Wedding Party

Bridesmaid/MOH drama

edited June 2013 in Wedding Party
My wedding was a year ago and one of my best friends from grade school, "T," was my maid of honor. I could have chosen my sister in law or cousin but I went with my friend because we used to joke we would be each other's maid of honors growing up and I knew she wanted the role. Right after I asked her to be mine, she said I would be her matron of honor when she got engaged.  She took the role very seriously and seemed to love being my MOH. I guess you could describe her as "enthusiastic"- She helped plan a bachelorette party and shower and would chatter about it nonstop. Looking back I think she may have just enjoyed getting attention and getting the recognition/honor from the role. While she was enthusiastic and did help organize these events, she definitely wasn't perfect and lacked the ability to stay calm or carry on a normal conversation about wedding planning with my other girls (i..e she would send out over the top emails with the overarching message that she was MOH). I brushed all the bad aside and just attributed it to her personality at the time, but now I keep thinking about how it was a bad decision and how someone else would have been a better fit for the role. A lot of this I am thinking is because I recently was not chosen as her MOH. 

She got engaged a few months after my wedding. A couple months later, I get a card from her in the mail asking me to be a bridesmaid. I know people have different opinions on this, but in my opinion it was really impersonal and fake in the way that she did it.  I know she doesn't owe an explanation on why I wasn't chosen as MOH, but I asked her anyway. She said she was waiting for me to ask her why and gave me a completely fake reason (I won't include it since in the odd case she reads this it would completely give who I am away). And as far as the girl she asked to be her MOH, I have heard her make fun of in the past- for example criticizing her weight. My hubby said she is shallow and he thinks she chose her strictly based on the fact she did not want someone thinner/attractive standing next to her at the alter (I hope that doesn't come across the wrong way- but "T" has always struggled with her weight a bit and I have always been thin in comparison). Also, one of my cousins recently told me it was obvious during my wedding planning that she was jealous of me. She also acted extremely jealous when I first started dating my now hubby but over time we patched that up when she started dating her future hubby. In short, I know, shame on me for choosing her as my MOH- going for the person who will do the most things for you is NOT the smart long-term move! I would rather look back on my photos and see the person standing closest to me as someone who actually is a good friend to me. 

I know a lot of this just seems so petty and immature and I want to let it go but I just can't. Why should I even want to be her MOH after the way she acted throughout my wedding and when she has a jealousy streak?  However, this really has been bothering me. I am annoyed that she acted like being my MOH was the most important thing in the world to her and now has friended my entire family/friends.  I am annoyed that I was lied to about the reason I was not chosen. I am annoyed that now everyone of my friends/family members will see through her facebook that I am not MOH, and a lot of them assumed I would be.  I am annoyed because she has made it obvious I am not even really an important person in her wedding (i.e. everything about her wedding is expensive while I was super price cautious with my girls). 

 I know there are a lot more important things in life that I should be focused on. I am lucky to have such an amazing husband by my side. However it just really does bother me that I was not chosen as MOH and I am getting treated this way. I do want to stay in her wedding, even if it's just so she has to look back at photos of me like I now have to look at photos of her. I know this is extremely shallow thinking though. Should I just back out of her wedding? How do I get over the fact I was not chosen as MOH? Any thoughts would be helpful because I don't know how to just move on and get over my anger that has taken over me. Thanks!

Re: Bridesmaid/MOH drama

  • mlg78mlg78 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    You really need to get a grip. She was happy for you and planned a lot of things she wasn't even remotely required to do for you.  Choose to be in her wedding or not...but get over yourself, seriously.
  • @retreadbride It's not like I wanted for her to get involved with them on facebook. What are you suggesting, that I just ignore the facebook friendships? And I didn't know about the emails until after the fact when someone showed me a couple of them or I would have told her to tone it down.  Yes,  they are all still my friends...I think they just laughed at her and rolled their eyes.

    mlg78 No offense but "get over yourself" is not really helpful. I'm upset by this so if it were that simple I wouldn't post about it here. 
     

  • phiraphira member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    If this upsets you so much, then don't be her bridesmaid. But she was not obligated to choose you to be matron of honor just because she was your maid of honor. She was not obligated to choose you because you're a better friend than the person she chose. She was not obligated to choose you because she annoyed your friends and family and you've decided not to let that be a problem.

    I'm not going to tell you that you should just magically stop feeling upset, because that doesn't ever work or help. But in terms of what I can recommend you do, I can't recommend anything besides either agree to be her bridesmaid, or don't, and be polite and kind either way. If you do decide to accept and be a bridesmaid, then do it graciously, but don't fall over yourself trying to be THE BEST BRIDESMAID. If you decide not to be one, you can give a white lie reason ("I feel very honored, but I've decided that I've got a bit too much going on to the a great bridesmaid. But [hubby] and I look forward to celebrating with you as guests."

    You might have trouble letting it go emotionally until the wedding is over, but just watch how you behave--you will feel much better in the long run if you can look back on your behavior and say, "I was angry about it, but I definitely was the better person here."
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  • @retreadbride It's not like I wanted for her to get involved with them on facebook. What are you suggesting, that I just ignore the facebook friendships? And I didn't know about the emails until after the fact when someone showed me a couple of them or I would have told her to tone it down.  Yes,  they are all still my friends...I think they just laughed at her and rolled their eyes.

    mlg78 No offense but "get over yourself" is not really helpful. I'm upset by this so if it were that simple I wouldn't post about it here. 
     

    I don't understand what else you were hoping to hear? Either you are still her friend and still want to stand up for her, or you aren't and you don't. There's nothing else you can do except calm down and deal.
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  • I'm just not sure if I should or not. I feel like she brings out the immature child like side in me, and I don't want that to happen because I just want to be happy and move on from feeling upset.  Maybe it is because we have been friends for so long. On the one hand, I value the lifelong friendship, and on the other hand, I don't appreciate being lied to and the ongoing phoniness, so it's almost like this is good riddance. I will have to think it over. Any other suggestions of what to consider would be appreciated. 
  • I'm just not sure if I should or not. I feel like she brings out the immature child like side in me, and I don't want that to happen because I just want to be happy and move on from feeling upset.  Maybe it is because we have been friends for so long. On the one hand, I value the lifelong friendship, and on the other hand, I don't appreciate being lied to and the ongoing phoniness, so it's almost like this is good riddance. I will have to think it over. Any other suggestions of what to consider would be appreciated. 

    You do that all by yourself. No one can "bring" anything out in you that you aren't allowing to happen.
  • Right. I know words are all people have to go by on here, but I feel like people really tend to take things out of context sometimes. Yes, only I "allow" myself to act that way, but there are people who can tend to bring out the worse in you. Especially since old habits die hard if you've known someone for ages. 
  • I would think long and hard about whether you want to end a lifelong friendship over the fact that she didn't choose you to be her MOH.

    If there are other reasons why you don't want to be her friend, then that's different, but I wouldn't end a lifelong friendship over the MOH drama. I would take a step back, try to calm down, and wait until you're less emotional to make any decisions.

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  • I have tried to calm down for awhile and it's just not helping. I don't know if I will feel calm at this point until her wedding is over if I stay in it. I don't know how to get calm or less emotional, I guess just trying not to dwell on it and think of other important things in my life. But then I think about it randomly again and get mad all over again! :/ 
  • I know, @retreadbride- looking back I should have done something like that. However if that were the case she probably wouldn't have been MOH. I chose her mainly because I did want a bachelorette party and bridal shower and she seemed like the best person to initiate that planning, as many of my other friends/family members are not into stuff like that as much. Now that those parties are over though, that doesn't seem enough to make her worthy of that stupid title in my life.  I guess what really irritates me now is how much that title went to her head.  I don't really think she had the best of intentions while being my MOH, and I think she knows that and this is one reason I wasn't chosen as hers. 

     I can't have my cake and eat it too though :/ My hubby tells me to let it go and she served her purpose at the time and just focus on the good friendships I do have moving forward- good advice. I just need to stop dwelling on this! The only person it is hurting is me. 
  • mlg78mlg78 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    Retread gave you wonderful advice... I hope that your friendship will make it through both of these weddings but I agree -- you are both wrapped up in the wedding industry right now.
  • I get that you're disappointed.  Hopefully in time you can put that behind you.  Regardless of how crappy her reasons were for not having you as MOH, she wasn't obligated to offer you the role.

    Your wedding happened, what's done is done.  I'm sorry she was a pain to deal with throughout your planning process.  It's not worth dwelling on.  I can appreciate how hard it is to let these things go though.

    You have to decide whether or not you really want to be in the WP, or even have her as a friend.  If you step down, chances are, she'll be offended and cut you out of her life.  Is that a chance you're willing to take?  If there are still a lot of positive aspects of your relationship, I would stay in the WP, and possibly let your contact with her fizzle out later if it doesn't go that well.  It all depends on if you want the friendship to continue.

     

  • I'd just get over it.  I don't even think I'm going to be in the WP for my MOH.  And that's just fine.  I love her, and I'm thrilled to be there as a guest to support her.  This is a friendship issue, don't worry about the title.  It's silly to get so worked up about not being a MOH.
  • As far as the MOH thing goes, just try to relax about it. So what if you aren't her MOH. As long as you have your husband and other close friends, spend your time and energy on them. Don't spend it all on someone who doesn't seem to care. However, my first suggestion is to look at how close your relationship with her is outside of wedding stuff. Do you guys ever talk about anything other than wedding stuff? Do you ever get together for lunch/coffee/a drink? If you still have a decent/pretty good relationship with her, than my advice would be to stick it out as a BM and after the wedding you can always re-evaluate where things stand with the two of you.  My next suggestion is maybe try to take a closer look at her. Maybe she is just stressed out about wedding planning, or maybe she doesn't realize that she is acting out the way she is. If no one has asked her about it, she may think she is not acting any different. Maybe something happened that she hasn't felt comfortable telling anyone, and she just needs someone to be there and listen. Just use your best judgement hun, but don't stress! :)
  • OP, think of it this way, if she was that big of a PITA as your MOH, just think of the crap she'll put her MOH through. Sounds like you dodged a bullet.
  • Hi everyone- thanks for all the feedback.  I think you are right in this is a bigger issue than just not being made MOH. I've honestly always had issues with her on and off and she was probably smarter than me in picking someone else who she hasn't had issues with. Maybe the real issue is I am more annoyed at my own wedding decisions rather than her choice of not making me MOH. I can't change my decisions though so you are right, I need to let it go.  Also, she is the type that would want a MOH to spend a ton of money on her and who she can get away with bossing around a bit, so in that sense yes I do think I dodged a bullet (my hubby actually has suggested that as well).

     I like the idea of staying in as a bridesmaid, minimizing my involvement by riding it out and re-evaluating the friendship after. She has already done some passive aggressive things that have made this difficult, however. I think the best thing to do may be to just laugh it off and end on neutral terms rather than bitter. 


  • I think you have a really good attitude about this.  She sounds sort of awful, and it might be for the best-- that way you don't have to fulfill all of the MOH "duties" she'll make up.  Good luck!
  • She got engaged a few months after my wedding. A couple months later, I get a card from her in the mail asking me to be a bridesmaid. I know people have different opinions on this, but in my opinion it was really impersonal and fake in the way that she did it.  I know she doesn't owe an explanation on why I wasn't chosen as MOH, but I asked her anyway. She said she was waiting for me to ask her why and gave me a completely fake reason (I won't include it since in the odd case she reads this it would completely give who I am away). And as far as the girl she asked to be her MOH, I have heard her make fun of in the past- for example criticizing her weight. My hubby said she is shallow and he thinks she chose her strictly based on the fact she did not want someone thinner/attractive standing next to her at the alter (I hope that doesn't come across the wrong way- but "T" has always struggled with her weight a bit and I have always been thin in comparison). Also, one of my cousins recently told me it was obvious during my wedding planning that she was jealous of me. She also acted extremely jealous when I first started dating my now hubby but over time we patched that up when she started dating her future hubby. In short, I know, shame on me for choosing her as my MOH- going for the person who will do the most things for you is NOT the smart long-term move! I would rather look back on my photos and see the person standing closest to me as someone who actually is a good friend to me.
    You've already said you she was the MOH in your wedding as well as shared some details about it.
    You said she sent you a card in the mail.
    You said that not only did you ask her why you weren't MOH but that she said she was expecting you to ask.
    You've said that you're thin, that she isn't, and apparently her MOH isn't either.
    Plus your name is in your username.

    Something tells me if she's lurking, she'll be able to crack your code.
    I'm kind of curious about what her reason was and why you think it's a lie.
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