ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

You won't believe why this mum ordered bride daughter to get rid of bridesmaid

It's almost too hard to believe. - by Georgia Mars
  • 14 Sep 2017
You won't believe why this mum ordered bride daughter to get rid of bridesmaid

Weddings can be hard enough. Well, a bride just had her experience made a whole lot harder thanks to her mother. 

Writing into Slate's 'Dear Prudence' advice column a mother outlined a conundrum she was having in relation to her daughter's nuptials.

Here's the sticky situation:

'My 27-year-old daughter and her best friend, Katie, have been best friends since they were 4. Katie practically grew up in our house and is like a daughter to me. My daughter recently got engaged to her fiancé and announced that Katie would be the maid of honor (Katie’s boyfriend is also a good friend of my future son-in-law).'

So far so good, Katie seems like the perfect Maid of Honor candidate! But, the letter continues:

'The problem is that Katie walks with a pretty severe limp due to a birth defect (not an underlying medical issue). She has no problem wearing high heels and has already been fitted for the dress, but I still think it will look unsightly if she’s in the wedding procession limping ahead of my daughter. I mentioned this to my daughter and suggested that maybe Katie could take video or hand out programs (while sitting) so she doesn’t ruin the aesthetic aspect of the wedding.'

Getty
Getty

Yes, we're not making this up - this is a real letter. 

'My daughter is no longer speaking to me (we were never that close), but this is her big wedding and I want it to be perfect. All of the other bridesmaids will look gorgeous walking down the aisle with my daughter. Is it wrong to have her friend sit out?'

Imagine: your mother, who admittedly you 'aren't that close too', told you to ditch your best friend (who happens to be incredibly close with your future husband, who 'grew up in your house', and who has presumable been through every major life milestone with you) suggests that she can't be by your side at your wedding because of a birth defect she has absolutely no control over.

Slate apparently had the same reaction we did, and responded perfectly.

'I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this letter. I encourage you to reread it and to ask yourself that time-honoured question, “Do I sound like a villain in a Reese Witherspoon movie?” You are, presumably, sympathetic to your own situation and are invested in making sure that you come across as reasonable and as caring as possible, and yet you have written a letter indicting yourself at every turn. This girl is “like a daughter” to you, and yet you want to shove her to the side of your other daughter’s wedding just because she walks with a limp. Your daughter’s wedding will be perfect with Katie as a full and honoured member of the bridal party. A limp is not a fly in the ointment; it’s a part of Katie’s life. It is not only wrong to have asked your daughter to consider excluding her best friend over this—it is ableist, and cruel, and it speaks to a massive failure of empathy, compassion, and grace on your part. You must and should apologise to your daughter immediately, and I encourage you to profoundly reconsider the orientation of your heart.'

 

This article was originally published on New Idea. 

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

Till death do us part

Till death do us part

TEEN'S HEARTBREAK: 'I became a widow at 19'

TEEN'S HEARTBREAK: 'I became a widow at 19'

Bride's heartbreak: My groom was jailed on our wedding night!

Bride's heartbreak: My groom was jailed on our wedding night!

{headline}

{headline}

Bride-to-be complains about her $120 engagement ring after confronting her fiancé

Bride-to-be complains about her $120 engagement ring after confronting her fiancé

'My sister's wedding saved my life'

'My sister's wedding saved my life'

Sister's SHOCK wedding ban: 'No fatties allowed!'

Sister's SHOCK wedding ban: 'No fatties allowed!'

{headline}

{headline}

Dad was with us’: Steve Irwin honoured at Bindi’s wedding

Dad was with us’: Steve Irwin honoured at Bindi’s wedding

Bride slammed for giving guests 'ridiculous' ultimatum ahead of wedding

Bride slammed for giving guests 'ridiculous' ultimatum ahead of wedding

I put my dad's ashes in my fake nails so he could walk me down the aisle

I put my dad's ashes in my fake nails so he could walk me down the aisle

Three women and six kids killed by suspected drug cartel on their way to a wedding in Mexico

Three women and six kids killed by suspected drug cartel on their way to a wedding in Mexico

Bride mocked after wearing a minion mask to walk down the aisle

Bride mocked after wearing a minion mask to walk down the aisle

I married my stepdad!

I married my stepdad!

Bride asks for her cousin to be edited in photo after she wears a VERY SHORT dress

Bride asks for her cousin to be edited in photo after she wears a VERY SHORT dress

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!