Hello! I'm new here, but I'm in a pretty tough situation and a recently married friend suggested I come here for some advice.
I've known "D" for well over 20 years, and consider her my best friend, so of course when I got engaged in June I asked her to be my maid of honor. She got involved with a company called ACN several months ago, and she's been exhibiting some kind of crazy behaviors since then. I know she's asked my several times (probably once a week for the past three months) to sign up for services with her, or join as a sales rep myself. I've declined each time and ask her to stop, but she won't. She posts incessantly on Facebook about the company with all kinds of super-cheery buzzwords and catch phrases, which I find unusual behavior for her, but harmless I guess.
Now the crazy issue- she wants my entire wedding guest list, with phone numbers, emails, and addresses. I told her if it was for the shower then let me know what size she was thinking of and I will cull down the list to an appropriate number. Nope. After a little wheedling I figured out she wants the list so she can
solicit my wedding guests!! I told her that I was not comfortable with that at all, and while I appreciate that she's very excited about this company I would request that she keep it separate from my wedding. She got very quiet after that and ended the conversation pretty quickly. Not half an hour later she posts a link on Facebook
(here) about cutting out "negative" people who won't support your business. I did a little research on the company and it really seems half pyramid scheme half cult!! So now I feel like if I confront her about this she may cut me off as per the handbook.
She called me back and asked me for the list for the bridal shower, saying to invite "anyone and everyone I want!" (my wedding is almost 300 people!!). She also still wants phone numbers and email in addition to address "just in case she needs to follow up on an rsvp". I'm nervous, and honestly not comfortable giving her this information. She's already shown me her lack of restraint and respect when it comes to this company, and I don't want to subject my friends and family to it too. I have one other bridesmaid, my sister, but she lives across the country and can't plan a shower.
On one hand, I want a bridal shower. I've been to so many over the years and I always really looked forward to when I would have my own. I would feel resentful if I had to decline to save the embarrassment of having my MOH harassing my guests. On the other, I don't want to throw away this friendship over something that (I'm praying) won't be a permanent thing.