Dear Prudence,
My fiancée and I decided on a child-free wedding. It wasn’t an easy decision, but with limited space and budget, we thought it was the best way to keep things manageable. We made one exception: my 8-year-old niece, who’s going to be the flower girl. She’s at a great age for it, and my fiancée and I adore her.
Unfortunately, my sister is upset that her 6-year-old daughter wasn’t invited. She says it’s unfair that her daughter can’t attend when her cousin is not only coming but has a special role. Apparently, her daughter is devastated and cries whenever the wedding comes up. I feel bad for my niece, but I don’t think it’s fair to open the floodgates for everyone else’s kids just because one child is upset.
My sister keeps asking us to make an exception, saying her daughter is close to the flower girl and won’t understand why she can’t go. I’ve explained that it’s not about favoritism—it’s about keeping things simple. Still, she insists we’re causing unnecessary drama. I feel like this isn’t really about her daughter but more about my sister feeling slighted. She’s even hinted that she might skip the wedding to support her daughter, which feels extreme. I don’t think we’re being unreasonable. We made a decision for our wedding, and we’re trying to stick to it. How do I navigate this without caving to my sister’s demands or creating a long-term rift?
—Stuck in Wedding Drama