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Miranda
Just Said Yes November 2020

Am i in the wrong?

Miranda, on April 23, 2020 at 1:44 PM Posted in Family and Relationships 2 13
Hello everybody, this is my first time ever writing a forum, so I apologize if it's not the best, please bare with me! I will also disclose that this might be a little on the longer side because theres a lot of background!!

My fiance and I got engaged on July 5th, 2019. My cousin and I were best friends and we often discussed having each other as the others maid of honor and even discussed having our significant others ask for the others blessing (much like you do to the brides father). So obviously when my fiance finally popped the question I immediately asked my cousin to be my maid of honor and she happily accepted!
Through the months I would text her every so often about her opinion on certain things pertaining to the wedding. While she would always share her opinion, she would follow up with "But it's your wedding, whatever you want, you get!" Awesome, right?! She even told me that she has to best bachelorette party ever planned for me at a winery, which is 110% my type of party!!Fast forward a few months. In October she received a random Facebook friend request from somebody she didnt know. She accepted the request and asked him who he was. He disclosed that he didnt actually know her but some how they ended up by getting each others phone numbers and texting, I'm uncertain about the specifics. After a few weeks of texting they finally hang out for the first time and hang out a few more times before he officially asks her to be his girlfriend around December. One day she shows us a picture of him and it turns out my fiance knows him because they went to school together. One might think it's a good thing that they know each other, right? Wrong. He was involved with a very bad group of people, engaged in less than desirable actions, was arrested, and even held a loaded gun to my fiance's friends head (this friend is also invited to our wedding). I feel like it is important to disclose now that my fiance and I are both law enforcement. My cousins new boyfriend would always say how nervous he was to meet us because of our jobs (red flag that she ignored).So, my fiance and I discussed it, at length, and decided that we would not like him to be at our wedding, considering his past, our jobs, and the fact that a decent portion of our guest list is law enforcement.I will admit, I took a long time to finally tell my cousin about our decision, because I was trying to figure out the right time and the right way to tell her. Finally, on Januray 7th, the guilt of not telling her yet was just eating me alive, so I decided that it was time. I will admit, my method in telling her was not the best, I did it through text and for that I was wrong, but I simply couldnt keep this from her any longer.I expected her to be upset, I would be too if the tables were turned; however, I expected her to at least understand our decision considering our jobs and the fact that the person he held a gun to is coming to our wedding. As can be expected she freaked out over text, so I let her cool down for a little bit. Then a few hours later that day she texted me "I respect your decision on what you and [your fiance] have to say. Im sorry to say this but it is early enough in the future, im going to have to decline the title of your maid of honor. Im still your family and your friend but I see a complication in the future if I stayed your maid of honor."I received this text as I was leaving work for my hour commute back home. I was heartbroken. I couldnt believe the words I was reading. I read them over and over again, trying to understand how I am misreading them, but that is what she said. As stupid as it sounds, I felt so betrayed. She said she could not be her cousins/best friends maid of honor because I said she could not bring her boyfriend, that she just MET not even 3 months prior, and she picked him over me.I did not answer that text from her and that was the last exchange we have had.Are my fiance and I in the wrong for saying he cant come? Should I apologize to her for some reason? Should I wait for her to apologize? I am still at a loss of words 3.5 months later.

13 Comments

Latest activity by Katharine, on April 24, 2020 at 11:47 AM
  • Kate
    Expert October 2020
    Kate ·
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    I don’t think you’re in the wrong. You & your FH need to feel comfortable at your own wedding. She should respect your decision and be there with you every step of the way regardless. It sounds like she declined being MOH because you called her out, told her something she didn’t want to hear and she is probably embarrassed and mad about it. Give it some time- I’d maybe consider talking to her sooner than later. Make sure to explain calmly, why you made you came to your decision. If she’s your friend, she’ll understand. Hopefully she has a reality check soon and loose this guy.
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  • Shamaree
    Dedicated February 2020
    Shamaree ·
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    It’s your wedding, you get to do what you want. I understand not wanting to exposed the friend who experienced to the trauma to the offender of that trauma. Is that what you told her when you said he couldn’t come? That makes perfect sense to me logically. I’m not sure I understand why he couldn’t come just because you’re law enforcement though.


    But just like you can decide you don’t want him there, she can decide she doesn’t want to be your maid of honor. It might feel right for you to refuse him. But it might feel right for her to bow out. No one has to be ‘wrong’ you just don’t agree. Maybe in the future you guys will amend things. But I wouldn’t apologize unless I mean it and can specify what I’m sorry for.
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  • Lizzy
    Just Said Yes November 2021
    Lizzy ·
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    I don't think you're in the wrong here. It's your wedding and she and this guy aren't even that serious.
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  • Kari
    Master May 2020
    Kari ·
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    I don't think you are wrong, but I'm curious about the time frame here. How long ago was this guy in a lot of trouble? Was this gun incident 3 years ago, 10 years? Have you actually met the guy since he and your cousin started dating? Have you talked to her at length about his past/history and what your concerns are?

    I absolutely think you are right to not want this guy at your wedding based on his history (also the way in which he met your cousin is highly suspicious too), but people do change. I think your cousin might be more willing to participate in your wedding if she really understood the reasoning behind your decision, which doesn't sound like it was communicated well through text. Also, if you are really concerned about who this guy is, I'd want to get on the phone with your cousin (or talk face-to-face just you and her when that becomes possible again) just to do a welfare check and make sure she's actually okay. If this guy is bad news this could be worse for your cousin than just stepping out of your wedding and tarnishing your relationship.

    Best of luck!

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  • Sarah
    Master September 2019
    Sarah ·
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    I don’t think you’re necessarily in the wrong here, but I don’t think your cousin is either. You made a decision on what is best for you and your FH and she is making a decision on what is best for her and her SO. I don’t think you need to apologize, but I do think you need to find a way to be able to let this go and move on.
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  • Kathryn
    VIP August 2020
    Kathryn ·
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    I don't think you're in the wrong at all, especially given that there are people there who would probably be extremely uncomfortable with having him there. That being said, she's in that puppy love phase and might think that you're just being a bridezilla (not saying that you are, but I think especially in the us there tends to be a bias against women expressing their opinions on guests. I totally agree with your move because in the end he does sound a bit like bad news and you have to trust your gut). So I would give her some time to cool off - she probably doesn't want to hear that you don't like her boyfriend, and she probably took offense to it being a text too.



    I had a similar thing with my cousin - she messaged me on Instagram to say she was coming, then turned around a few days later to say she couldn't make it. I flipped because it was so impersonal and so heart wrenching as she was my last cousin to back out, and we got into a huge fight where she thought I was a jerk because she couldn't attend my wedding and I was mad because of my guest count. In the end, we called each other and talked it out...only for me to postpone the wedding a week later. 🤷‍♀️
    So in the end, I'd let your anger over it go. Just let her be angry and come back when she's ready. Or she may take this as her hill to die on, which also sounds dumb but who knows. Take some time to yourself and let things shake out.
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  • DitchingDiaz
    Dedicated November 2020
    DitchingDiaz ·
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    I think the key here is communication. I understand why you’re uncomfortable, I would be too! But this goes beyond the wedding- this is about your cousin’s safety. I would ask her to have lunch (so you can ensure no one is reading texts or listening) and explain to her why you are uncomfortable and share the background you have found and ask her your take. Try to be as understanding as you can while also shedding light on the fact that you want what is best for her and in regard to your wedding- you want everyone to be comfortable, which can’t happen due to a choice her man made.
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  • Kayse
    Expert December 2020
    Kayse ·
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    First, I am sorry you are going through this. I agree with a PP who asked about how long ago these incidents occurred (although if you are certain he held a gun to someone's head....wow.) You mentioned that he had been arrested; what were his charges and was he convicted? Also, do you believe it was his idea for her to refrain from being your MOH? Isolating people from their friends and family is a HUGE domestic violence indicator. I would be very afraid for her.

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  • Courtney
    Super September 2019
    Courtney ·
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    I don’t think you’re wrong at all for saying you don’t want the bf at the wedding. He threatened another guest, you’re protecting them and your other friends and family. I would certainly be hurt she dropped out too but the most important thing is keeping communication open with your cousin. I would try and reach out to meet and ask her about why she feels like she can no longer be the MOH. She’s completely entitled to her own feelings regarding the situation but I would make every effort to make sure this doesn’t fracture your relationship and you can stay close with communication open!
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  • J
    Master 0000
    Judith ·
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    The point t is not how long g ago she met him, but the strength of her feeling. You think of him as a fairly new relationships. But if she thinks of him as someone she might want to be with for years, thinks she cares enough to marry him, then of course she will put him over being MOH in any friend's wedding...not much you can do about it if you feel strongly about not welcoming him. What matters most to you?
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  • Pirate & 60s Bride
    Legend March 2017
    Pirate & 60s Bride ·
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    He does sound dangerous so I think it was a good call. Unfortunately, although I’m shocked your cousin isn’t as concerned for her well-being but understand as a couple she wants her relationship respected. I would try to put your hurt aside and be there for her. You can share how hurt you are by her decision but will support her decision. Then maybe touch base by phone (when her BF is not around) and talk with her about him and your concerns for her.
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  • J
    Master 0000
    Judith ·
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    Yes. Even if she makes the choice not to come to the wedding without him, she still needs your friendship. When many people first fall for someone, they may overlook major issues. And being an outcast because of his ongoing behavior ( not stuff in the distant past) as she is for your wedding, is only one of many such things to come. She is going to need friends, and not be allowed to be isolated. Your understandable choice for the wedding, should not end your friendship one to one.


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  • Katharine
    Expert July 2021
    Katharine ·
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    I agree that it would have been more respectful to have that conversation with her in person, or at least over the phone, but you did the right thing. My FH is also in LE and I would not hesitate to make sure anyone who might be a problem because of his job was not included on our guest list. Not to mention that incident with the gun and your other friend. I can only imagine how traumatizing it might be for that friend to be confronted by this person again.

    As much as your cousin's decision sucks, she's also within her right to make it and she did so respectfully. If you want to salvage that relationship, I think you're going to have to make your peace with her choice, even though it hurt you. Hopefully someday you can both acknowledge that it sucked and apologize to each other.

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