Weddings are meant to be celebrations of love and joy, but unfortunately, not everyone shares in the happiness of the occasion. These harrowing tales from Reddit highlight why it’s crucial to be selective about your guest list. The seventh story even reveals how everything you believe in could be a lie!
Planning a wedding is already a stressful and expensive endeavor. The last thing anyone needs is a guest who ruins it all. Here are some real-life accounts from Reddit users who experienced nightmare scenarios on their big day.
1. My Family Ignored My Plans
u/Swimming_Juice_9752: Not everyone deserves the title of close family. My partner and I, both middle-aged and on our second marriages, chose to have a modest backyard wedding. Despite the distance, most of our guests traveled from the Midwest or drove hours within the state to attend.
We live in a remote area where a 120-mile trip can take over five hours. Still, we were thrilled that my parents and one of my six siblings made it. My parents planned their visit around the wedding, and my sister decided to join a couple of weeks before the event.
I booked hair and makeup appointments with my regular stylist for my mom, sister, and me. Since I was the last to go, I stayed home to prepare until noon. When I finally arrived at the salon, I discovered they had already left. I had hoped we’d spend the day together since we live nearly 2,000 miles apart.
I got home around 3 p.m. with a lot left to do, and the photographer arriving at 4:30 p.m. sent me into a panic. I texted my family for help, as they were supposed to assist with final preparations after our appointments. Instead, they went to a fancy lunch an hour away and were still getting ready at their rental by 3:30 p.m.
I managed the last-minute tasks alone, sweating off my makeup as guests began to arrive. My parents and sister showed up at 4:15 p.m., leaving me no time to write my vows or get dressed. To make matters worse, my mom wore a knee-length cream lace dress with brown boots, which matched my wedding gown. She knew what my dress looked like and only commented: “It’s cream, not white”. I was on the verge of tears and wanted to change, but my dad eventually took her back to their rental to change.
They returned an hour later, visibly unhappy with me, and barely spoke to me for the rest of the night, except to say goodbye. My sister helped clean up, but I was deeply hurt that she didn’t intervene earlier. The next day, my parents hosted a brunch, where my mom barely spoke to me, and my dad seemed annoyed. For a month after the wedding, I had anxious dreams and trouble sleeping. Fortunately, my husband was there for me, and I focused on building my life with him.
2. I Had to Evict My Mother-in-Law
u/DesignerHumor1450: I waited far too long to deal with my mother-in-law. At 24, I recently married my wife, but I had a tense relationship with her mother from the start. Despite her disdain for me, I never expected her to ruin our wedding.
My MIL lived with us temporarily because she refused to go to a senior home and couldn’t find a place to stay. She was ungrateful, never contributed to bills, and never thanked us for food. The situation worsened on our wedding day when she wore an extravagant white dress, complete with a puffy skirt, making her look like the bride. We decided to ignore it to avoid a scene, but her behavior only got worse.
During our vows, she loudly scoffed: “Oh, please!” I was ready to have her removed by security, but my wife intervened to avoid more drama. Later, during our first dance, MIL shouted: “GIVE ME MY DAUGHTER BACK!” That was the last straw.
Once home, I confronted her in the hallway and told her she needed to leave by the next day. She initially scoffed, then apologized and cried, but I was firm. This time, my wife didn’t intervene, and we arranged for her to move into a senior living home. Since then, she has adopted a humbler attitude. Would you have done the same?
3. I Lost My Temper
u/best_reddituser19: Did I overreact? My husband and I recently had a grand wedding in Paris with over 60 guests. I’ve never had a good relationship with my mother-in-law, but I invited her for my husband’s sake.
She caused issues from the start, demanding I hire a babysitter for my six-year-old son from a previous relationship, as she didn’t consider him part of the family. I kept my cool and insisted my son would be there.
On the wedding day, she insisted on sharing our hotel room, but we wanted to spend time alone with my son. We asked her to share a room with my sister-in-law instead, which she reluctantly accepted. She later demanded to be my maid of honor, despite knowing she wasn’t part of the wedding party.
During our first dance, she stood up and shouted: “You have taken my boy away from me. He will never love you as much as he loved me! A boy’s mom should be the only woman he should ever love! You will never be good enough for him!” I lost my temper and shouted back: “You have done nothing but ruin everything for me! I will never accept you as my mother-in-law!” She cried and ran out, making the rest of the night awkward. Should I have kept quiet?
Coming soon: a bride discovers her family and groom are missing from her wedding because they’re at another ceremony!
4. My Husband’s Ex Crashed Our Wedding
u/NoYam9520: Two weeks into marriage, and I’m already regretting it. My husband’s ex has been a nightmare, insisting my stepchildren call me by my first name instead of any endearing term. Our wedding coincided with her custody day, and my husband invited her without telling me.
She showed up, dressed more elegantly than me, and refused to leave. My husband and mother-in-law insisted she stay, making me feel ganged up on. She ruined my wedding day, and I fear this is just the beginning.
5. Grass-Stained and Hurt
u/Deleted User: Our wedding started perfectly, but the mood soured when my soon-to-be husband received a photo from his mother, who had cut and dyed her hair to mimic mine. During the ceremony by a riverbank, she positioned herself next to me and then screamed, lost her balance, and pulled my hair as she fell. I almost fell into the river, staining my dress with dirt and grass. She laughed it off, leaving me devastated. We’ve since cut contact with her, but the memory still brings me to tears.
6. Baby Name Announcement Hijack
u/Silver_Fire72: My husband and I had a much-anticipated wedding last weekend. Midway through the reception, my sister-in-law announced her baby’s name in our guest book, making it a game for the family to find out. I was hurt but didn’t cause a scene. When I confronted them later, they claimed it was a gift. Their dismissive attitude left me feeling crazy for being upset.
7. Secret Wedding Behind My Back
u/Deleted User: My wedding day turned into a disaster when only 30 out of 250 guests showed up. My nuclear family, bridesmaids, and groom were missing. After frantic calls, I learned my mom and her sisters convinced my fiancé to marry my cousin, who was pregnant with his child. They held a secret wedding while I stood alone at the altar. I’ve since cut ties with my family and moved away.
A bridesmaid, a mother-in-law, or a jealous ex can turn a wedding into a nightmare. Have you experienced or witnessed such a situation? Share your stories in the comments.