I (51F) put down a $20K non-refundable deposit on this gorgeous beachfront estate for my daughter, let’s call her Amy’s (26F), wedding next September. We booked it 18 months out. For context, and without revealing too much, it’s THE venue in our area, and it has been Amy’s dream wedding spot in all of her Pinterest boards.”
The trouble started when her sister, Carol (53F), discovered some shocking news. “Last month, my sister found out her cheating ex-husband, let’s call him Mark (55M), proposed to his coworker (28F—she was 22 when they started having an affair) who he had been having an affair with. The woman posted engagement photos from the same venue… specifically the beautiful beach area where Amy plans to have her ceremony.
She called me sobbing, begging me to change venues. Says she can’t watch Amy get married where Mark proposed to a girl younger than his own daughter. Can’t smile for photos on THAT beach.”
The mom explained her dilemma: “I feel sick for her. I do. But: Save-the-dates already sent. Amy’s dreamed of this venue since high school. Everything else is booked or three times the price.”
She continued: “I told Carol I can’t lose the deposit and crush Amy’s dreams. Carol says I’m choosing money over her mental health. That I’m forcing her to relive the worst betrayal of her life for ’pretty pictures’.
I also talked to Amy about it, and she does not want a venue change. That it’s not her fault Mark (who has been out of all our lives for the last 5 years) ruined that place for Carol.” The tension escalated. “Carol called Amy a ’spoiled’ person who wouldn’t understand real pain.
