Wedding Woes

Not What I Expected

jennabelle-2jennabelle-2 member
5 Love Its First Anniversary First Comment
edited September 2017 in Wedding Woes
Writing in hopes of getting all of this out of my head! I *might* be overreacting & making excuses for others a bit here, but things are definitely not what I thought they would be. 

 Background: FI & I moved out of state in June, but made sure the wedding was in our hometown because we really wanted the people who are important to us to be able to attend.  I'm on my second marriage, FI's first.  Wedding is in September, on a Friday, late afternoon. We've only sent invitations to people who mean the most to us, kept it small, and publicized our wedding date to these people last Christmas. First warning sign: some of my friends and family made no effort to respond on getting together before we left, the SAME girls (including MOH) who were in my wedding party on my "test run" marriage, who I've gone on vacations with when I was growing up, etc. Okay, fine, I get some people are bad at goodbyes, maybe I'll hear from them down the road. RSVP's are starting to come to an end, so I message these same people, because they haven't RSVP'd - shocking - they can't make it.  I TOTALLY GET it's on a Friday, people can't get off work, one of them has kids, totally fine, just slightly disappointed.  I also get "why go to her next wedding" (uh, because long story short, this is a marriage out of love, respect, and friendship, not because I was too scared to call the first one off! I digress.) But the other one - well. She was in my first wedding, the bridal party even got ready at her parent's house, I've been friends with her for over 15 years. I was the one she went to when she found out she was pregnant & later had a miscarriage, that kind of friendship (or so I thought). She's also engaged too. I've worked with her in two different jobs throughout the years, one of which let us work the same shift (where I would pick her up bc she was on the way to work, cover her summer shifts when her FI had weekends with his daughter so they could do something), & we wedding planned together (this wedding for me) FOR NEARLY A YEAR. She knew the wedding date for over a year.  I would hear from guests at work about how she would tell them I'm the only one of her co-workers invited to her wedding. Guess what, no asking for our new address, no invitation forwarded to this address (it's just a few weeks after mine). Should have known. Okay, point taken.  My absence means little to her, so why would my presence make a difference. I feel used. No contact from her other than a response to me reminding her to RSVP by x, to which I get "Sorry unable to make it," first response from her since before June. Overreacting? Maybe it's time to cut my losses and move on, I know I have better friends. It's just sad that a long friendship has come to this. 

P.S. - I know I'm not overreaching about not being a wedding guest.  When we were talking, she was estimating up to 175 people. 

Re: Not What I Expected

  • Writing in hopes of getting all of this out of my head! I *might* be overreacting & making excuses for others a bit here, but things are definitely not what I thought they would be. 

     Background: FI & I moved out of state in June, but made sure the wedding was in our hometown because we really wanted the people who are important to us to be able to attend.  I'm on my second marriage, FI's first.  Wedding is in September, on a Friday, late afternoon. We've only sent invitations to people who mean the most to us, kept it small, and publicized our wedding date to these people last Christmas. First warning sign: some of my friends and family made no effort to respond on getting together before we left, the SAME girls (including MOH) who were in my wedding party on my "test run" marriage, who I've gone on vacations with when I was growing up, etc. Okay, fine, I get some people are bad at goodbyes, maybe I'll hear from them down the road. RSVP's are starting to come to an end, so I message these same people, because they haven't RSVP'd - shocking - they can't make it.  I TOTALLY GET it's on a Friday, people can't get off work, one of them has kids, totally fine, just slightly disappointed.  I also get "why go to her next wedding" (uh, because long story short, this is a marriage out of love, respect, and friendship, not because I was too scared to call the first one off! I digress.) But the other one - well. She was in my first wedding, the bridal party even got ready at her parent's house, I've been friends with her for over 15 years. I was the one she went to when she found out she was pregnant & later had a miscarriage, that kind of friendship (or so I thought). She's also engaged too. I've worked with her in two different jobs throughout the years, one of which let us work the same shift (where I would pick her up bc she was on the way to work, cover her summer shifts when her FI had weekends with his daughter so they could do something), & we wedding planned together (this wedding for me) FOR NEARLY A YEAR. She knew the wedding date for over a year.  I would hear from guests at work about how she would tell them I'm the only one of her co-workers invited to her wedding. Guess what, no asking for our new address, no invitation forwarded to this address (it's just a few weeks after mine). Should have known. Okay, point taken.  My absence means little to her, so why would my presence make a difference. I feel used. No contact from her other than a response to me reminding her to RSVP by x, to which I get "Sorry unable to make it," first response from her since before June. Overreacting? Maybe it's time to cut my losses and move on, I know I have better friends. It's just sad that a long friendship has come to this. 

    P.S. - I know I'm not overreaching about not being a wedding guest.  When we were talking, she was estimating up to 175 people. 
    OP I totally get you are hurt - and you are justified in feeling hurt.

    However it sounds like your friend's behavior of late is out of character. I recommend you reach out to her to find out what's going on and communicate your feelings. It sounds like she may possibly be hurting too and perhaps this might explain her behavior. But you'll only know if you go and find out. 
  • Sounds like your friend has done an about face, and I would straight up ask her what's going on. Things get weird when people move (I've moved a ton, and only recent came back to the area where most of our family+H's friends are). It's completely reasonable to feel hurt about this (I would) but before you totally write off the friendship reach out, leave all the weddings out of it, and ask her how she's doing/what's going on. 

    On the Friday wedding thing; I got married on a Friday night of a holiday weekend. I know some people (not any of our VIPS bc we checked with them) didn't come bc it was inconvenient and probably thought it was annoying but it worked best for us and our families. Really come to terms with the fact that many people won't take off work or rearrange schedules (even if you would) and enjoy who will be there. 

    And I think any any of your "friends" who have said "why go to her next wedding" are dicks. 
  • OP, I can definitely understand why you feel hurt and am sorry to hear that it sounds like some of your friendships have disintegrated after your move.  Unfortunately, sometimes that just happens.  Though I would reach out to your friend of 15 years, sometime after both weddings, and try to rekindle things.  It's not an excuse, but maybe her own wedding happening soon is part of why her behavior has changed.

    I can't believe anyone has given you crap about this being your second wedding.  That's ridiculous.  Marrying someone is always a momentous occasion.

    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • It's not right, but some people do view a person's second (or more) wedding differently than the first.  But I feel like there is more here.  Have you reached out to her since moving and spoke about anything other than the wedding? 

    As for the wedding thing.  I too had a Friday wedding.  I had a Catholic ceremony and I started it as late as the Church would allow - 5 PM.  I know people who had to take off of work to come.  I also know that some people did not take off work and only came to the reception.  I knew this going in and accepted this may be what happens.  Your ceremony is late afternoon - so many people may be in the same boat and are choosing to skip instead of use their PTO.

  • A true friend will be happy for you no matter what number wedding/marriage. I just attended a friend's 3rd wedding, and I was a happy celebrant at her other two. If she gets married a 4th time, I'll be there too (but of course I have the highest hopes her 3rd will work out, as I believe she's found her person). 

    I recently got married for the second time. When we first got engaged, I worried about how people would view now attending my second one, even though the first one was 10 years prior. Shit, I have friends that haven't even been married once - and here I am getting married for the second time! This is what I learned. Push those thoughts right out of your head. The people that love you will be happy for you. They want to see you happy. They're not going to judge you. 

    It sucks that your friends are not attending. I would reach out to them too, especially if these are long time friends as you say. 
    I'd def be just as happy, but tbh time and money are limited- if I've already spent a bunch of both for one wedding on you I may not put your second as high on my list of priorities just because I only have so much of both and lots of competing things. 
  • You're justified in your feelings, they are what they are, it's how you respond next that matters.  As we typically say here, time for a cupcake and beverage of choice (only ONE!), and some netflix/movie for a pity party for one to let those emotions out in a healthy way to move on because you have a million other things to do.  

    It's disappointing, but they get to decide these things themselves.  Yes, the behavior is out of character for her given what you've mentioned.  This is a good time for a No wedding discussions allowed "Hey - I get in to town on X day, want to go to dinner after work?" and open the door but let her choose whether to walk through it or not, and ZERO talk about weddings is allowed unless SHE brings it up as a subject.  Yes, this is your second so people do tend to treat it differently and the fact that it's a Friday instead of a weekend is going to make for different numbers.  

    So - will it be chocolate with sprinkles or white with buttercream???
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