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Wedding Etiquette Forum

HELP! (a bit long)

Ok. A friend of mine had asked me to be her Matron of Honor. I asked her first if it was OK, as I didn't want to step on anyone's toes since her bridal party consisted of very close friends and family. She said they were all on board and were happy she was asking me. So, I automatically start planning, as I love planning parties/weddings/etc. Then she tells me she's getting married at the JOP and that she's doing ANOTHER wedding next year when they can afford it and she told her other friend that was upset that she could also be a Matron of Honor and doesn't have to do anything because it's all "up to me." So, I informed her, if she's doing her JOP ceremony and dinner then she really doesn't need a Bridal Party as it's not "something big.' That's what she told me. Well, it turned into something big, that I wasn't invited to. She had her hair done, flowers bought, dress, wrote their own vows, rented tables, chairs, got a tent, had a small, intimate reception with about 25 people or so. She even make cookies that said "Thank You" on them and had a wedding cake. Got pictures taken, a video. Now, to me, that's a wedding! Yes, we had almost 200 people at ours last year BUT that was our choice, our wedding. What she had was in deed a wedding on a smaller scale. Well, SHE still wants her "big day" next year. She told me she still wants a shower, a bachelorette party, ceremony, etc... I told her that I would not feel comfortable, nor classy, throwing a bridal shower for someone that's already married, as a bridal shower is to "shower" the bride to be, and a bachelorette party is completely out of the question since she WON'T be a bachelorette and it'll be more than a year later! I feel like when she chose to have her JOP ceremony and reception, that was her wedding. She invited those 25 people. I  A. feel awkward inviting people to something that following year that they weren't invited to the year before because I couldn't afford it. To me, that's rude. and B. NONE of her "bridal party" was invited. It was family, mostly. So, now I'm in a pickle. I told her next year she should just throw a party, no bridal party, no ceremony, nothing. She HATES that idea. I also informed her that her "wedding next year" wouldn't be a wedding ceremony, since they're already married. She said she would just have a friend go up there and pretend to go through the whole wedding again since they're already married, they don't need anyone official. I feel bad because I really did look forward to being in my FIRST wedding (finally) and really helping her but all these things are against my better judgement. I don't know how to explain her that this isn't something that you do. They didn't HAVE TO get married at the JOP. He's not in the services, they aren't being separated. They live together with her mother. She said she was doing it for insurance purposes, then days before her ceremony, she decided she's getting her own insurance. So, they did it to be married. Which they could have done any way they wanted and to me, that's what they chose and did. I don't feel like you get another wedding the following year because you couldn't afford the big one the year before. Heck, it poured like crazy on my wedding day. Tornado warnings and everything and I was in a horse and carriage (haha) BUT I don't get to re-do it a year later because everything wasn't how I planned. It was our wedding day. The way we chose. I just don't know what to say to her anymore and don't feel right being a part of this. Please help.

Re: HELP! (a bit long)

  • sda6485 said:
    Ok. A friend of mine had asked me to be her Matron of Honor. I asked her first if it was OK, as I didn't want to step on anyone's toes since her bridal party consisted of very close friends and family. She said they were all on board and were happy she was asking me. So, I automatically start planning, as I love planning parties/weddings/etc. Then she tells me she's getting married at the JOP and that she's doing ANOTHER wedding next year when they can afford it and she told her other friend that was upset that she could also be a Matron of Honor and doesn't have to do anything because it's all "up to me." So, I informed her, if she's doing her JOP ceremony and dinner then she really doesn't need a Bridal Party as it's not "something big.' That's what she told me. Well, it turned into something big, that I wasn't invited to. She had her hair done, flowers bought, dress, wrote their own vows, rented tables, chairs, got a tent, had a small, intimate reception with about 25 people or so. She even make cookies that said "Thank You" on them and had a wedding cake. Got pictures taken, a video. Now, to me, that's a wedding! Yes, we had almost 200 people at ours last year BUT that was our choice, our wedding. What she had was in deed a wedding on a smaller scale. Well, SHE still wants her "big day" next year. She told me she still wants a shower, a bachelorette party, ceremony, etc... I told her that I would not feel comfortable, nor classy, throwing a bridal shower for someone that's already married, as a bridal shower is to "shower" the bride to be, and a bachelorette party is completely out of the question since she WON'T be a bachelorette and it'll be more than a year later! I feel like when she chose to have her JOP ceremony and reception, that was her wedding. She invited those 25 people. I  A. feel awkward inviting people to something that following year that they weren't invited to the year before because I couldn't afford it. To me, that's rude. and B. NONE of her "bridal party" was invited. It was family, mostly. So, now I'm in a pickle. I told her next year she should just throw a party, no bridal party, no ceremony, nothing. She HATES that idea. I also informed her that her "wedding next year" wouldn't be a wedding ceremony, since they're already married. She said she would just have a friend go up there and pretend to go through the whole wedding again since they're already married, they don't need anyone official. I feel bad because I really did look forward to being in my FIRST wedding (finally) and really helping her but all these things are against my better judgement. I don't know how to explain her that this isn't something that you do. They didn't HAVE TO get married at the JOP. He's not in the services, they aren't being separated. They live together with her mother. She said she was doing it for insurance purposes, then days before her ceremony, she decided she's getting her own insurance. So, they did it to be married. Which they could have done any way they wanted and to me, that's what they chose and did. I don't feel like you get another wedding the following year because you couldn't afford the big one the year before. Heck, it poured like crazy on my wedding day. Tornado warnings and everything and I was in a horse and carriage (haha) BUT I don't get to re-do it a year later because everything wasn't how I planned. It was our wedding day. The way we chose. I just don't know what to say to her anymore and don't feel right being a part of this. Please help.
    "Friend, you already got married. You already had a wedding. I do not feel comfortable being a part of any of this." 


    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
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  • Excuse me while I process all of this. Wow.

    I would just tell her, "Congratulations on your marriage. Unfortunately, I won't be participating in anything leading up to the event next year." Send them a card and a gift. The end.
  • Yes. She ended up getting married on my daughter's birthday. Her party afterwards was to be held at her house so I told her that after we spend the day with our daughter that we will come over to see her and wish her Congrats and such. She said "oh don't worry about, it's not big deal." I said "it is a big deal! it's your wedding day!" She said "I've had family dinners that were bigger, this is nothing to me." I was hurt right there then felt sort of bad for her that in her mind this was nothing to her because she, as she stated, still wanted her "big day next year."
  • OP - I applaud you for having knowledge of proper etiquette. Don't let this girl suck you into her PPD. Don't support it by getting a gift either.
  • I would decline and not get her a card or gift for her PPD. You're right, she's already married, and you don't have to support this in any way, shape, or form.
  • I don't even think I would continue to be friends with a person who chooses to lie to her family and friends so easily.  Tell her you will not take part in her PPD next year and when you get your invitation, decline it.
  • Why can't she have a bridal party for a jop wedding?

    I'd be like ewww really. That sounds Like she is ungreatfull.
  • If you want to support the marriage, and haven't already I would send her a card and a gift (if you want to) now.  I would have one more conversation where you make it clear that while you are happy that your friend and her husband are married, you cannot support this "second wedding" to use their terms... that you certianly couldn't in good concience host pre-wedding parties for someone who is already married.  You might even encourage them to use the money they are planning on saving for the "big day" on a great vacation, a down payment on a house... anything but lying to their friends.  If she brings it up again, just say something along the lines of "you make your own choices, but I won't support this one" and leave it at that.
  • Thanks to all the replies. She is in deed also my neighbor which makes things a bit difficult. However, she informed me a few weeks back that I am "brutally honest" because I informed her that it would be in poor taste to do these things last year and that had she not quickly scheduled the JOP that I would have gladly thrown a bridal shower/bachelortette party for her this year and this would have been the time to do these things. I understand what she says when she says she wants all these things, however, she could have had them this year as this is the wedding anniversary that she will be celebrating, not the party next year. Everyone knows she's married. And her way of reasoning was stating that her friend (who is also in the wedding and the other "matron of honor") had a small ceremony and then had a bigger wedding later on. I informed her that her friend also had poor etiquette and maybe she is the right person for the job. I've talked to others about this and they have all said the same thing, I've looked it up online and all the same response, I think I just really needed to get outsiders POV's since everyone I had spoke to it about knows of her and the people online had their own situations and reasons. Thank you again.
  • I told her since this was her wedding that she should have her bridal party. She told me that this wasn't her wedding just a quick ceremony between her and her fiance and parents. So, I just assumed that next year, there wouldn't be a ceremony or bridal party and just an all out celebration. I never thought she literally wanted a complete "re-do" and to act like what took place hasn't actually happened. I told her for me to host these things would be like me hosting a baby shower for someone who isn't pregnant just because they wanted the "feeling" of what they think they should deserve.
  • You are a good friend, and you raise very good points here.  You WOULD have done these things for her, if she had taken a little more time this year instead of planning things the way she did.  No one says you shouldn't do things the way you want to, but she can't expect to do things rudely and for everyone to go along with it just because another friend of her did things rudely.

    Someone posted this on another thread recently and it made me laugh--what day do they celebrate?  The JOP day or their "wedding" day?  And she's already married right now, but planning a wedding?  That's what makes me laugh.

    You seem like a good friend who wants to do the right thing.  Someone mentioned acknowledging her marriage, but she asked you to be the co-matron of honor and yet didn't invite you to the actual marriage because she's had "larger family dinners and it was no big deal?"  That makes me think that she's only thinking about herself and getting to have her PPD.  I'm sorry in that case, I'd be disappointed if I didn't get to see one of my close friends get married and was told that it wasn't a big deal.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • I declined to attend my cousins wedding over a very similar reason.  My cousin decided that she was going to get married to her husband on the courthouse steps and not tell anyone.  Well word got around and before long everyone knew about it.  But instead of having a party to just celebrate their exisiting marriage, they did a complete and utter do-over wedding complete with ceremony!  I don't know why, but that just doesn't seem right to me, so I didn't attend.  I simply sent her a card that said congrats and left it at that!
  • If you want to attend her PPD as a guest, you certainly can. I wouldn't decline that personally, but PPDs aren't a huge deal to me. But I would certainly decline being a matron of honor and throwing those parties for her. I would also send her a gift now to celebrate the marriage and not later. 
    Anniversary
  • You weren't even special enough to her to have been invited to her real wedding. She's asking you to be an actor at her pretend wedding, and the facilitator of her getting gifts.

    Decline.

    I personally wouldn't even remain friends with this person.
    imageimageimage

    You'll never be subject to a cash bar, gap, potluck wedding, or b-list if you marry a Muppet Overlord.
  • Why can't she have a bridal party for a jop wedding? I'd be like ewww really. That sounds Like she is ungreatfull.
    She could have, but chose not to.

    What the OP is trying to explain to her friend is that she shouldn't have a bridal party or any pre-wedding events leading up to the Pretty Princess Day the friend wants next year.  The reason being that the friend is already married, and it would be in poor taste.

    "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."


  • Good for you. I would probably step down at this point and see where things go with your friendship. Who knows, maybe they won't have the money to have a big event in a year. If someone else hosts all those events and you get invited, you can decide at that time if you want to attend. But at least you won't have the guilt that you are throwing events you now shouldn't be held. Trust me, you won't be the only one going, this is wrong.

    In my opinion, nothing wrong with a nice small JOP wedding, but if you really want the "big traditional wedding" then a couple should wait until they can afford it. Not do JOP then treat it if it wasn't real

  • Erikan73 said:

    Good for you. I would probably step down at this point and see where things go with your friendship. Who knows, maybe they won't have the money to have a big event in a year. If someone else hosts all those events and you get invited, you can decide at that time if you want to attend. But at least you won't have the guilt that you are throwing events you now shouldn't be held. Trust me, you won't be the only one going, this is wrong.

    In my opinion, nothing wrong with a nice small JOP wedding, but if you really want the "big traditional wedding" then a couple should wait until they can afford it. Not do JOP then treat it if it wasn't real

    I loved your post :-)

    "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."


  • EXACTLY! In my opinion, no matter what way you spin it, that was your wedding. That's what I'm trying to make her understand. No matter how big or how small, that was your special day. The day that for the rest of your life you will remember. But to her, it wasn't a "big deal." I don't know how that's not a big deal to someone. That's the person you're spending your life with and that's the day that your wish came true. And it was weird because to me, she kept playing it off like it was nothing and she didn't care but yet with her mom and others, she was planning and getting everything ready. I don't know if she did it like that to me and didn't invite me because she wants me to be OK with the 2nd wedding next year. She came over afterwards and told me of all the presents she received and different things. I told her that if she continues on with next years plans that the people that came this year and brought gifts are going to be angry that they've been invited to another gift giving wedding a year later.I feel like I'm beating a dead horse.
  • There's nothing about what happens that would make me be "OK" with any of it. That to me was friendship ending. I don't want people in my life like that.
    imageimageimage

    You'll never be subject to a cash bar, gap, potluck wedding, or b-list if you marry a Muppet Overlord.
  • Ask her if she wants to give up all the state and federal benefits that she just received or if those "aren't a big deal".  
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