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Wedding Party

MoH-zilla, or does the bride have unreasonable expectations?

I'm seeking guidance on what to do about my Maid of Honor. She is a wonderful person who gives so much of herself to her friends, family, and job. She was very excited for my fiancé and I when we got engaged in July 2012. Our wedding is in October 2014. She went with me a year ago to pick out my dress, and made the extra effort (without me asking) to take over 150 pictures so I can have a slide show of the event. Three months ago, she visited my ceremony and reception sites with me and helped me brainstorm decorations and how to get around a few logistical issues. She's been great! She asked me to meet her for lunch today to discuss parties, dresses, etc because she said she was stressing out about her duties and wanted to clear the air. I feel I have been very open about the dresses, offering my wedding members to pick a dress in any material or style she likes, as long as it is one of the two different colors I have chosen (actually, my MoH chose the second color). My MoH said today that she wants her dress in a third color. I wasn't overly fond of the color, but it complements the other two, so I agreed to it. I have been very clear about wanting my group to feel comfortable and happy with their dresses. Then came the discussion of shoes. No one wants to wear heels (myself included), so I was going to buy Teva flip flops as one of my gifts for them (along with Coach wristlets, Hollister beach bags, VS lotion, the Intercourses cookbook, and homemade sugar scrub). Despite stating she liked my idea regarding the shoes previously, today she said she thinks everyone should wear Toms. Not only are these three times the price as the Tevas, but I simply don't like the look of them (and know for a fact at least two of my bridesmaids don't either). When I thanked her for the suggestion and said that I liked my original plan, she told me that she thought it was too bad I didn't care about my bridesmaid's toes getting cold (it should be at least 65 degrees for our early afternoon ceremony). I was willing to let it go, but then she started talking about parties. She informed me I could either have a bridal shower OR a bachelorette party and that I needed to decide today (9 months prior to the wedding) which that would be. She grew up in Arizona (where we both now live) and I grew up in Virginia. Maybe it is a regional difference, but for every wedding I have been involved in, the bride was celebrated at both events. We then started talking about a shower. My MoH continued to tell me all the things she wouldn't do. There were many, but a few stand out above the others. We can have the shower at her place, but if I want to have alcohol there (at that point we had discussed an Italian theme with wine tasting) then I will need to hold it at my own place. She said she would be willing to do the invitations, decorations, and games, but that I would need to provide the food, drinks, and favors, and that I should consider asking a bridesmaid to help me with this to help lessen the cost to me (yes, she actually said that). I suggested we didn't need decorations or games as I am a bit of a foodie and find food to be of more importance. She then told me firmly she would not be involved with the food in any way. She finished off the conversation by telling me that she will not be doing a toast at the wedding reception (which I am fine with because I understand that phobia and we weren't going to ask that of anyone, but she didn't know that). I was so stunned by this whole exchange that I didn't know what to say. This was all so uncharacteristic of her. I don't feel like I have asked too much of her. I haven't asked for help on any DIY projects, and we haven't been on any wedding-related outings, save for the two mentioned earlier that were in January and October 2013, respectively. I have heard of some brides getting carried away with their wedding and talking of nothing but that each time they speak to the members of their wedding party. I have taken great care to not be one such person, especially with her. I now find myself feeling guilty for feeling disappointed. I know I want to talk to her about this, but I don't know where to begin since I do not want to come across as being selfish or bridezilla-y. We have been good friends for 2 years and we work at the same agency, so I certainly do not want to ask her to step down. She did have a lot of stress in her life about 6 months ago, and after a heartfelt discussion then, I gave her the option of bowing out because I didn't want her to feel like my wedding was another series of obligations and stressors in her life. She told me I was being silly and that she wanted nothing more than to celebrate and stand beside me. I do not think finances are an issue because she works a full time job and lives with her parents and has no credit card debt. I feel completely caught off guard at what I perceive to be a drastic change in her. She insists nothing is wrong. I don't even know where to begin. I searched the Internet for several hours and didn't find posts about anything like this, so I am hoping you can help me. Thank you for your feedback! I appreciate you taking the time to read my lengthy post.

Re: MoH-zilla, or does the bride have unreasonable expectations?

  • I think you are fine. The Tom's thing is totally not her option. She can have that when SHE gets married. I could see a similar shoe to the Teva's that may be better priced or something but not something totally different.
    Also, from what I know (which isn't a ton) is that the bridesmaids are responsible for paying for the bachelorette party in total as well as the bridal shower. I mean it doesn't have to be expensive but from what I have read that is what is SUPPOSED to happen. They should be happy to do those things for you. For her to say she isn't doing certain things makes me feel bad for you. You're not requesting anything crazy or insane and it sounds like your doing a lot to make them feel appreciated and happy.
    I would sit her down and explain to her that if she is going to make suggestions and rules then you don't really need her to help at all. I mean you only get married once and your best friend should be helping you do what you want to do for your special day. If she wants the other things then she can do those when SHE gets married. Until then she needs to realize you are being a great bride and not even requiring jack of them. It's something you need to talk to her about and make her realize she is your friend and not your boss.
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  • aurianna said:
    I think you are fine. The Tom's thing is totally not her option. She can have that when SHE gets married. I could see a similar shoe to the Teva's that may be better priced or something but not something totally different.
    Also, from what I know (which isn't a ton) is that the bridesmaids are responsible for paying for the bachelorette party in total as well as the bridal shower. I mean it doesn't have to be expensive but from what I have read that is what is SUPPOSED to happen. They should be happy to do those things for you. For her to say she isn't doing certain things makes me feel bad for you. You're not requesting anything crazy or insane and it sounds like your doing a lot to make them feel appreciated and happy.
    I would sit her down and explain to her that if she is going to make suggestions and rules then you don't really need her to help at all. I mean you only get married once and your best friend should be helping you do what you want to do for your special day. If she wants the other things then she can do those when SHE gets married. Until then she needs to realize you are being a great bride and not even requiring jack of them. It's something you need to talk to her about and make her realize she is your friend and not your boss.

    breehollister
    As far as the shoes go... From the sound of it, you are already giving your bridesmaids many very nice gifts. If I were you, I suggest just letting them each wear whichever shoes they want. Since everyone will have a different dress, it shouldn't matter at all. Every girl can wear the shoes they are most comfortable in and it's one less thing for you to worry about.

    adnam08manda but this is not correct advice, especially the bolded.
    A bridesmaid's ONLY responsibility is to show up on time and sober to the wedding in the agreed upon dress. A bride asks a friend to be a bridesmaid because she wants to honor her special friend and have her stand beside her on the most important day in her life. That is it. It is not a bridesmaid's obligation to throw any sort of party or do any sort of work at all for the wedding.
    ETA: It is easy to understand how this could have been your perception though. Pop culture is really playing up the brideslave angle. It's really unfortunate.

    Showers and bachelorette parties are both gifts and completely optional. A bride only gets these parties if someone offers to throw one. No one is required to throw either. And on the flipside, anyone may offer to throw one, whether they are a bridesmaid or not.

    So, OP, there is nothing wrong with getting either a shower or a b-party from your MOH, since she has no obligation to throw either.

    But... I will say that her stipulations are... weird. If she is going to offer to host a shower, then she needs to host it. And that includes feeding the guests. I would decline an offer of a shower where you know guests won't be properly hosted by the host. And it was definitely wrong of her telling you that you need to ask other bridesmaids to step-up. Your other bridesmaids should only be made in part of the shower planning process if they offer. Her volunteering them was wrong. After this conversation, I think I would decline her offer of a shower, because it's also rude for a bride to throw her own shower, and from the sound of it, she'd have you doing almost just that.

    Any idea what her ideas for a bachelorette party are?


    I'm sorry if she's becoming a bit domineering. Maybe steer away from wedding topics. If she comes up with more suggestions, do what you've been doing. Thank her for the opinion, then change the topic.
    You are correct. It isn't an obligation. Sorry I wrote that in haste and really should have read it a couple times since it was long. They do ONLY have to be in the wedding alone. Nothing else is required.

    However, if they are talking about throwing you a shower or bachelorette it is kind of wrong to say "you bring this to your own thing" or "you need to pay for this" especially since you weren't even asking for it. I could understand if you said "I want this, this, and this" and then she replies that she isn't going to do all that but since you were just basically going to be coming to something she is hosting it is unrealistic of her to put obligations on you.

    It's like saying "hey, I'm going to take you out to dinner for your birthday" and then once you've eaten being like "oh, you're paying for it yourself". If I were you and my MOH did this I would just say not to worry about it. If it is going to turn into a dramatic fight or anything then just don't put yourself through it just to please her. It's your wedding and you should be happy.
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  • Thank you both for your feedback! You're right, I think it would be better to not have a shower than let this mess go any further. I certainly wouldn't have a problem helping with the shower (making favors, for example), but cleaning, set up, and cleaning again at my house, plus food and drinks, is kind of ludicrous. You are exactly right, it would be like throwing my own party. I agree it would be best for my WP to wear whatever flats they please. I'm sure they all have black flip flops somewhere! As far as a bachelorette event goes, my MoH has declined to have anything to do with it and has informed me she will not participate even if one of my bridesmaids decides to throw one for me.
  • Wow. Just curious but what is her deal? I mean how is she your MOH when she clearly seems like she doesn't want to be involved with anything at all (once again this is her option but she could at least be happy!)? I mean I wouldn't want someone who doesn't even act friendly as my MOH on the happiest day of my life. I think ya'll need to do some serious heart-to-heart on this because that would crush me for my MOH to be like that.
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  • I am crushed! But, I'm worried about hurting her feelings even more. She has been great until all these demands came out of the blue yesterday. It was like talking to a stranged.
  • Oops, I meat to write 'stranger.'
  • adnam08manda
    Ooooh. I see what you're saying. Reading comprehension fail on my part, mayhaps. It's definitely not cool to offer something, but then expect the bride to pay for half of it and/or add all these contingencies that really make it so she's not offering it.

    breehollister
    So she went from saying she'd host either shower or b-party... and now she's all the way to "I wouldn't come to a
    bacherlorette even if you have one" ??

    It makes me wonder if something else is going on with your friend. Definitely see if you can get her to converse with you about things that aren't wedding related and try to get a handle on if she's feeling all right. Just based on the little you've posted, it definitely sounds a bit erratic.

    Hopefully your other friends or family offer to host a party for you. But I know the real point of your message was about your friend. Hopefully she calms down a bit. good luck!
  • Honestly, it sounds like she's burned out.  If she'd been doing all that planning a year ago, looking forward to a wedding that is still 9 months away can seem really overwhelming.  

    For the shoes, tell your BMs that they can wear the tivas, or they can wear shoes of their own choosing.  It's rare to wear flip flops for the ceremony anyway; most people would change into those during the reception.

    Although the shower thing was pushy, a shower and b-party are both optional and both gifts.  It's pretty rare to find a MOH who is willing to foot the bill for both a shower and b-party solo.  Kicking her out over the shower is pretty rotten.  Just decline the shower and move on.  She hasn't done anything worthy of being kicked out.
  • edited January 2014
    I think your MOH volunteered too much help and is now feeling overwhelmed. It would be better to turn down her offers for additional help, saying she's done enough already.

    Did you tell everyone that you are buying them Tevas? If you didn't, the best option would be to let everyone buy their own shoes of choice. If you did promise and all of your bms love Tevas, then you're stuck. Get the bms Tevas and give the MOH a gift card toward the purchase of her Toms. There's not much point in buying her something that she doesn't like.Either way, anything you buy for the bms to wear for your wedding shouldn't be considered part of their gifts. 

    The shower situation is messed up. First,the bride shouldn't expect anyone to throw those parties for her. They are gifts (always optional) and anyone can throw them. The MOH and bms aren't 'supposed to be happy' to throw parties for the bride. Second, the bride shouldn't be involved in planning her own shower, beyond helping with the guest list and clearing the date. Your MOH is wrong to put you in charge of providing refreshments. Third, if your MOH truly wants to host a shower, she should be the one to ask for help, either from the bms, other close friends or mothers. In my circle, it's the norm for the moms to volunteer to help with the refreshments, even though they aren't required to do so. Unfortunately, there's no polite way to tell that to your MOH. Your only options are to accept or decline her offer. In this case, I would decline because I think things will  go from bad to worse, before all is said and done.I hope you'll turn down the shower and someone, who actually wants to do it, will step up. With nine months to go, there's plenty of time for that to happen. 



                       
  • "I think your MOH volunteered too much help and is now feeling overwhelmed. It would be better to turn down her offers for additional help, saying she's done enough already." @mariepoppy said the crux of the problem. She's done a lot already and doesn't need to do anything else. She should be able to wear any shoes that are comfortable for her. I'm sorry you feel she's a 'zilla, but it's your expectations that need to change. Thank her for what she's done and decline any other offers.
  • I agree that it sounds like this MOH volunteered more help than it turned out she felt she could practically give.  I'd rein in your expectations as well.

    While there's no etiquette rule that limits you to a bachelorette party or a bridal shower, you're not "entitled" to either.  As for the other things she brought up, again, there's no requirement that she help you with any of the things she is refusing to help you with.  If it's too much for the same person/s to be involved with organizing them,  then I think you need to accept whatever you get, just say thank you, and let it go at that.

    By the way, I'm getting the impression that you mean for your bridesmaids to wear the "gift" shoes at the wedding.  If that is what you mean, it's not appropriate.  Any "bridesmaid gift" has to not have a requirement of being worn/used at the wedding as a string attached.
  • I mentioned several other gifts in the post as well. Buying the shoes for them so they didn't have to is sort of a bonus.
  • I mean I thought about buying mines shoes as well. We will all be in flats and I was going to let them kind of figure out what they wanted and I purchase them. Just so that is one less thing they HAVE to buy for the wedding because I know it isn't cheap or easy for them even though we are trying to keep cost super low.
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  • I mentioned several other gifts in the post as well. Buying the shoes for them so they didn't have to is sort of a bonus.
    The bolded is not a bad thing...it's just that "bridesmaid gifts" shouldn't have an expectation that they will be worn or used at the wedding.  A true gift doesn't have strings attached.  I liked the other items on your gift list-I just wouldn't consider the shoes a "gift" or "bonus" but an bridal party expense you chose to pay for.
  • scribe95 said:
    The shoe thing is easily solved - let them wear shoes of their choice. I would absolutely hate wearing tevas or toms for that matter to a wedding with a dress. It just doesn't look right to me.

    As for the shower/bachelorette - I think all you do is say that she isn't required to host any of those things. No pressure. Maybe someone else - an aunt, another bridesmaid etc - will step up and offer.
    This.  Nothing ruins a lovely BM dress like casual flip flops/sandals and cowboy boots, ugh.  I hate those looks.  There are tons of lovely flats that would be appropriate fashion wise to wear with a BM dress.

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


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