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Just Said Yes November 2017

Wedding after secretly married for three years

Bethany, on July 9, 2018 at 12:12 AM

Posted in Etiquette and Advice 75

I need some advice. My best friend, who has been my best friend since school, has given me information that has let me flabbergasted and I'm honestly not sure how to proceed. I'll do my best to summarize. Early January this year she called me and sent me pictures of her ring, telling me that her...
I need some advice.
My best friend, who has been my best friend since school, has given me information that has let me flabbergasted and I'm honestly not sure how to proceed. I'll do my best to summarize. Early January this year she called me and sent me pictures of her ring, telling me that her boyfriend had proposed. I was thrilled for her. The next months have been filled with wedding planning for September, her asking me to be a bridesmaid, etc. Well about two weeks ago she told me that they have actually been married for three years. Apparently she was being removed from her parents' insurance and they married to get her on his insurance (he's military.) She never changed her last name or told anyone. The only other people that know are each of their parents (and they were told well after the fact as well.) I initially told her that I was a little hurt that she hadn't told me for three years but that was about as far as it went. The more I have thought about it the more upset and bothered I have become. Not because she didn't tell me for three years, I could get past that. But the fact that all of this is a LIE. She is planning and has her parents paying for an elaborate and expensive "wedding". The location for the ceremony alone is thousands of dollars. She has a registry; or as she said a month ago a "chance to get new stuff." None of the guests know, even one of the other bridesmaids doesn't know. I'm not attempting to shame her for getting married before, I would have been happy for her then. Getting married primarily for insurance is not my preference but to each their own. And if this was just a celebration I could understand. But no, it is all a sham. She is pretending to get married to her husband of three years, expects gifts, is having the charade of a lifetime and it's all a big secret. I have barely talked to her since she told me because I don't know what to say. I don't want to be ugly to her, but I am truly bothered. I am very uncomfortable with dishonesty and with this entire ordeal. I'm to order and pay for my bridesmaid dress and whatnot. I understand; that is standard. Texting me about her stress of wedding planning, all the pictures of what veil to wear, picking out the caterer...I just can't. How she convinced her parents to pay for it is beyond me. She said they didn't take the news of the secret marriage well initially. Am I wrong for feeling mislead and uncomfortable (and a bit upset) with the whole situation? I don't want to be a bridesmaid anymore. I feel like this is a big case of wanting to have your cake and eat it too.
Thank you all in advance!

75 Comments

  • CountryRoads
    Expert October 2018
    CountryRoads ·
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    100% agree. my jaw dropped too at the judgement of someone not involved in the discussion, without all the facts.

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  • CountryRoads
    Expert October 2018
    CountryRoads ·
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    So, technically, if the person saying that the sky is purple is wearing purple lens glasses, the sky IS purple to them, because of how their eyes are processing the image/color and how their brains interpret it. The sky is blue to you for the same reason. This is not right, wrong, or opinion, this is perspective and the influence of variables [purple glasses]. Likewise, if the sky is blue to you, it is purple to someone watching a sunset on another part of the world. This is also not right, wrong, or opinion, this is relative. Why cant people see from alternative perspectives from their own without being judgemental? Sorry to grab your example, it was just a perfect illustration of why presumptions and judgemental inferences are redundant with out all the info

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  • MrsBlah
    Devoted September 2016
    MrsBlah ·
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    I don't find why Kay said a slap on the face and I'm in a biracial relationship. As you said, it is not up to you to decide what others find offensive.
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  • M
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    Mim ·
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    I stand by my assessment that it is romantic notions you are stuck on if vows are what is tripping you up as to what is and isn't a real marriage. All weddings/marriages involve vows. They are either extrinsic- stated aloud, or intrinsic- assumed by the mere act of getting married. Most jurisdictions have extrinsic vows, you aren't literally just signing a piece of paper, there are words exchanged. Some faiths, such as Orthodox Christians, have intrinsic vows. The couples make no promises, pledges, or vows to each other. It's assumed that just by showing up you agree to the duties of marriage. Somehow, I suspect that you wouldn't see a couple married in an Orthodox church as being not really married.

    As far as people who are fraudulently marrying for a green card, no one disagrees with you. Those aren't really marriages. That's not the issue though. The issue is people who get married and enjoy the benefits but lie about it.
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    Mim ·
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    They sure can. There are plenty of couples who have such arrangements for many reasons. My husband and I had such an arrangement for a while do to life circumstances.

    Keep in mind that if one of the friends chooses to leave the arrangement they would have to go through a divorce first. I doubt that in most cases saving on health insurance is worth the cost of a divorce later. Those friends are also legally bound for the other in good times or bad.
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  • M
    Dedicated April 2019
    Megan ·
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    She's finally getting her big day. They got married because it was something necessary.

    Don't be a bridesmaid if that's how you feel. It's ok to feel that way.

    My friend's have done the same- get married for the insurance because their parents had to drop them, and were going to be with their spouses forever anyways.

    And I bet during that time of them being secretly married, they have had to USE that insurance that people need.

    It was necessity, not a big grandiose day of love and celebration that lead them to get married 3 years ago.

    Remember that. It's finally her big day she's honestly waited for, in my opinion.

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    Mim ·
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    No one has been critical of the celebration, just the lying. It's reasonable for people to be hurt and upset when they've been lied to.
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  • B
    Just Said Yes November 2017
    Bethany ·
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    Frankly, everyone who is saying that it's because she wants it kept private, I might agree with you. If it weren't for the repeated conversations about "thinking he's saving for a ring to propose but not sure", the excitement and pictures of the ring and detailed story of the proposal, more than one conversation about how she can't wait to get married so they can start trying for a baby, the squealing over engagement photos, the freaking out about picking out a venue...if it weren't for stuff like that I might agree with you. This isn't a case of she just didn't mention it and I'm miffed that she didn't tell me. This isn't a case of her being a super private person. This is a case of we talk all the time about everything, she would bring these sort of things up and she actively lied and repeatedly deceived me and others.
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  • Mia
    Dedicated October 2018
    Mia ·
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    ALL of this! I don't get the fight over semantics. If your friend threw a big bash 3 years ago and was throwing one now, I think I would understand more. But as is, I don't understand why this bothers you so much. It feels like even if your friend did this the "proper way" and told everyone they got married as a technicality, if the threw this wedding now, you'd spend the whole time reminding every "it's not a real wedding." Or judging your friend for her dress, her registry, her parents for paying, their choice to have the celebration 2 states away. It's like you don't think she deserves any of this because she's already married. Get over it and just be happy for your friend.
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  • MrsBlah
    Devoted September 2016
    MrsBlah ·
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    So are you dropping off and not attending the wedding?
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  • B
    Just Said Yes November 2017
    Bethany ·
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    Regardless of whether you understand my feelings or not, your attack is unwarranted. If it was already known that she was married or, as you put it, did this the "proper way" then this post wouldn't even exist. My issue is not the dress, the venue, any of that. My issue is, as I have already stated, that she expects everyone to pay and/or travel for all of these things and can't bother to be honest with them. She deserves her day to celebrate. The rest of us don't deserve to be lied to. Outside of this post (in which I have certainly not identified her) I have not discussed this with anyone. I have no interest in "outing" her to her friends and family and certainly would not spend my time "reminding everyone it's not a real wedding." Your assumptions about what it sounds like I would do or what you feel like I would do are ridiculous. I certainly did not expect to agree with everything that everyone said in response to this post. I have not attacked or tried to start a fight with anyone I did not agree with. But if you are going to insult me or make presumptuous statements about what you think I would do, yes I am going to defend myself.
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  • Mia
    Dedicated October 2018
    Mia ·
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    I don't feel like I attacked you and it's unfortunate you feel this way, although I'm not surprised. Given you are fixating on what the guests are paying to attend this, I do feel like you are focusing on issues outside the lying and I stand by what I said in my earlier post. It is an opinion though, not fact, so don't take it as such. Overall, you are fixating on the fact that your friend is lying in your eyes. You friend is not going to change, and so you can only do something with your behavior. Either let go of the issue and be a bridesmaid, confront her with how you feel and let chips fall where they may, drop out and feel better about not supporting her lying, or stay silent and let this bother you.

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  • CountryRoads
    Expert October 2018
    CountryRoads ·
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    Exactly. THIS 100%

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  • Michelle
    Champion December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    Your story is very common but unlike others, the difference is that you feel betrayed by it. Which is valid, in complete opposition of what many who go that route say is acceptable and correct, because they don’t see themselves as deceptive.


    Plus they already had a wedding even if they chose not to call it one, and it is highly disrespectful to people who actively choose to have an elopement whether at the courthouse or elsewhere. Whatever event she is a renewal.
    I have been a guest to a couple weddings/renewals exactly like you are describing for young military couples. Guests found out at the “ceremony” from parents (who thought they were so good at keeping the secret) and were so livid at being deceived and lied to that no one stayed for the reception and took their gifts home.
    You have to follow your gut. Hopefully this is a lesson for those who insist that no one will be offended by their actions because they don’t see it as lying when that the opposite of honesty: please do not do this.
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  • G
    Just Said Yes September 2025
    Gloria ·
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    I think if she decides to have a big wedding and celebrate with her family and friends there is nothing wrong with that.
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