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Moms and Maids
GamersElope16
member
Not asking sister to be a BM (vent/rant)
I was my sister's MOH for her "wedding" back in April 2010. She previously ran off to Vegas to get married in June (ish) 2009, after only dating this guy for 6-7 months.
They have been married for about 5 years and are now getting divorced (sarcastic gasp)
She started dating this guy a few months ago and neither one of them are officially divorced yet. She just sent in the papers last week and is now talking about having a destination wedding on a cruise and "whoever can make it, can come", she is also showing me pins of cute baby bump/announcement pictures. I am having a hard time being supportive and understanding because I feel like she is jumping from one bad decision to the next. I feel that she is not a good example of what marriage is and that's why she will not be a bridesmaid.
Am I way off base for thinking this way?
They have been married for about 5 years and are now getting divorced (sarcastic gasp)
She started dating this guy a few months ago and neither one of them are officially divorced yet. She just sent in the papers last week and is now talking about having a destination wedding on a cruise and "whoever can make it, can come", she is also showing me pins of cute baby bump/announcement pictures. I am having a hard time being supportive and understanding because I feel like she is jumping from one bad decision to the next. I feel that she is not a good example of what marriage is and that's why she will not be a bridesmaid.
Am I way off base for thinking this way?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Not asking sister to be a BM (vent/rant)
Well, every relationship goes at its own pace. Just because a couple has only known each other for a few months does not mean that their marriage won't work. A good friend of mine got engaged at 4 months. They've been happily married for 5 years and have just welcomed their second baby.
Now, her getting engaged without even being divorced isn't the optimal way of doing things, but sometimes divorces can be drawn out even when both parties are sure they want the marriage to end, and people still want to live their lives. Not knowing her situation I can't really judge her in this situation.
You get to choose your bridal party. But generally we pick the people we are closest to. If you are close to your sister, I would think you'd potentially regret not asking her to be in the wedding party.
If she was blatantly disrespectful of your fiance or perhaps if you were having a religious ceremony and she'd ever been disrespectful about your religion or if she marches on the street saying how marriage should be abolished... then I could see your not wanting her to stand with you at her wedding.
But so far all I see is that she had a PPD and a failed first marriage (which happens about 50% of the time to everybody) and then is getting engaged again quickly. Just based on what you've said, I'm kind of confused what awful marriage-related thing she's done.
You can pick whomever you want to stand beside you, but I think if a requirement is everyone that stands by you has the perfect marriage, you aren't going to have anyone next to you.
Bridesmaids and groomsmen aren't supposed to be "examples of happy marriages" for you to emulate (although it's great when they are!) but the people to whom you are closest. Leaving them out for the reason you describe in your post can be very hurtful to her as well as an intrusive and judgmental smack in the face.
I have a good friend who has been in and out of relationships of her own and I would be very hesitant to trust her judgment when it comes to relationships, but she's been a wonderful friend in many other ways so I wouldn't think twice about asking her to be my bridesmaid.
I'm not looking for people with a "perfect marriage", just ones that honor and appreciate the sanctity of it. I am having my cousin who is married and a friend who is also married standing up with me. Their marriages are not perfect (nobody's is) but what I see in their relationships is what I aspire to have in mine, and I know I would be able to go to them with any problems that might come up.
My mother and I believe that all she wants is to be a Mrs and it doesn't matter who the Mr is. She has driven many boyfriends away with her need to be married.
All this post says to me is your a judgmental person that expects perfection from others when life is not perfect, and every view of perfect is completely different. For example, my view of a perfect horse: is a thick built quarter horse cutting cattle, my best friends perfect horse is a tall warm-blood doing dressage, does that mean she is not qualified to stand with me on my most important day, nope she was there.
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If you aren't close to her then really that's the best reason not to ask her to be in the bridal party. If you aren't close to her then that can cut her out of the running before you even take her marriage into it.
I realize you're venting, but you sound very judgmental of her. Lots of people get married too young/too soon/to the wrong person. And sometimes staying in the relationship just for the sake of "the sanctity of marriage" isn't what's best for these people or any [future] children. I think if you tell people you aren't having your sister in your wedding party because she didn't do her marriage right you are going to be judged like crazy.
So do what you want, but I would definitely go with "we aren't that close" if anyone is rude enough to ask why your sister isn't in your wedding party. Bringing her marriage into it will put you in a really bad light in most people's eyes.
About a year ago, we got a call saying "I'm engaged!" We all responded with "To who?" We aren't the guy's biggest fan. They are on and off constantly (which takes its toll on the boys), and he comes across as controlling, given her history, we are concerned. He is a devout Catholic, and she and the kids have been attending mass with him regularly. She is in the process of converting and planning the wedding through the church (when they are on). The conversion process has slowed things down (thankfully). As a family concerned for her and the boys, we breathe a little easier knowing she and the boys are at least getting counseling through the church (the boys get it through other programs too).
OP, I say all of this because you feel that your sister takes marriage lightheartedly. The end of a marriage is like a death in the family. Very few divorces are clean and happy. Divorces are messy, painful, and take a toll on every aspect of your life. Many experience financial ruin and need to start from scratch... Your sister may be using this as a way to move on with her life.
Not all fast relationships are bad. Everyone moves at their own pace. My grandparents met on a blind date and were engaged by the end of the night. They were married 6 weeks later. If my grandma hadn't recently passed, they would have celebrated 60 years together next April. My grandpa is literally dying of a broken heart. Some quick relationships can be very successful. Try not to be quick to judge (unless of course he shows signs of an abuser, then by all means speak up).
OP, if you are concerned about your sister's well-being, be it mental, physical, financial, or otherwise, suggest that she talk to a counselor. Divorce takes its toll on everybody. Her motives for remarrying may not be solely love. She may be looking for financial security, protection, benefits, a self-esteem boost, companionship, something to be excited about... the list goes on and on. As much as you don't like the decisions she is making, try to at least talk with her about everything. While happiness is desirable, a person's total well-being should be the priority.
As PP stated, you are under no obligation to have her as a BM if you do not want her standing there, but you may regret it later. Does she expect to be a BM? If you are not getting married until 2017, you have plenty of time to think it through.
I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with understanding your sister's choices. I hope over time things get better between the two of you. Do your best to try to be a good sister.
My sister recently made a choice I didn't agree with-- a big one. Life altering. When she did, the majority of the family (she'd moved back in with my parents for a short time, then moved back with her boyfriend/ex-FI) told her that, while we didn't agree with her decision, we respected that it's hers to make and will always be here for her and her family. Two family members decided to use the situation as a wedge. They haven't spoken in months. Christmas this year (the only time I see my family) is going to be awkward. If my sister ends up marrying her boyfriend, with whom she recently broke off an engagement, family functions will be awkward potentially for the rest of our lives. All because two family members (brother and SIL) decided to hold her choice against her, rather than showing love and acceptance.
My sister, despite making a choice that I would not have chosen, is still my MOH for my wedding. Why? Because I love her, because I always want her to be a part of my life, because she's been with me through quite a bit, because she will always be my sister, because I value her as a person, because I recognize that she is an adult and I respect her decisions even when I don't agree with them. I would regret not having her with me to say, "Oh Jeez," when I tear up the tenth time while getting ready, or to tell me how beautiful I look in my gown, or to squeeze my hand before she walks down the aisle in front of me.
If you don't feel that way about your sister, maybe that's why you shouldn't have her beside you.
It actually sounds like your sister got incorrect advice from either a priest or lay person who helps coordinate weddings at the Church. Your sister did not need to convert to Catholicism. Also, since your sister did convert, their "wedding" was actually a Convalidation ceremony - so it was not a fake wedding, but a necessary sacrament for a practicing Catholic. In the Catholic faith, a wedding is a sacrament. Since your sister was already married the Convalidation should have been a smaller private ceremony. But that is also not always the case. Since your sister most likely converted due to incorrect information (they could have become married in the Church without her conversion), I think it would be normal for her to now stop attending.
I really think you need to give your sister a break on a lot of these "issues" you have with her. You are very judgmental of her life choices. My sister has not always made the best choices, but I have always loved her because she's my sister and accepted the choices she made because it was her life to make those choices for. Your posts make it sound like you don't even like your sister.
So save her from being in your wedding, she clearly could not ever live up to your standards.
Does OP not know how to use quotes like Joey?
They are in quotes because it was more of a PPD than an actual wedding. I just don't really care for the whole PPD phrase.
my mother has been divorced 3 times and widower once, we have a rocky past that we are all over, and she walked and was invited to my wedding..
my grandparents are greedy assholes who put money and things before family, they have turned their backs on us, and I genually dont want to see their faces.. so no they didn't come to the wedding.
It isn't about the example they set, it is about your closeness to them. now that you have said your not close, she is not a bridesmaid... that is the only reason you need, the others are just you being a judgmental ass..
Also no just because you share DNA does not give you the right to treat people like shit, and being so judgmental is treting her like shit.
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Why are we feeding the troll?