Woman Bursts Into Tears After Revealing Her Diagnosis At Friend’s Bachelorette Party, Gets Fired As A Bridesmaid
Some people have a perfect wedding in mind. After all, if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, why not have everything be absolutely perfect, from the bachelorette party to the honeymoon? So it’s not surprising that this commitment to perfection can create a bit of drama and tension.
A bride-to-be shared a controversial decision she made, after firing a bridesmaid for “hijacking” her bachelorette party to tell everyone her diagnosis. On the surface, it does look like a pretty mean move, but she gave some context that split opinions. So read through, see the discussion in the comments, and decide for yourself.
Getting married is a special moment that most people would want to savor without distractions
Image credits: Karolina Grabowska (not the actual photo)
A bride asked the internet if she was in the wrong for firing a bridesmaid for deciding to announce her diagnosis at her bachelorette
Image credits: RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)
Talking about medical topics at a party can be an instant buzzkill
Despite many marriages not actually lasting, most people who choose to get married don’t plan to do it again. Naturally, if you plan for just one wedding, it has to be perfect. It’s also a time to celebrate and be celebrated by your friends and family, so naturally, OP felt like she was robbed of the limelight. What happened to the bridesmaid was ultimately sad, but her decision to suddenly and unexpectedly bring it up during a party was pretty misguided. Medical issues are rarely any fun, so regardless of what she ended up saying, the mood of the party was going to end up ruined.
For those who aren’t familiar, fetal alcohol syndrome is a particularly cruel diagnosis, as it’s one a person can not have any control over. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a result of a fetus being exposed to alcohol pre-birth. This condition, among others, is the reason mothers are told not to drink. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop some, resulting in a number of possible issues for the unborn child. How badly the kid is affected will vary, but symptoms include poor coordination, low body weight, and sometimes difficulties studying. As the little “s” at the end of “FASDs” should tell you, this condition is a spectrum, where some people go undiagnosed for years, while others suffer constantly.
While we don’t know exactly what was going on in OP’s friend’s head and the extent of her condition, props to OP for not disclosing these details about her friend. While sharing the diagnosis during the party was questionable, firing her over it was what pushed many people to declare the bride a villain in the story. But, uncommonly for these sorts of stories, OP came back with an update. Instead of getting defensive, she seems to have embraced people’s criticism and worked it out with her friend. Often, when a person realizes that the internet sees them as a jerk, they cease posting and we never hear from them again. So it’s fortunate that this time there was a happy ending.
Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)
OP gave some more context that readers needed to judge the situation fairly
Some people thought both parties acted poorly
While a few sided with OP
However, a number of commenters thought OP was absolutely at fault
The bride did later post an update to the whole story
Image credits: Alla Sergeeva (not the actual photo)
Image source: pattiesni
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I'm glad OP realized her mistake and talked it out with her friend. I hope the wedding is a wonderful one and the friend is able to get the help she needs.
Your last sentence shows your compassionate heart, and it is the entire crux of this matter. The friend needs help. FASD is not curable, but there are a plethora of behavioural supports to help ease the harmful symptoms, help the patient maintain healthy relationships, and live a relatively functional life. One of my passion projects is to bring food to homeless encampments, and they are filled with folks with FASD whose families and friends couldn't handle their symptoms and gave up on them. The sooner this young woman accesses supports, the better future she will have.
Load More Replies...Glad for the update. 23 & 24 is still young, but sounds like this woman is able to examine her own behaviours properly. Not just blind seeking of reassurance. A refreshing change.
One of the few AITA that I enjoyed reading bc of the comments and her update.
Load More Replies...I'm so proud of OP for actually listening to and thinking about what others have commented about this situation. I don't think that I could have been so mature at her age. The fact that she not only listened, but examined her actions & feelings, was honest about how she felt & how she reacted, and then reached out to her friend.., I'm telling you, I'm thoroughly impressed by how she handled it all! I'm glad she will be there for her friend, she's going to need it. BRAVA, OP! BRAVA!
I don't know why people get so hung up on bachelorette parties being such a "big thing", when the wedding is such a "big thing". You fill your life with so many "big things" in such a short space of time and they start to lose their meaning and importance. I drank very little at my hen party (UK equivalent) and remember very little of the party. It just wasn't that important given the wedding party was a month later. That I have far more memories of - and the ladies on my hen do were present too, so it's not as if it were two parties with no overlap of guests. But, I guess, at 23/24 people are still working out the important things. At 43, my priorities are vastly different and sweating the small stuff seems a bit silly.
I got married last year and to me, it's the marriage that's the big thing. I spent my Bachelorette party and wedding so worried if everyone is having a good time. At least in a marriage, there's only one other person to worry about...
Load More Replies...I think FunkshionalLiz said everything I was going to say, and more. Glad it got OP giving it a second thought. I also thought the way things were handled at the bachelorette party could've been better. I, too, have gotten upset over one thing or another at bars, parties, and other events, where people came to console and give me a pep. If you think about it, that's girls lifting up girls. The times when I was told I was sapping the fun out of the evening for everyone made me feel worse. The times when people listened to my issue for a moment and cheered me up were the times when the party continued for everyone. If I needed to leave, I just left and let everyone have their fun.
Totally agree. I disagree with FunkshionalLiz over the "she's an AH if she was drinking it up"... alcohol loosens inhibitions. I've had an incredibly traumatic experience with life changing results, I've hidden it from most people I know. When I've felt I want or need to open up to a friend about it, I put it off, I get scared, I can't find the moment. Give me some booze... that's when I open up. Totally agree with you though StrangeOne
Load More Replies...I guess friend thought she could manage her diagnosis, but being around alcohol serving is quite different than being expected to drink it. Good to know they're ok now.
I hope and pray that friend gets some professional help to manage her symptoms, because they run deeper than she probably realizes. Her life will be much easier if she has good psychological supports.
Load More Replies...OP was TA, but was honest and mature enough to admit it, apologize to her friend and patch things up. Good for her.
I have CPTSD, I grew up with undiagnosed AuDHD, and I've worked with numerous people with FASD. I feel I'm qualified to comment on this. It's true that trauma triggers can hit where we least expect them to. That being said, that level of breakdown on the friend's bachelorette party is incredibly... coincidental. It's an unfortunate reality that one of the symptoms of FASD (and other conditions) is the ability to lie and manipulate quite effectively. We should not consider those symptoms to be character flaws. Most kids who grow up with undiagnosed or misunderstood neurological conditions learn to lie effectively because they face constant criticism and accusation for not behaving "appropriately" in situations we can't understand or cope with and wish to avoid the punishment for something we didn't understand was wrong. The trauma of living with such conditions leads to stunted emotional growth.
In FASD, the connection between cause and effect in the brain is damaged, which may lead to poor judgment and acting out behaviours. I don't personally believe that the meltdown at the party was as innocent as claimed, though it's probably best for all concerned that the bride does. But I hope that in the future, two things happen. First, the friend with FASD needs to access some supports to help her manage her symptoms, including trauma trigger management and learning to not lie and manipulate (I've had to do this myself; I'm not judging her). The bride needs to encourage her friend to access these supports, but for her own mental well-being, must also back away from getting caught up in drama, because creating drama is another symptom of trauma. Those of us with these sorts of conditions are not at fault for having them. But it is our responsibility to learn to manage them in a way that does not harm those around us. It takes hard work and self-examination. But we must do it.
Load More Replies...I'm so happy that she called her friend to talk about what's happening. I still feel like the timing was off, though. I don't mean to call anyone out.
Two things can be true at once. The meltdown at the party might not have been as innocent as the friend claimed. There may have been some intent on her part to create drama and gain attention. That being said, it can also be true that this was a symptom of her disorder, and it's good the bride recognized it as such. It's good they're moving forward as they are, but the friend is in dire need of psychological supports to manage her diagnosis and all the trauma that goes with it. Perhaps the bride can assist the friend in finding and accessing these supports.
Load More Replies...NTA, but with saying that people with FAS don't process information the same was, their brain is not functioning the way a 'normal' adult does. It's possible that she thought it was an appropriate time to mention it, before the wedding, giving you time to digest the information. The times I've been with people with FAS they always have a logical reason fir what they do, but its not your logic. Be kind to her. Your well within your rights to remove her from your wedding party if uou want but please try not to hold it against her. There is a strong possibility she won't understand fully why
I'm glad OP realized her mistake and talked it out with her friend. I hope the wedding is a wonderful one and the friend is able to get the help she needs.
Your last sentence shows your compassionate heart, and it is the entire crux of this matter. The friend needs help. FASD is not curable, but there are a plethora of behavioural supports to help ease the harmful symptoms, help the patient maintain healthy relationships, and live a relatively functional life. One of my passion projects is to bring food to homeless encampments, and they are filled with folks with FASD whose families and friends couldn't handle their symptoms and gave up on them. The sooner this young woman accesses supports, the better future she will have.
Load More Replies...Glad for the update. 23 & 24 is still young, but sounds like this woman is able to examine her own behaviours properly. Not just blind seeking of reassurance. A refreshing change.
One of the few AITA that I enjoyed reading bc of the comments and her update.
Load More Replies...I'm so proud of OP for actually listening to and thinking about what others have commented about this situation. I don't think that I could have been so mature at her age. The fact that she not only listened, but examined her actions & feelings, was honest about how she felt & how she reacted, and then reached out to her friend.., I'm telling you, I'm thoroughly impressed by how she handled it all! I'm glad she will be there for her friend, she's going to need it. BRAVA, OP! BRAVA!
I don't know why people get so hung up on bachelorette parties being such a "big thing", when the wedding is such a "big thing". You fill your life with so many "big things" in such a short space of time and they start to lose their meaning and importance. I drank very little at my hen party (UK equivalent) and remember very little of the party. It just wasn't that important given the wedding party was a month later. That I have far more memories of - and the ladies on my hen do were present too, so it's not as if it were two parties with no overlap of guests. But, I guess, at 23/24 people are still working out the important things. At 43, my priorities are vastly different and sweating the small stuff seems a bit silly.
I got married last year and to me, it's the marriage that's the big thing. I spent my Bachelorette party and wedding so worried if everyone is having a good time. At least in a marriage, there's only one other person to worry about...
Load More Replies...I think FunkshionalLiz said everything I was going to say, and more. Glad it got OP giving it a second thought. I also thought the way things were handled at the bachelorette party could've been better. I, too, have gotten upset over one thing or another at bars, parties, and other events, where people came to console and give me a pep. If you think about it, that's girls lifting up girls. The times when I was told I was sapping the fun out of the evening for everyone made me feel worse. The times when people listened to my issue for a moment and cheered me up were the times when the party continued for everyone. If I needed to leave, I just left and let everyone have their fun.
Totally agree. I disagree with FunkshionalLiz over the "she's an AH if she was drinking it up"... alcohol loosens inhibitions. I've had an incredibly traumatic experience with life changing results, I've hidden it from most people I know. When I've felt I want or need to open up to a friend about it, I put it off, I get scared, I can't find the moment. Give me some booze... that's when I open up. Totally agree with you though StrangeOne
Load More Replies...I guess friend thought she could manage her diagnosis, but being around alcohol serving is quite different than being expected to drink it. Good to know they're ok now.
I hope and pray that friend gets some professional help to manage her symptoms, because they run deeper than she probably realizes. Her life will be much easier if she has good psychological supports.
Load More Replies...OP was TA, but was honest and mature enough to admit it, apologize to her friend and patch things up. Good for her.
I have CPTSD, I grew up with undiagnosed AuDHD, and I've worked with numerous people with FASD. I feel I'm qualified to comment on this. It's true that trauma triggers can hit where we least expect them to. That being said, that level of breakdown on the friend's bachelorette party is incredibly... coincidental. It's an unfortunate reality that one of the symptoms of FASD (and other conditions) is the ability to lie and manipulate quite effectively. We should not consider those symptoms to be character flaws. Most kids who grow up with undiagnosed or misunderstood neurological conditions learn to lie effectively because they face constant criticism and accusation for not behaving "appropriately" in situations we can't understand or cope with and wish to avoid the punishment for something we didn't understand was wrong. The trauma of living with such conditions leads to stunted emotional growth.
In FASD, the connection between cause and effect in the brain is damaged, which may lead to poor judgment and acting out behaviours. I don't personally believe that the meltdown at the party was as innocent as claimed, though it's probably best for all concerned that the bride does. But I hope that in the future, two things happen. First, the friend with FASD needs to access some supports to help her manage her symptoms, including trauma trigger management and learning to not lie and manipulate (I've had to do this myself; I'm not judging her). The bride needs to encourage her friend to access these supports, but for her own mental well-being, must also back away from getting caught up in drama, because creating drama is another symptom of trauma. Those of us with these sorts of conditions are not at fault for having them. But it is our responsibility to learn to manage them in a way that does not harm those around us. It takes hard work and self-examination. But we must do it.
Load More Replies...I'm so happy that she called her friend to talk about what's happening. I still feel like the timing was off, though. I don't mean to call anyone out.
Two things can be true at once. The meltdown at the party might not have been as innocent as the friend claimed. There may have been some intent on her part to create drama and gain attention. That being said, it can also be true that this was a symptom of her disorder, and it's good the bride recognized it as such. It's good they're moving forward as they are, but the friend is in dire need of psychological supports to manage her diagnosis and all the trauma that goes with it. Perhaps the bride can assist the friend in finding and accessing these supports.
Load More Replies...NTA, but with saying that people with FAS don't process information the same was, their brain is not functioning the way a 'normal' adult does. It's possible that she thought it was an appropriate time to mention it, before the wedding, giving you time to digest the information. The times I've been with people with FAS they always have a logical reason fir what they do, but its not your logic. Be kind to her. Your well within your rights to remove her from your wedding party if uou want but please try not to hold it against her. There is a strong possibility she won't understand fully why






































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