in a serious relationship, but due to life getting busy, work schedules not aligning, an active summer, etc. My friend and my boyfriend have not actually met yet. Which I never really saw as an issue, but only AFTER I sent my RSVP back saying 2 guests, did she text me and say umm your rsvp is 2? There was no mention of anything when I saw her or talked with her before this time, I just assumed because she knows that he and I are together and its a wedding that I would bring my date. She then went on to tell me how she does not like my boyfriend and I am welcome to her wedding, but he is not. She told me she already has more than the expected number of people who are going to be attending and that maybe one day they will meet, but her wedding is not that day and if she needs to cut out numbers it would be someone she has not met. So i responded to her as it was upsetting some of the things she said, and yes I do understand that it is her wedding, its her decision, but her wedding is a full weekend event, about 45 minutes to an hour away from where I live, she knows I am in a relationship, I am in her wedding, and we have been friends for a decade. So I now feel like I am in an extremely awkward position, because I feel like she is mad at me for the bachelorette, because since then we haven't really chatted all that much. So basically Im wondering if thats something thats common, or if thats her being rude the way she went about it, or its me over thinking it and I should be ok with it? I am not really sure what to say to her right now because I dont want to upset her, as it is her wedding

29 Comments

  • Sarah
    Devoted October 2018
    Sarah ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    I wouldn't do this. It's putting the bride in a really awkward situation. I would never complain to the bride about the money you're spending. Since you're in the wedding, you're going to be super busy anyway. Though it's disappointing, I wouldn't put any pressure on her or make her feel bad about it. It sucks, but she's right "it is what it is."

    • Reply
  • needmorewine
    Expert May 2016
    needmorewine ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    This x100

    It doesn’t sound like the bride is much of a friend of this is how she’s treating you.

    And no, “But planning a wedding is hard!” is no excuse for being inconsiderate and treating the people who are supposedly closest to you like crap.
    • Reply
  • Katie
    Master October 2016
    Katie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    The bride chose to put her friend in a really awkward situation. Just because she is getting married, wants to save money, and doesn't want to meet her friend's boyfriend doesn't mean she gets a free pass on being disrespectful. The bridesmaid is VIP and deserves to have a plus one for everything she has done for the bride. The bride is straight up being rude and selfish in this case. I guess I am just the type of person who calls people out when they are full of it.

    • Reply
  • M
    0000
    Mim ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I suspect that if you hadn't had your "rule" you wouldn't be frustrated. Anyone in a relationship should be invited with their significant other. It doesn't matter how long they've been together. My sister and her husband were serious and committed after about three weeks of meeting. They were engaged within four months and married within a year. I'd figure out a way to include all significant others since it was your mistake.
    • Reply
  • Officiallymrs
    Super May 2010
    Officiallymrs ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I haven’t met a handful of my fiancé’s friends S.Os and I would NEVER not include them. IMO she’s rude.
    • Reply
  • latasha
    VIP September 2019
    latasha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    My guest list was at 420 with more people we forgot to put on. Obviously I had to cut that list. My rule is if you are not engaged or married then you do not get a plus one. I did make an exception for my bridal party but some may not even be able to afford that. Weddings are expensive and I feel everyone gets so caught up on this specific “etiquette” but maybe everyone doesn’t agree with that etiquette and maybe their budget can’t afford that etiquette. I would go to the wedding without my boyfriend and talk to her after to see if their are issues.
    • Reply
  • latasha
    VIP September 2019
    latasha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    There*

    sorry about that!
    • Reply
  • Officiallymrs
    Super May 2010
    Officiallymrs ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    So just a question .. what if you had a family member say brother or sister .. who has had a significant other for 5 years and they have a child together .. the SO doesn’t get an invite ?
    • Reply
  • latasha
    VIP September 2019
    latasha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Hi Future MrsJ. That’s tough as my relationships with a sibling’s SO would be a lot diff than with a friend’s SO I’ve never met. If I was faced with this problem maybe I would make an exception like I did for my bridal party but I don’t have this issue so can’t really answer hypothetically. I would think that my sisters would know my budget and would be supportive enough to not be offended that I can’t afford their SO if I choose to say no. Sometimes people aren’t trying to snub people intentionally just they have a budget and when it’s comes to cutting folks hard decisions have to be made. If I had to choose between an uncle and my friend’s SO I’d choose my uncle hands down. It’s up to my friend if she still wants to attend. I also would think that if she decided not to have her close friend in the wedding because she couldn’t afford to invite the SO that would be another problem. Someone’s feelings will be hurt, someone will be offended and I don’t think it’s always fair to bash a bride or call her rude or inconsiderate and not know the full story. Not trying to come off as a I don’t care type of way but ultimately the bride/groom/family is paying for this day and it’s costly or they just don’t want to entertain ppl they don’t know. The friend can choose not to attend if her SO not being invited is a deal breaker.
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics