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Broken-Hearted Guest with a Plan

I’ve lurked here for a while, and I’ve made a few comments here and there.  Time for me to be less of a stranger!  So I’m gonna introduce myself (hi!) and tell you a story.  I think I’m asking for advice, but I’m afraid I know what we should do. 

TL,DR: Sent a STD to a social unit that has since split.  She plans to attend the wedding just so she can see him and make a scene. 

Our wedding is in April.  We sent out our STDs ~1 month ago (kinda late, yeah).  Prior to sending them, I texted a friend, “Jack,” and asked him for his and his SO’s (“Diane”) new address.  He sent me the address and then told me he was on his way to a different state.  We all travel a lot for work, so there was a chance that it was business, but I had a moment of snark and joked to FI that maybe he left Diane and was going to see some girl he had mentioned in passing a few weeks earlier. 

Diane got the STD while he was out of town.  Of course, we addressed it to the two of them; hell, they’d been together for 10+ years.  Turns out, my spidey sense was right.  He’s left her.  He’s shacked up with another girl.  Diane is not handling it well.  She is one visit to the pet store from boiling a bunny.  

We sent the STD to both of them as one social unit.  Now they’re not.  Although we’re not really friends with her, FI and I planned to invite both Jack and Diane separately and a SO/+1 for each of them.  We figured that we’d already told her to expect an invite, so that’d be the polite thing to do (can’t un-squeeze a tube of toothpaste and all that).  At first, I thought there’d be no way she’d travel to attend the wedding of her ex’s friends.  But we realized that she’d probably come just so she can see him.  That’s her big girl choice to make. 

This week, she told our MOH that if Jack shows up to our wedding with New Girl, she’s going to cause a huge scene.   Who does that?  Who spends gas/airfare/hotel/etc. just to go to a party and crap on the day?  We’re not so speshul that something like that would ruin the Vision of our Pin-tacular day or anything.  We’d probably just sit back with another beer and watch the show.  However, I HATE the idea of her coming only for her to have a bad time and to get her heart even more broken.  I can see her having visions of him glimpsing her across the room.  In that glimmering moment he sees how wrong he was to ever stray.  Fireworks and pixie dust sparkle around them as he runs to her and they ride off into the sunset on unicorns.

Now that we know she INTENDS to come and make a stink, I’m not all that excited about being polite.  She’s not the part of the former social unit that we are friends with, she’s not planning to come and celebrate with us, and she’s planning to be a brat.  The asshole part of me wants to call her and tell her that the event is only for adults and she’s not planning on acting like one, so... 

In the end, we’ll probably just send her an invite and hope that she decides to invest in a snazzy new pair of big girl panties.  Just wanted to vent, I guess.  But if you have some sage words of advice (or wine) let me know!

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Re: Broken-Hearted Guest with a Plan

  • db1984 said:
    Other people might take exception to this, but here's my view:  Since she was the SO of your friend, I wouldn't feel obligated at all to invite her once they broke up, threat or no threat.

    If Jack wasn't with her at the time the STD went out, would you have invited her on her own?   Would you even have known her?

    Add that very specific threat into the mix, and there's no way I'd invite her.
    That's a good way of looking at it.  No, we'd certainly not know her without him.  We've only met her twice.  Maybe 3 times over the past 3-4 years.  Had they split before the STDs, then nope, she'd not have received an invite.  Maybe we'll reconsider!
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  • I’ve lurked here for a while, and I’ve made a few comments here and there.  Time for me to be less of a stranger!  So I’m gonna introduce myself (hi!) and tell you a story.  I think I’m asking for advice, but I’m afraid I know what we should do. 

    TL,DR: Sent a STD to a social unit that has since split.  She plans to attend the wedding just so she can see him and make a scene. 

    Our wedding is in April.  We sent out our STDs ~1 month ago (kinda late, yeah).  Prior to sending them, I texted a friend, “Jack,” and asked him for his and his SO’s (“Diane”) new address.  He sent me the address and then told me he was on his way to a different state.  We all travel a lot for work, so there was a chance that it was business, but I had a moment of snark and joked to FI that maybe he left Diane and was going to see some girl he had mentioned in passing a few weeks earlier. 

    Diane got the STD while he was out of town.  Of course, we addressed it to the two of them; hell, they’d been together for 10+ years.  Turns out, my spidey sense was right.  He’s left her.  He’s shacked up with another girl.  Diane is not handling it well.  She is one visit to the pet store from boiling a bunny.  

    We sent the STD to both of them as one social unit.  Now they’re not.  Although we’re not really friends with her, FI and I planned to invite both Jack and Diane separately and a SO/+1 for each of them.  We figured that we’d already told her to expect an invite, so that’d be the polite thing to do (can’t un-squeeze a tube of toothpaste and all that).  At first, I thought there’d be no way she’d travel to attend the wedding of her ex’s friends.  But we realized that she’d probably come just so she can see him.  That’s her big girl choice to make. 

    This week, she told our MOH that if Jack shows up to our wedding with New Girl, she’s going to cause a huge scene.   Who does that?  Who spends gas/airfare/hotel/etc. just to go to a party and crap on the day?  We’re not so speshul that something like that would ruin the Vision of our Pin-tacular day or anything.  We’d probably just sit back with another beer and watch the show.  However, I HATE the idea of her coming only for her to have a bad time and to get her heart even more broken.  I can see her having visions of him glimpsing her across the room.  In that glimmering moment he sees how wrong he was to ever stray.  Fireworks and pixie dust sparkle around them as he runs to her and they ride off into the sunset on unicorns.

    Now that we know she INTENDS to come and make a stink, I’m not all that excited about being polite.  She’s not the part of the former social unit that we are friends with, she’s not planning to come and celebrate with us, and she’s planning to be a brat.  The asshole part of me wants to call her and tell her that the event is only for adults and she’s not planning on acting like one, so... 

    In the end, we’ll probably just send her an invite and hope that she decides to invest in a snazzy new pair of big girl panties.  Just wanted to vent, I guess.  But if you have some sage words of advice (or wine) let me know!

    There's your answer.


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  • Hi! I literally LOLed at the "one pet store away from boiling a bunny."  Terrible but hilarious.  

    Okay, now that that's out of the way: If she's not a friend you were planning on inviting anyway, I personally wouldn't invite her, but I'm not sure if that's acceptable etiquette-wise.  That is particularly true knowing she plans on coming JUST to make a scene for funsies.  But I wonder if, now that she knows the date and such, she would come anyway, although you said it was a plane ride away.  

    I'm sorry you're dealing with BSC.  I am sending internet wine your way.

    I feel like I've said this a lot recently:  WHY do weddings make some people crazy?  Why?  I have a crazy neighbor, Novella has a crazy co-worker... what exactly happens there?
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  • If you're not planning on maintaining a friendship with her and had planned to invite her only as the significant other of someone she's no longer with I think you're clear to not sending her an invitation.  Unless she could extrapolate from the STD or wedding website, etc. exactly when and where the wedding and reception will be.  The reason I say that is that she sounds crazy and might crash, causing an even bigger scene.
  • Thanks, ladies.  It's nice to hear that there's support for just dropping her from the invite list.  It feels a little icky to do, but she really isn't a close friend.  She knows the date, time of day, location, and where the hotels are.  So there's a chance she'd just show up. 
    If we decide to not invite her, I'm going to dread the message or call to her letting her know to not keep an eye out for an invite.  Talk about awkward!  She seems nice, I hope everything works out well for her.  But it'd be kinda nice to not worry about her having a bad time!
    @mrsdee15, I love your gif!
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  • We made our website password-protected, that may help if you didn't include a location on the STD.
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  • Thanks, ladies.  It's nice to hear that there's support for just dropping her from the invite list.  It feels a little icky to do, but she really isn't a close friend.  She knows the date, time of day, location, and where the hotels are.  So there's a chance she'd just show up. 
    If we decide to not invite her, I'm going to dread the message or call to her letting her know to not keep an eye out for an invite.  Talk about awkward!  She seems nice, I hope everything works out well for her.  But it'd be kinda nice to not worry about her having a bad time!
    @mrsdee15, I love your gif!
    Another vote for not inviting her.  However, I don't think you should call her to specifically tell her that she isn't invited.  That in itself is rude, and I think it might be even more rude than not inviting her at all (since she was the SO of your friend, and not an original friend to you and your FI). 


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  • levioosa said:
    Thanks, ladies.  It's nice to hear that there's support for just dropping her from the invite list.  It feels a little icky to do, but she really isn't a close friend.  She knows the date, time of day, location, and where the hotels are.  So there's a chance she'd just show up. 
    If we decide to not invite her, I'm going to dread the message or call to her letting her know to not keep an eye out for an invite.  Talk about awkward!  She seems nice, I hope everything works out well for her.  But it'd be kinda nice to not worry about her having a bad time!
    @mrsdee15, I love your gif!
    Another vote for not inviting her.  However, I don't think you should call her to specifically tell her that she isn't invited.  That in itself is rude, and I think it might be even more rude than not inviting her at all (since she was the SO of your friend, and not an original friend to you and your FI). 
    A call may also encourage her to definitely crash and make a bigger scene.
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  • levioosa said:
    Thanks, ladies.  It's nice to hear that there's support for just dropping her from the invite list.  It feels a little icky to do, but she really isn't a close friend.  She knows the date, time of day, location, and where the hotels are.  So there's a chance she'd just show up. 
    If we decide to not invite her, I'm going to dread the message or call to her letting her know to not keep an eye out for an invite.  Talk about awkward!  She seems nice, I hope everything works out well for her.  But it'd be kinda nice to not worry about her having a bad time!
    @mrsdee15, I love your gif!
    Another vote for not inviting her.  However, I don't think you should call her to specifically tell her that she isn't invited.  That in itself is rude, and I think it might be even more rude than not inviting her at all (since she was the SO of your friend, and not an original friend to you and your FI). 
    I agree, levioosa.  It'd feel so icky!  My concern is that she's already called around to book hotel rooms, etc.  I don't want her buying a plane ticket.  I'd feel awful if we decide to not invite her then learn she'd already spent a bunch of non-refundable money.  I guess I'm looking for the least awkward way to do this!  Maybe we just stay quiet and let it drop.  Between now and then, maybe she'll realize that they're really over...
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  • Yeah, I'm of the opinion that if someone gets a STD as an SO, and then loses SO status, then an invitation should not be expected. I'm also of the opinion that only crazy ex-SO's who can't let go would try to attend a wedding of people he/she barely knows.

    DO NOT call her - that's inviting all sorts of crazy into your life and could provoke a BSC vendetta from this girl - just simply move on with planning and send an invitation to your friend.

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  • levioosa said:
    Thanks, ladies.  It's nice to hear that there's support for just dropping her from the invite list.  It feels a little icky to do, but she really isn't a close friend.  She knows the date, time of day, location, and where the hotels are.  So there's a chance she'd just show up. 
    If we decide to not invite her, I'm going to dread the message or call to her letting her know to not keep an eye out for an invite.  Talk about awkward!  She seems nice, I hope everything works out well for her.  But it'd be kinda nice to not worry about her having a bad time!
    @mrsdee15, I love your gif!
    Another vote for not inviting her.  However, I don't think you should call her to specifically tell her that she isn't invited.  That in itself is rude, and I think it might be even more rude than not inviting her at all (since she was the SO of your friend, and not an original friend to you and your FI). 
    I agree, levioosa.  It'd feel so icky!  My concern is that she's already called around to book hotel rooms, etc.  I don't want her buying a plane ticket.  I'd feel awful if we decide to not invite her then learn she'd already spent a bunch of non-refundable money.  I guess I'm looking for the least awkward way to do this!  Maybe we just stay quiet and let it drop.  Between now and then, maybe she'll realize that they're really over...
    Damn.  I honestly don't know what to say.  That's really tough. 


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  • If she has not been a friend independent of her relationship then general social etiquette is that the advance invitation died with the relationship. I t is a form of divorce. You invite your boss and her hubby or college roommate and SO not otherwise a friend, all invitations together would cease when they break up and this is no different.

    A good thing to remember when addressing an STD to the friend and saying , and of course please bring Diane, rather than sending her own STD. You want to be polite enough to name the current SO and make an acknowledgement of the relationship but make it clear she is his guest. A very good reason other than not appearing greedy, not to invite guests of guests and relatives to showers too. Because that is an invite to the person you don' t really know , directly.
  • levioosa said:
    Thanks, ladies.  It's nice to hear that there's support for just dropping her from the invite list.  It feels a little icky to do, but she really isn't a close friend.  She knows the date, time of day, location, and where the hotels are.  So there's a chance she'd just show up. 
    If we decide to not invite her, I'm going to dread the message or call to her letting her know to not keep an eye out for an invite.  Talk about awkward!  She seems nice, I hope everything works out well for her.  But it'd be kinda nice to not worry about her having a bad time!
    @mrsdee15, I love your gif!
    Another vote for not inviting her.  However, I don't think you should call her to specifically tell her that she isn't invited.  That in itself is rude, and I think it might be even more rude than not inviting her at all (since she was the SO of your friend, and not an original friend to you and your FI). 
    I agree, levioosa.  It'd feel so icky!  My concern is that she's already called around to book hotel rooms, etc.  I don't want her buying a plane ticket.  I'd feel awful if we decide to not invite her then learn she'd already spent a bunch of non-refundable money.  I guess I'm looking for the least awkward way to do this!  Maybe we just stay quiet and let it drop.  Between now and then, maybe she'll realize that they're really over...
    You said your heard from your MOH that Diane is considering making a scene? Maybe MOH (or another mutual friend that you trust) pointing out that since she received the STD as part of a couple, she might no longer be invited since she is not part of the couple? Or just a general, "So you're planning on going to a practically-a-stranger's wedding, spending hundreds of dollars on airfare and a hotel room, just so you can make a scene if your ex brings the new girl? You're going to make yourself the center of attention at someone elses wedding?"

    Honestly, I think it's all hot air. She's probably upset right now and watched too many jilted lover daytime movies and is fantasizing. I don't think you're required to invite her (it's a friendship ending move, but there's no bridge to burn here), so don't sweat it.
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  • levioosa said:
    Thanks, ladies.  It's nice to hear that there's support for just dropping her from the invite list.  It feels a little icky to do, but she really isn't a close friend.  She knows the date, time of day, location, and where the hotels are.  So there's a chance she'd just show up. 
    If we decide to not invite her, I'm going to dread the message or call to her letting her know to not keep an eye out for an invite.  Talk about awkward!  She seems nice, I hope everything works out well for her.  But it'd be kinda nice to not worry about her having a bad time!
    @mrsdee15, I love your gif!
    Another vote for not inviting her.  However, I don't think you should call her to specifically tell her that she isn't invited.  That in itself is rude, and I think it might be even more rude than not inviting her at all (since she was the SO of your friend, and not an original friend to you and your FI). 
    I agree, levioosa.  It'd feel so icky!  My concern is that she's already called around to book hotel rooms, etc.  I don't want her buying a plane ticket.  I'd feel awful if we decide to not invite her then learn she'd already spent a bunch of non-refundable money.  I guess I'm looking for the least awkward way to do this!  Maybe we just stay quiet and let it drop.  Between now and then, maybe she'll realize that they're really over...
    You said your heard from your MOH that Diane is considering making a scene? Maybe MOH (or another mutual friend that you trust) pointing out that since she received the STD as part of a couple, she might no longer be invited since she is not part of the couple? Or just a general, "So you're planning on going to a practically-a-stranger's wedding, spending hundreds of dollars on airfare and a hotel room, just so you can make a scene if your ex brings the new girl? You're going to make yourself the center of attention at someone elses wedding?"

    Honestly, I think it's all hot air. She's probably upset right now and watched too many jilted lover daytime movies and is fantasizing. I don't think you're required to invite her (it's a friendship ending move, but there's no bridge to burn here), so don't sweat it.
    I really have my fingers crossed that it's hot air.  MOH did call her out on her scene when she first brought it up, so maybe she's had some time to let it sink in that she's going a bit far.  MOH is ready to just tell her flat out to go away.  But I'd feel like I'm having her do the dirty work, know what I mean? 
    I think we're going to talk to Jack and get his side of the story.  We've been staying out of it because it's none of our business.  But it'd be nice to know if he told her flat out that it's over or if he left it open.  The whole "taking a break" thing comes to mind.  If he's been blunt with her and she's still in fantasy land, then it's pretty simple: we have enough crazies invited, she doesn't need to come.  If he left with the possibility of a return, maybe we just send him an invite with a plus one and let him decide whether he's bringing Diane or New Girl.  Or hell, maybe a New New Girl.  Or New Guy! 
    Thanks everyone for the words of wisdom and an outside perspective!
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  • I also think it's mostly hot air (although after 10+ years and him leaving for another woman? She might still have all that hot air by the time April rolls around...) so hopefully she'll realize that spending that kind of money only to make a scene at someone else's party...

    Totally don't send her an invite. At all. And if there are questions from her or from mutual friends, then go with what PPs have said - she's not really your friend, you don't really know her, and you don't want to make your friend (Jack) uncomfortable (no need to go into the whole drama-llama, but still, either way he'd be uncomfortable).
  • Unrelated to the thread (and probably not helpful) but I like you.

    I would stay out of it, and not invite any more crazies than you have to.
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  • Unrelated to the thread (and probably not helpful) but I like you.

    I would stay out of it, and not invite any more crazies than you have to.
    Aw, shucks!
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  • I was going to say that maybe your MOH could say something, but you're right, it would seem or appear as though she's doing your dirty work.  You would think that her statement or question about your wedding would affect this girl, but she might not be in a mental place right now where any of that is going through.

    I know it's not the correct thing to do etiquette wise, but I think I'd ask your friend what the situation is.  Like you said, you don't know what she thinks or what happened between them.  If she thinks there's an opportunity for them to get back together, she might be crazy enough to believe that if he sees her at your wedding, he'll realize that he made a mistake.  I wouldn't send her an invite because if you weren't planning to invite her on her own, she wouldn't have been invited.  
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  • I don't have any advice to contribute but just wanted to say welcome! Glad to have another ATLien around here.
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  • If she has not been a friend independent of her relationship then general social etiquette is that the advance invitation died with the relationship. I t is a form of divorce. You invite your boss and her hubby or college roommate and SO not otherwise a friend, all invitations together would cease when they break up and this is no different. A good thing to remember when addressing an STD to the friend and saying , and of course please bring Diane, rather than sending her own STD. You want to be polite enough to name the current SO and make an acknowledgement of the relationship but make it clear she is his guest. A very good reason other than not appearing greedy, not to invite guests of guests and relatives to showers too. Because that is an invite to the person you don' t really know , directly.
    I agree with your first bolded. You do have to name SO on STD and invitations. However, if the SO is no longer with the primary guest, you are not required to invite them. 

    You still need to name SO by name, not with a note. But this type of problem is probably one of the reasons people put "and guest" for SO. 

    OP, I would not invite her, and don't call her to tell her she's not invited either. Also, it may be wise to have assigned tables/seats so if she does show up there is no where for her to sit. You may also want security to escort her out.
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  • No way I would invite her.   Not only that I would give the venue/coordinator/whoever her name a picture to make sure she doesn't crash the wedding.






    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. 
  • if you arent friends with her then dont invite her. make sure you ask your friend for his current address and only send the invite there. if she crashes then have someone politely tell her to leave. you dont need any drama at your wedding.  
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  • I agree with everyone else. She sounds really odd and should not be invited if she's not part of the social unit with Jack anymore. I can see why she would feel burned about him but your wedding isn't the time or the place. Sorry, Diane.

    Also, I'm sorry you're going through this. *hugs*


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