Wedding Woes

Fiance's brother and girlfriend ruining our wedding plans

So before we got engaged, my Fiance and I made it known one night to his family that we were planning on getting engaged.The same night his brother and his girlfriend informed the family that night they also planned to get engaged. Fast forward two months- we get engaged and before setting our date we discussed the date we wanted with his brother and his girlfriend to make sure they didn't have any immediate plans and got their blessing. (Even though they were not engaged, because I was trying to be considerate). A month later they break up, right after they announced their engagement. (She pushed him so much he ended up buying her a CZ ring off of Amazon). Brother moves out and moves back in with his parents, which is where my Fiance is currently staying until September, until we move into our own place. Currently, I spend the night there between 2 and 3 nights a week and get along wonderfully with his family. 2 weeks ago his brother and girlfriend get back together and even though she has her own place, she has been staying at the house which has been really uncomfortable for us- she was really nasty after the break up and I have distanced myself from her. This week on July 4th (which marks one year to our wedding date) they announced that they are engaged and want to get married next summer! Originally, they asked to have their wedding a week before ours, and my Fiance's parents told them no- so now they want to have it memorial day weekend- that's 6 weeks a part! Normally, I wouldn't care but we have a lot of family on the groom's side who are coming in from out of town (including siblings) who will not be able to make it to both weddings and will have to choose.If they could separate their wedding 6 months from ours, it wouldn't be so bad. But obvious they do not have the class and consideration that we do. Our wedding date is already set, with the reception hall and church already booked. Am I over reacting? I am hurt, and upset and really need some advice. Thank you!

Re: Fiance's brother and girlfriend ruining our wedding plans

  • If some of the guests decide to for go your wedding to attend the other wedding than it is their loss. I do think you are over reacting, it's 6 weeks not 6 days and I'm sure the weddings will be completely different so I wouldn't let it stress you out. Just go ahead with your wedding and focus on that rather than their wedding.
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  • You cannot control your FI's brothers date. I think because of the history, everything is feeling like a slight to you, but there is no reason they should have to wait 6 months to "distance" themselves from your wedding. Relax and plan your own fabulous wedding, it will be great! 

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  • If I were family, and had enough notice (a year), I would do whatever I could to attend both weddings. If people can't make both then they will have to chose, and there isn't much you can do about that.

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  • 6fsn6fsn member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper

    Yes, you are overreacting.  You also sound petty.  Who cares about her ring?  Why is it ok for you to sleep over, but not her?

     

  • Send your save the dates now!
  • Yes, you're overreacting. Six weeks was almost half the planning time I had for my wedding, so there is plenty of distance between your wedding and theirs. If you're worried about family getting to both, send your save the dates. Maybe you could encourage FBIL to do the same.
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  • I was thinking exactly what GetThePointe77 said.

    Relax. Plan your wedding, let them plan theirs and be the bigger person. FI's cousin got engaged a few months after us and they set their date a week before ours (fully knowing what this would do). It's made most of FI's family choose one or the other. It's tough but all I've said to them is congrats. Though since we sent out our save the dates before they got engaged most the family has made plans for our wedding. :)

    On a side note, if most of your guests are out of town and your getting married on or near a holiday; then I'd suggest sending out save the dates really early.
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  • WzzWzz member
    2500 Comments 250 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    so you're both planning weddings on holidays for next summer? one will be memorial day and another 4th of July? and no one mentioned that THIS ALONE is a bad idea to either of you? 

    not only are you overreacting, but you are also going to have a bunch of truly unhappy guests. they may choose between one wedding or the other so they don't have to give up two holidays next year for weddings. i don't envy your guests.

    6 weeks apart is the least of your worries.
  • Wzz said:
    so you're both planning weddings on holidays for next summer? one will be memorial day and another 4th of July? and no one mentioned that THIS ALONE is a bad idea to either of you? 

    not only are you overreacting, but you are also going to have a bunch of truly unhappy guests. they may choose between one wedding or the other so they don't have to give up two holidays next year for weddings. i don't envy your guests.

    6 weeks apart is the least of your worries.
    Ditto this. Unless you were my brother or my very best friend I wouldn't give up my fourth of July for your wedding and I wouldn't want to give up my memorial day weekend either.

    But you've picked your date and they've picked theirs. There is nothing more you can do at this point. You can't stomp your foot and make them change their date because you only get one day and yeah it sucks because you picked a date that might get a high decline rate anyway and now family might have to choose between weddings on top of that but that's life.

    Just smile and focus on your own wedding. Oh and send your STDs out like today.


  • LAM524LAM524 member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    I agree! There is nothing you can do. They know your date and they made their choice. I would think there would be some consideration for traveling guests expenses but guess not. 

    Yours is first...your date...your STD's (get them out now) and your invites! Go about your planning and enjoy! Oh yes...I dont think I would be quick to share any plans/details!

    Btw...my wedding is during Memorial Day weekend next year also. We chose that weekend because many relatives suggested it because it is a holiday!  It gives OOT's a long weekend and a mini vacations!

    One suggestion, if you plan on blocking hotel rooms, do it now. Where I live, there are lots of conventions, weddings, etc and the hotels close to my venue apparently get 100% booked for the weekend so we made sure to block early.

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  • LAM524LAM524 member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    I agree! There is nothing you can do. They know your date and they made their choice. I would think there would be some consideration for traveling guests expenses but guess not. 

    Yours is first...your date...your STD's (get them out now) and your invites! Go about your planning and enjoy! Oh yes...I dont think I would be quick to share any plans/details!

    Btw...my wedding is during Memorial Day weekend next year also. We chose that weekend because many relatives suggested it because it is a holiday!  It gives OOT's a long weekend and a mini vacations!

    One suggestion, if you plan on blocking hotel rooms, do it now. Where I live, there are lots of conventions, weddings, etc and the hotels close to my venue apparently get 100% booked for the weekend so we made sure to block early.

    tinkerbell gif photo: Tinkerbell stuck in keyhole animated gif Peterpan2_coince9e.gif
  • So before we got engaged, my Fiance and I made it known one night to his family that we were planning on getting engaged.The same night his brother and his girlfriend informed the family that night they also planned to get engaged. Fast forward two months- we get engaged and before setting our date we discussed the date we wanted with his brother and his girlfriend to make sure they didn't have any immediate plans and got their blessing. (Even though they were not engaged, because I was trying to be considerate). A month later they break up, right after they announced their engagement. (She pushed him so much he ended up buying her a CZ ring off of Amazon). Brother moves out and moves back in with his parents, which is where my Fiance is currently staying until September, until we move into our own place. Currently, I spend the night there between 2 and 3 nights a week and get along wonderfully with his family. 2 weeks ago his brother and girlfriend get back together and even though she has her own place, she has been staying at the house which has been really uncomfortable for us- she was really nasty after the break up and I have distanced myself from her. This week on July 4th (which marks one year to our wedding date) they announced that they are engaged and want to get married next summer! Originally, they asked to have their wedding a week before ours, and my Fiance's parents told them no- so now they want to have it memorial day weekend- that's 6 weeks a part! Normally, I wouldn't care but we have a lot of family on the groom's side who are coming in from out of town (including siblings) who will not be able to make it to both weddings and will have to choose.If they could separate their wedding 6 months from ours, it wouldn't be so bad. But obvious they do not have the class and consideration that we do. Our wedding date is already set, with the reception hall and church already booked. Am I over reacting? I am hurt, and upset and really need some advice. Thank you!
    I also am stuck on you both hogging up the two major summer holidays for your weddings. If I were a wedding vendor I'd be charging at least triple to work on those dates.
  • Choosing holiday weekends can be a sure fire way to have a lower guest count.  With the weddings so close, you will lose some guests who will have to choose.  If i were you  I would ditch the 4th of July wedding plans and choose a non-holiday time.  Your guests will love you for it.

    In our family a Memorial Day wedding is no big deal as there are no standing plans.  4th of July?  My sister has standing vacay plans and so do 2 of DH's siblings, as well as my DD and SIL.  None of them would change their vacay plans for a family wedding.

    I'd rethink your date.
  • Definitely going to say be the bigger person.  I completely understand where your coming from as my cousin booked his wedding on the same day as mine.  In your case, however...I'm not sure the wedding will end up happening.  

  • kmmssg said:
    Choosing holiday weekends can be a sure fire way to have a lower guest count.  With the weddings so close, you will lose some guests who will have to choose.  If i were you  I would ditch the 4th of July wedding plans and choose a non-holiday time.  Your guests will love you for it.

    In our family a Memorial Day wedding is no big deal as there are no standing plans.  4th of July?  My sister has standing vacay plans and so do 2 of DH's siblings, as well as my DD and SIL.  None of them would change their vacay plans for a family wedding.

    I'd rethink your date.
    It's the same in my family. Memorial Day isn't a huge deal. I wouldn't be thrilled about giving up my weekend for a wedding but I probably would. But the fourth of July? Nope, not going to happen.


  • WzzWzz member
    2500 Comments 250 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper

    everyone thinks a holiday weddding is a good idea until they get that invitation in the mail and reality sets in.

     

    i know this from seeing it happen with my own eyes more than once.

  • Maybe a holiday wedding (from either sibling) was intentionally planned to keep the guest count down and the budget under control?
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  • Maybe a holiday wedding (from either sibling) was intentionally planned to keep the guest count down and the budget under control?
    That would be a poor reason for choosing a date. No matter what date you pick you should only invite as many people as you can afford and plan on 100% attendance because it happens.


  • WzzWzz member
    2500 Comments 250 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper

    this was in the OP. plus, i wouldn't assume they meant to do anything with choosing the date. unless they say it in the post, who knows why people do anything.

    "we have a lot of family on the groom's side who are coming in from out of town (including siblings) who will not be able to make it to both weddings and will have to choose."

    i'd only assume that the OP expects people to actually attend her wedding since she cares if people will attend. i woulnd't assume the other bride and groom are trying to control the OP's guest list this way.

  • Carlotta2014Carlotta2014 member
    First Comment
    edited July 2013
    I was really upset when I wrote this post and have since calmed down.

    All families loved the date and are planning long weekends because July 4th is on a Friday next year. FI is also a veteran, and really wanted to get married on the 4th and our families do not have big parties around that time. We were considerate of that when choosing our date. Our anniversary is on Thanksgiving, so at least we didn't choose that! :)

    We did end up talking with his brother and he did say he was going to work on the date. As for the comment about the ring, I was only trying to demonstrate she has pushed this engagement, the man hasn't been able to get her a ring. Also, I made that comment, which I realize is petty, because she keeps telling everyone it is very expensive. It doesn't matter what a ring costs, but I think it's weird to lie about it. And originally they tried to plan it the week before, but were told they couldn't.

    I think it's hard for most people planning a wedding, I know some of you may have gotten the impression that I am unreasonable, but I have waited my whole life for a man like him and can't wait to be his wife.

    P.S- my save the dates are going out at the end of next week :)
  • That sucks. But its 6 weeks. Get your STDs out first. I agree with previous posts about holiday weekends sucking. In the past 3 years I have had two weddings fall on 4th of July. Both of friends that I am relatively close to. I love them to death and would never ever miss they're wedding, but secretly I'm missing the 4th of July festivities (fireworks/family BBQ and such.)
  • lol @ "get your stds" out.

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  • I think that having weddings on the 4th of July is the new "thing"  I have recieved invites to weddings on the past two 4th of julys.  Unfortuntly I was only able to attend one of those weddings because of my work schedule and I have to work every other holiday.  As to the bride I say-- Plan your wedding, be friendly to the brother and girlfriend, but I do agree with the other posters, I dont see the memorial day wedding happening since they dont seem to be that stable of a couple.
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