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Rylie
Savvy May 2022

Bridesmaid + her younger sister

Rylie, on October 22, 2021 at 11:31 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 9
So my FH has 3 sister. His older 2 sisters are from his dads side and his 3rd oldest sister, we'll call her sister "A", is from his mom's side. Sister "A" is close with me and she is a bridesmaid in the wedding. (Sister "A" is also FH's mother's perceived favorite, been in this family nearly 10 years, i already know it.) Sister "A" is always bringing HER little sister, from her father's side of the family, to events and what not, which I'm okay with. I do like "A's" little sister and don't mind her being around. However...
I'm feeling mixed signals from all around, FH, FH's mother, about her being invited to the wedding. Now I stand firm with not inviting her because the main reason everyone wants her there is to watch my 1 yr old nephew who is also in the wedding and is "A's" son. Now sister "A" has a husband and because sister "A" is my FH's sister, nearly half her mothers side of the family plus my own family will be there. I don't think its acceptable for sister "A" to basically have a personal baby sitter for my nephew whereas anyone else who has children doesn't get that "luxury." Now I understand sister "A" is a bridesmaid and she won't be able to tend to her son, but my FH's mom will be there and other people as well, within our "inner circle." We've already cut nearly half of our family that could have been invited but didn't to keep the wedding on the smaller side and we also nixed plus ones. My FH's mother didn't actually help us make a decision about "A's" little sister she basically said "its me or A watching the "baby" thats all she said. It feels like she doesn't get our view but is just making it easier on her and her daughter. Now we did toy with hiring a sitter for the wedding but because FH's 3 neices live out of state, HI, its 50/50 shot if they'll come and the only other little, under like 8, is my little cousin.

What should we do? We're trying to keep the guest list between 95-100 or even less than that and be courteous to those family members not invited. (Also sorry for the long post 🙂)

9 Comments

Latest activity by Jacks, on October 25, 2021 at 2:45 PM
  • W
    VIP September 2020
    Willow ·
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    There is no reason to invite A's sister. She's not related to your FH. However, I feel this is part of the problem with having young children in the bridal party. Someone will have to watch them. A might not feel comfortable having a stranger watch her child. But at the end of the day, if A agreed to have her 1 year old be in the bridal party, she knew it's ultimately her responsibility to watch him. Why can't her husband watch him?
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  • Gabby
    Devoted October 2021
    Gabby ·
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    Sister A has a husband, who is the baby's father? He should be taking care of the baby no questions asked.
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  • Stacey
    Super May 2021
    Stacey ·
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    Like others, I am also confused why the child's father is not available to take care of his son?

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  • Michelle
    Champion December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    It is not the younger sister’s job to be default babysitter and everyone needs to learn that now. If not for the wedding, it will come up again at other family events. Their hostility toward this younger sister is not okay at all. It sounds like they are turning her into Cinderella so she has to work unpaid because she is from another marriage. That is not how a relative should be treated by anyone. Fiancé’s mom doesn’t get to call the shots either. You and fiancé need to discuss the situation and agree on a compromise, and get practice in now for future disagreements. Boundaries need to be set and maintained with you and fiancé supporting each other as a team so mother in law and others don’t bully you.


    Agree that the child’s father (sister’s husband?) should be watching the child. Is he not in attendance? Either way, either leave the child at home with a sitter, or hire a sitter to be at the wedding. But do not punish or disrespect the younger sister because fiancé’s mom doesn’t like her. Is the younger sister a must have or nice to have guest?
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  • Rylie
    Savvy May 2022
    Rylie ·
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    Michelle, the younger sister is a nice person overall and I dont mind her being a part in other activities but because she isn't directly blood related to us nor a close family friend we chose not to invite her to keep the guest list small. And my Fiancé's mother does like the younger sister, who is her daughters half-sister, but she wants her their to ease her daughters peace of mind and not actually make her daughter or her daughter's husband actually take responsibility and watch their own child. There is no hostility towards the younger sister its more of they see her being there as a perceived obligation just to watch the child, who is also in the wedding party.
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  • Michelle
    Champion December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    In that case , don’t invite the sister. Her role is not default babysitter for any event regardless of what mom and others think. The father can help look after the child or they can arrange their own babysitter and set that system up for use in the future as well so that sister is not repeatedly putting her life and wants on hold because others feel that is her only job as half sister at family functions. And being a half sister still makes her your family and fiancé’s relative as well.
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  • W
    VIP September 2020
    Willow ·
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    Your FMiL has a super messed up mentality. Please don't enable her using the sister for unpaid labor. Are they going to bring her along to every event so neither parent has to watch their own child?? The FATHER is not in the bridal party. He will be attending the wedding. He can watch his own kid. It's what you sign up for when you decide to make one.
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  • Cece
    Master October 2023
    Cece ·
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    I have to agree, the father should be watching the child during the ceremony and the parts of the reception where mom is doing bridesmaid stuff. Once mom‘s BM duties are over, she can take on part of the responsibility of watching the child with her husband. If they are not wanting the responsibility of watching their kid during your wedding/reception, they should hire a babysitter (or younger sister) to stay home with it.
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  • Jacks
    Champion November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    Younger sister shouldn't be invited as part of pre-wedding events if she's not invited to the wedding. That would be rude. It should be all or nothing. Also yes, you inviting someone to be a babysitter for someone else is crazy.

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