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J
Beginner June 2022

Maid of honor being a nightmare

Jen, on July 18, 2021 at 6:19 AM

Posted in Etiquette and Advice 32

Hello, so I picked my sister as my maid of honour. She is older than me and my engagement brought a lot of negative emotions up for her as she was due to get married a few years ago and broke it off with her fiancée. She then started dating a woman who really is lovely and a great match for my...
Hello, so I picked my sister as my maid of honour. She is older than me and my engagement brought a lot of negative emotions up for her as she was due to get married a few years ago and broke it off with her fiancée. She then started dating a woman who really is lovely and a great match for my sister.
A week after my engagement my sister proposed to her girlfriend who then proposed back.
When I told my sister the date we had planned she started kicking off big time saying I’m unfair because she wanted that date. And instead booked her wedding abroad a week after mine (knowing we would be on our honeymoon which was already booked). Her wedding now has been postponed to December because of restrictions.
- She was telling me the dress I had chosen is awful and the one she’s picked for her bridesmaids is much nicer - she’s told me I better not get pregnant because she doesn’t want me to look fat in my bridesmaid dress at her wedding (despite her not even having asked me to be a bridesmaid) - she wouldn’t plan my bachelorette and at one point said she’s not coming because I didn’t invite her partner (which was nothing against her partner but you go on a bachelorette to get away from your partner and let lose) - another bridesmaid planned my bachelorette and my bridal shower and she refused to come to my bridal shower. - After buying all the dresses and shoes. I asked for bridesmaids to pay for them to be altered and give them back a week before the wedding as I want to take them to the venue the day before. that way I can be stress free in that respect knowing no one is going to forget about them ... she sent her dress with my mum to the bridal shower but not the shoes. She’s over my way this weekend at her holiday home (about 30 mins but won’t drive them to me // I’m super busy as my wedding is in 5 days) I asked them to drop them off at my in laws which is a 10 minute detour on her way home. She won’t as she’s sick of “running around after me”.- I’m paying for all bridesmaids to have hair and makeup done as I want them all having the same hair up. She’s kicked off saying she will pull the pins out as she doesn’t want hair up. - I’ve asked bridesmaids to take care of their own manis and pedis but asked them to go with something natural like french polish or neutral or if they can’t get a mani pedi just give their nails a neat file and clear polish. She bought a nude colour and a neon pink polish. She sent me a pic of both and said I’ve got the choice in what she wears but the nude makes it look like she’s got dirty builders nails ... I said I don’t want the neon and she can fine basic nails it is then. - another one I almost forgot. When I went to try on wedding dresses she just sat there with a face on the whole appointment. Telling the staff at the shop about her wedding. I went for the first one I tried on cos I loved it and after she said; yeah if you didn’t buy it I would have.
And now she’s kicking off because me and HTB have decided against her doing a speech.
She is acting like I’m being too much and trying to have a perfect wedding which is never going to happen and I need to chill. I’m trying to plan the day I want in detail. Do you think the fact I’m super upset about her behaviour is valid? Because my mom is acting like nothing is happening because she won’t take sides.

32 Comments

  • Steph
    Dedicated May 2022
    Steph ·
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    Valid. It sounds like extreme jealousy and you have every right to be in your feelings about it. I don’t know why there’s a sudden urge to race loved ones to the alter for some people, but it’s so disturbing and desperate. I’ve waited 15 years to tie the knot, and honestly if my younger sister were to say “I’m getting married” prior to my decision, I would have patiently waited another year because I’d be too excited in helping her with hers. I hate to say it but your big sister sucks for that and I’m sorry.
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  • Steph
    Dedicated May 2022
    Steph ·
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    I agree with you on the “getting the stuff ready for a more peaceful morning”. I don’t see anything wrong with wanting things to be uniform and having certain demands as a bride. Its YOUR wedding and I don’t see the harm in anything you’ve asked of your bridesmaids, especially since you paid for it all. I was a bridesmaid in 2 weddings back to back (a month apart) and if I wasn’t so busy doing everyone else’s hair and makeup beforehand I would have had more time to get myself together…lol which I didn’t care too much about since it wasn’t about ME. The fact that you want everything to go smoothly for everyone involved is very nice of you and the fact that you’ve paid for it all is awesome. As long as your kind I’m sure your BMs won’t be upset about it. I also don’t think that’s your sisters issue here… I think it’s the jealousy factor and doesn’t excuse her behavior at all.
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  • Jacks
    Champion November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    Why would you assume that her sister, who apparently is with a lovely person, is jealous?

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  • Vicky
    VIP January 2020
    Vicky ·
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    You're controlling their dress, shoes, make up, hair, and nail polish. That's prop territory.

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  • J
    Beginner June 2022
    Jen ·
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    Oh yeah I’ve approached the whole thing really kindly. And everyone apart from my sister is super on board with everything given most of them go for biweekly mani pedis anyways they’ll just have something more neutral or natural looking. I’ve said I can bring files and clear polish with me for those who aren’t getting their nails and toes professionally done and we can do them the night before watching a movie.


    I do wonder if you’re right about the jealousy thing. She has told me multiple times she feels because she’s older so should be getting married first and wants to be the first to have grandchildren. I feel the reason she doesn’t want me pregnant at her wedding is nothing to do with me looking fat (she’s 4 dress sizes bigger so hardly doubt she would think of that). I feel she wouldn’t even have that as a second thought - but more she doesn’t trying me trying until she’s married and can start trying (which she’s said is needed for a legal thing to gain them both parenting rights)
    To my mom she acts like she’s fine with what I’ve asked and that she’s happy with everything. (my 16 year old sister who lives at home still is also a bridesmaid so my mom knows everything I’ve asked) but then to me she is hard work, telling me she’s going to pull hair pins out so it’s dropped before the end of the ceremony.
    I feel her behaviour is no way to treat your sister and deffo no way to act as a MOH (given she hasn’t actually done anything that a MOH should do except make me more stressed). I did offer her the option to come to my wedding as a guest. That way she doesn’t have to look like a bridesmaid but she refused that offer.
    Thank you for your advice.
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  • J
    Beginner June 2022
    Jen ·
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    Why did she get engaged a week after me and when I told her the date I booked, say she wanted that date. Falsely accuse me of pushing my fiancée into all of this.


    Despite being in lockdown the last 18 months Wedding planning had been a breeze for me because I’m organised and I’m super lucky my wedding is going ahead. She’s been the only thing in it all to stress me out.
    Regardless of her reason for it; it’s not sisterly behaviour. And it’s not MOH behaviour.
    The one day of her whole life that’s about me and she can’t do it. I did offer her the chance to come as a guest as I have loads of friends I could ask to be a bridesmaid and she said no.
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  • Steph
    Dedicated May 2022
    Steph ·
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    I can tell you now I am the “big sister” and there isn’t a thing in this world that my sister wouldn’t do for me. I have been the jerk in many situations between us, but I would NEVER compete with her or try to ruin her moments. I’m so sorry you are dealing with this. It definitely is a race so she can be first at everything… which is terrible. It’s going to get more competitive once grandkids are involved and that is sad. I wish you the best in your marriage and with the wedding and I genuinely hope she comes to terms with her secret resentment because it’s not ok to do that, especially to your sister. Also, stop worrying about her nails and hair. If she wants to be the “unique butterfly” in the group, then let her! Everyone will notice it and not in a good way.
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  • Steph
    Dedicated May 2022
    Steph ·
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    With a lovely person, or a lovely person herself? Im confused by your question.
    As a big sister and the “queen” in my family, I can admit that I haven’t always been the best to my own sister. I also consider my sister to be the absolute best little sister anyone could ever hope for. That being said, not even I would do what this woman did to her sister. Ever. Mine has been with her other half for 17 years (since they were 17) and if they decided to actually get married, I would be all about it and make it the best experience for her! I wouldn’t suddenly get engaged, try to steal the same date and venue, and fight her on every minor detail. The whole thing screams jealousy/competition/resentment and it isn’t ok.
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  • Jacks
    Champion November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    Are you concerned that this advice may drive the OP further away from the person she described as her "best friend"?

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  • Steph
    Dedicated May 2022
    Steph ·
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    Not at all. If there is a wedge between them it certainly wouldn’t happen as a result of any advice given by strangers in a forum. I would hope that a sisterly bond would be much stronger than that.
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  • J
    Judith ·
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    "Because my mom is acting like nothing is happening because she won’t take sides." Or maybe she feels that at her age should not have to deal with TWO daughters who are acting like squabbling 7 year olds. Go back and read your part of posts here. There is no reason, ever, for a bride to act like this. How can you call someone out for their behaviour when yours us equally bad?
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  • J
    Beginner June 2022
    Jen ·
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    My sister stepped up and was a superstar. She helped the groomsman get ready and just brought a nice vibe to the day. All my stress was for nothing and I think a bit of her strange competition with a lot of wanting to wind me up too in the lead up to the wedding pushed me over the edge.


    The morning ran so smooth with everyone so relaxed drinking and having the team of MUAs and stylists get them ready. So getting the dresses back to steam them was a great idea of mine regardless.
    And everyone commented on how smart our bridal party looked, suits complemented dresses and everyone having the same shoes / jewellery was a nice touch.
    So I don’t regret any of my choices. Even if some people in here thought it was controlling and what not.
    Thanks for everyone’s advice.
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