Wedding Etiquette Forum

What to do when the rude guest is your soon-to-be brother-in-law

I have a question and I hope this doesn't sound insensitive, because I don't mean it to be. My soon-to-be brother-in-law is 17 years old and has Down Syndrome. He could be a lot more mature, but his parents let him play video games for hours instead of teaching him manners and social skills. My parents recently met him for the first time and were appalled at his lack of manners. Not only could he not sit through brunch at my and my fiancé's home for more than a half hour, but he was belching and talking with food in his mouth (and his parents did nothing about it). He then played on the iPad, which was turned up to the highest volume (it would have been another thing if he could at least sit quietly).


Now I'm worried about what will happen at the wedding (June 2015!). To me, that behavior is appalling and having Down Syndrome is not an excuse for a lack of manners. What I don't know is how to approach the topic with my fiancé, especially when his own parents don't seem to care that their son has no manners. I want us both to be able to enjoy our wedding day, and I know my fiancé wants to have his brother there, but I don't want someone being rude or ruining the day for me.


Help!

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Re: What to do when the rude guest is your soon-to-be brother-in-law

  • Realistically speaking, you will spend approximately 2 minutes with anyone who isn't in the bridal party on your wedding day. It will be fine.
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  • Just like with anything involving parents and their children (regardless if they are 17 or 7) there is nothing you can do or say that won't result in them being incredibly pissed and taken aback by your rudeness in trying to tell them how to parent their child.

    And like scribe said, if someone talking with their mouth full or belching is going to ruin your day then you need a reality check.

  • I feel like it's one of those things you are just going to have to let go.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • nmsa said:
    Pick your battles, and don't pick this one. This is your fiancé's brother, and he and your future in-laws will be part of your life from here on out. I cannot think of any way to broach this topic politely. Furthermore - you said yourself you know your fiancé wants his brother at the wedding. Why "your day" not being ruined by someone else's behavior more important than his day not being ruined by his brother being made to feel unwelcome?

    If you really can't stand his brother, seat him at another table, be polite and gracious when you talk to him for a few minutes and during family photos, and focus on other things. It's your wedding day, you will absolutely have plenty to pay attention to.
    This is great advice! OP, this is definitely not a hill worth dying on. Honestly, I doubt you would even notice if he misbehaved at your wedding. Relax, everything will work out and all you will have to do is enjoy your day!
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  • phiraphira member
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    His manners (or lack thereof) aren't going to ruin your wedding day. It's not worth bringing it up with your future in-laws.
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    This is not a hill to die on, like others have said! 

    Don't worry, you probably will not even notice anything besides your husband.
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  • nmsa said:
    Pick your battles, and don't pick this one. This is your fiancé's brother, and he and your future in-laws will be part of your life from here on out. I cannot think of any way to broach this topic politely. Furthermore - you said yourself you know your fiancé wants his brother at the wedding. Why "your day" not being ruined by someone else's behavior more important than his day not being ruined by his brother being made to feel unwelcome?

    If you really can't stand his brother, seat him at another table, be polite and gracious when you talk to him for a few minutes and during family photos, and focus on other things. It's your wedding day, you will absolutely have plenty to pay attention to.
    This.  Especially the bolded part.

    Just to add, playing video games instead of learning social skills seems to be a common teenage problem.  Also, I'm not sure at 17 I would have been particularly gracious to sit through brunch with my brother, his FI and both sets of parents, especially if I knew I was being judged.  A whole lot of things would have ranked higher on my interest list, and I may have acted out to show my displeasure.

    Let your FI take the lead on interactions with his brother.  Let him decide what role and involvement his brother has.  And leave some willingness on your part that in a year, your FBIL will have matured and developed new social skills, as all teenagers do. 
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  • ACNov4ACNov4 member
    First Comment

    Thanks for the advice, but I guess I forgot to mention he's not "just" a guest, he's also a groomsmen. I'm worried he won't be able to handle the full day if he can't even sit at my kitchen table for more than 30 minutes. I don't know what he might do during the ceremony.

  • ACNov4 said:

    Thanks for the advice, but I guess I forgot to mention he's not "just" a guest, he's also a groomsmen. I'm worried he won't be able to handle the full day if he can't even sit at my kitchen table for more than 30 minutes. I don't know what he might do during the ceremony.

    Is your FI worried about this? If not, then you shouldn't be either. 

    Not really sure what you think he could possibly do during the ceremony, but far from stripping naked and/or throwing things at you and your guests I am not sure what he could do that would ruin your day.

  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
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    Dumb multiple posting!!

  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
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    edited May 2014
    Grrrrr

  • Nah, I just wanted my adorable gif shown three times in a row LOL!

  • Nah, I just wanted my adorable gif shown three times in a row LOL!
    It's cute, but I miss you pretty face in your wedding dress






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • Thanks Lynda!  I really like that picture too but I just wanted to make a change for a bit.

  • I'm sort of confused why this just seems to be an issue now.  OP, had you not spent much time with the brother before?  Was this brunch the first time you really sat down for a meal with him?

    You cannot tell Fi to uninvite his brother.  It's unclear how much of this is disability and how much is just bad manners, but there's no polite way to talk to FILs about their parenting skills.  Especially when a disability is involved.  I think you just need to let this one go.  

    If he acts inappropriately at the ceremony or reception, oh well.  It won't reflect on you at all, and guests will probably be very understanding because of his disability.  You'll be busy, you'll have a great time, and you'll still be married at the end of the day.

    FWIW, Fi's cousin with autism will be invited to our wedding.  If he does anything inappropriate, we probably won't notice and if we do, oh well.  It won't ruin the whole wedding.  We love him for who he is, and we want him to be there to share the day.  Think about what's most important.
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    "I'm not a rude bitch.  I'm ten rude bitches in a large coat."

  • ACNov4 said:

    Thanks for the advice, but I guess I forgot to mention he's not "just" a guest, he's also a groomsmen. I'm worried he won't be able to handle the full day if he can't even sit at my kitchen table for more than 30 minutes. I don't know what he might do during the ceremony.

    Your Fi doesn't seem to be worried about it, though. He is well aware of his brother's behavior and, yet, doesn't seem to mind or else he wouldn't have asked him to be a groomsman.

    His table manners do sounds kinda gross, but luckily, you won't have to be sitting with him during dinner. His parents can do that.
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  • phiraphira member
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    I'm really having trouble imagining how being a groomsman will be an issue, though. Honestly, for the sake of argument, let's say that your future brother-in-law is unable to handle standing for the duration of the ceremony. Have a back-up plan with your fiance; maybe keep a seat up front next to his parents open in case he needs to sit during the ceremony. Maybe plan to have another groomsman walk two bridesmaids back up the aisle. It's manageable.
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  • I'm with PPs. It's up to your FI to have these concerns. If you're worried he doesn't have the attention span to sit still for getting ready with the guys...oh, well. If he can't stand still through the photos and leaves...oh, well.

    There's no way you can bring this up or address it without sounding judgemental and rude. There just is not. I'm sorry.

    Also, his disability has nothing to do with his behaviour. DH's nephew does not have Down's syndrome or autism or any other developmental delay that would explain behavioural problems and he still chews with his mouth open, talks with his mouth full, plays his DS loudly at the dinner table, hits people to get their attention, and screams if he doesn't get his own way. His parents just don't discipline him.
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    I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
  • afox007afox007 member
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    phira said:
    I'm really having trouble imagining how being a groomsman will be an issue, though. Honestly, for the sake of argument, let's say that your future brother-in-law is unable to handle standing for the duration of the ceremony. Have a back-up plan with your fiance; maybe keep a seat up front next to his parents open in case he needs to sit during the ceremony. Maybe plan to have another groomsman walk two bridesmaids back up the aisle. It's manageable.
     I second this. As far as his table manners at dinner do a sweetheart table instead of a head table. Sit FBIL with his parents and other close family who are probably used to his behavior and are more accepting of it. 
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  • Ditto on allowing all members of the wedding party to sit at tables with guests they know well. 

    Your wedding is over a year away. I would suggest you use this time to get to know your FBIL better. It sounds like he could use a mentor. You and fi could invite him out to dinner, with your fi modeling correct behaviour. You shouldn't correct or nag him, but praise him for appropriate social skills. Being intolerant of disabled people is rude, so you should watch your own manners.

    Keep in mind, there may be physical reasons why he belches, chews loudly or with his mouth open. 
                       
  • Ditto what @phira said about having a plan in place.  My FI's brother has pretty severe autism, and he (and I) still wouldn't have wanted anyone else to be his best man.  We knew from the start that standing up during the ceremony wouldn't be possible, but that's not necessary.  We've also planned where his family will sit so they can have easy access to the exit and bathroom if needed.  

    Also, with the behavior at the brunch, that might not be indicative of how he'll behave at the wedding.  I sometimes have trouble with anxiety when interacting with people.  For a wedding, I'd put in a much bigger effort, and plan more recovery time, to interact with people than I would if I was having a bad day at a family brunch.  
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