No newer images
more by paigemericle
No older images
Dad or Stepdad?
more in Family
Future MIL Issues... Already!
Help with Reception... keeping the party upbeat
more in Boards
HUGE men's suit sale! Until Monday.

Fiance's Sister not in Wedding Party

posted 3 years ago in Family
  •  
    1.
    Member Icon
    Member
    1 posts
    Wannabee
    paigemericle      

    Okay, I need advice.  

     

    My fiance has two sisters and two stepbrothers.  I have one sister and one brother.  All of them are in the wedding party except for one sister.  

    I didnt ask her to be a bridesmaid because her husband and two children are in the wedding. I am not very close to her, my fiance is very close to her husband, they used to work together.  

    I have heard that she is upset for not being in the wedding party because every other sibling is. I definitely didn't want to make her feel left out. I just figured it would be easier for the family, I will need help with her kids(4 and 2) because they are the flowergirl and ringbearer.  Now, I feel awful, but it is to late to change anything. My wedding is two weeks away and this is the first I have heard of her feeling bad about it.

    I have closer friends and family I wanted next to me.  But I am totally second guessing my decision.  Advice? 

     
    2.
    Member Icon
    Member
    808 posts
    Busy bee
    missm    09-27-08   San Francisco

    With two weeks out, there isn't much you can do, but perhaps to strengthen the ties, you can reach out to her and indicate you are thankful she's there to help coordinate the flowergirl and ring bearer - essentially, make her feel that even though she's not officially part of the party, she's still important/contributing.

     
    3.
    Bee
    4,377 posts
    Honey bee
    mrbee    March 5, 2005   New York City, New York

    You could maybe ask her to be in your (extended) wedding party as a Reader or Usher?

     
    4.
    Member Icon
    Member
    357 posts
    Helper bee
    Candi1024    05/24/2008   Hunlock Creek, PA

    It's probably too late for her to get a matching dress, but why not have her dress nice and walk down with the kids.  They will probably need a little push to make it down the aisle anyway, and she could walk behind them.  Get her flowers, and include her in pictures.

     
    5.
    Member Icon
    Member
    78 posts
    Worker bee
    cbkj    September 20, 2008   Atlanta

    I think you can still recognize her as an honored guests by giving her corsage or flowers to carry.  Also make sure she is included in pictures, definitely a sibling only picture as well.

     
    6.
    Member Icon
    Member
    205 posts
    Helper bee
    kourtann    10/17/2009  

    I am in a similar situation. All of my siblings are in our wedding, but my FI sister is not. Again, we're not that close for her to be a bridesmaid and her 3 and 4 year  old kids are flower girl and ring bearer. I really want her to help with them, because I don't want them throwing fits during the ceremony.

    Something I thought about doing, was asking her to cut the cake. That way, she's a part of the wedding, but not the actual ceremony where she'll need to watch her kids. You could also have her be in charge of guestbook, hand out programs, be the person that stands at the gift table when people arrive at the reception. Good luck!

     
    7.
    Member Icon
    Member
    496 posts
    Helper bee
    jma19      

    Have your FI talk to his sister - you stay out of it. Have him say something to her like "Paige is so relieved that you are going to be there helping out with the kids and are able to put out any last-minute fires." Do you know what I mean? Have him convey to her in a subtle way that she is an important part of the day - which she is - and that might make her feel better.

     
    8.
    Hostess
    2,704 posts
    Sugar bee
    KateMW    8.30.03   Birmingham

    I'm going to be in the minority here, but giving her a "job" to do such as cutting your cake or handing our programs is exactly that...getting her to work at your wedding. It doesn't exactly say "I'm so glad we're family", to me it says " You're not important enough to be in my wedding, but I do need you to work at it". I would give her a corsage or smaller bouquet, whatever your mothers or other special guests have. I would also buy her a small gift to thank her for helping with her kids and husband on the day of and write her a little note.

     

    That is one of the Southern traditions that I hate the most. Who wants to be invited as a guest and then made to spend the better part of the reception working? Argh. Gotta love the South.

     
    9.
    Member Icon
    Member
    1,315 posts
    Bumble bee
    rebecca    September 13, 2008  

    I agree with Candi and Kate. The little ones will feel better if their mom is there, and it's not a pity job.

     
    10.
    Member Icon
    Member
    911 posts
    Busy bee
    GetMarried4Less    November 1st, 2008   SC

    ::::raises hand::::

    my FI has only one sister and she is not a bridesmaid. several weeks after i made the decision, it got back to us that she was upset. i chose not to have her as a bridesmaid bc i wanted to be surrounded by people i knew and that i was comfortable with. i barely know her and i didnt think to ask her bc we aren't close.

    in the end, she does have a job. not sur eif she's going to do it yet. But i plan to have a really nice corsage made for her, on the level of the mothers. and she will be escorted down the aisle by one of the ushers before the mothers.

    had I known it would have caused drama, i probably would have put her in the the wedparty to play nice. but whats done is done. i can only think to offer your fsil the invitation to get ready with you before the wedding. be involved in whatever pampering and services you have lined up for the rest of the girls.

     
    11.
    Member
    2,469 posts
    Buzzing bee
    Janna19    June 7, 2008   New York

    I don't think she wants to feel "needed" - she wants to feel special, and not left out of people you have honored.  Is there a part of the ceremony she can do?  Something the officiant is already planning like a prayer of some sort?  I would look for a way to honor her - she feels right to feel left out as the only sibling not in the wedding party.

    Other things you can do are to make sure you grab her and tell the photographer you want a pic of the two of you together, maybe mention her at the rehearsal dinner if you will give a speech to the guests, give her a bouquet the day of the wedding, etc etc

     

    Reply

    You must log in to post.

    Tags:





    Visit our sister sites eHarmony
    Online Dating
    eHarmony Advice
    Dating Advice
    Project Wedding
    Wedding Songs
    JustMommies
    Pregnancy Calendar
    Copyright 2004-2012, Weddingbee.com
     

    Find your vendors on Weddingbee

    Real reviews from brides in your area!

    Favors by Weddingbee

    • Favors by season

    Shop Now ยป

    Find Registry Find Registry Find Registry

    More
    User Posts Today
    ticatica 13
    fivemonthsnotice 12
    MrsOliveBird 11
    aussiebee 10
    janetsnakehole 8
    Scottish_lassie 7
    Rivendeler 6
    GelaMac 6
    j_jaye 5
    kat2014 5

    Family


    Sorry, there are no users yet.


    More