The internet has backed a woman who refused to pay for her sister’s therapy after she had a “meltdown” at her wedding.
A bride has won over the internet by standing her ground and refusing to pay for her sister’s therapy after a dramatic incident nearly spoiled her wedding day. The story, shared by Reddit user u/Expert-Letterhead61, has resonated with many after it appeared in the popular “Am I The A*****?” subreddit, gathering over 17,000 upvotes and a flood of supportive comments.
The bride explained that her sister, who was also her maid of honor, became extremely drunk and caused a major scene at the reception.
“She starts ranting about how I ‘always get everything’ and how my wedding is just another example of me being the ‘golden child.’ In front of all my guests. Including my in-laws,” she shared in her post.
But the disruption didn’t end there. The sister took the microphone during speeches, airing her grievances further.
“It gets worse. She actually grabs the mic during the speeches and starts going off about her ‘struggles’ and how it’s not fair that I’m happily married while she’s single. At my wedding.
“The whole vibe turned awkward, and my husband’s family was just… shocked. People started leaving early, and I spent the rest of the night trying to put out fires instead of enjoying what was supposed to be our special day,” she recounted.
Since the wedding, the original poster’s (OP) parents have approached her with a request: they want her to pay for her sister’s therapy, citing her “success” as a reason she should contribute.
Stock image of an upset woman. A woman’s parents expected her to foot the bill for her sister’s therapy.
Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock / Getty Images Plus
“Their reasoning is that since I’m the ‘successful’ one, I should help out, and it would show that I’m a good sister. But like, she ruined my wedding! I don’t think I should have to foot the bill for her meltdown. I’m still angry about the whole thing, and honestly, I feel like she owes me an apology first,” the bride explained.
Seeking reassurance, she asked Reddit if she was being unreasonable.
Experts Weigh In
Licensed professional counselor Melissa Webb from Kansas shared her thoughts on the family dynamic: “The bride is not the A***** but her sister is. This family dynamic has been going on for quite a while and it’s a reason why the younger sister felt the need to ‘cry out for help’ during this special occasion. Maybe the younger sister feels like she is in her sister’s shade and this was her last straw. Ultimately, it’s not an excuse, and she certainly shouldn’t have ruined the wedding.”
Webb also argued that the bride shouldn’t be responsible for her sister’s therapy costs. “The bride is setting healthy boundaries with her parents. The parents are putting unrealistic expectations on the bride and taking the responsibility off of them. After all, it is their child, and as parents, taking care of children goes well into adulthood. Since the parents don’t want to assume responsibility, they are putting the responsibility on the older sibling, which will cause more friction in the family.”
She explained that the parents or the younger sister should pay for the therapy and that the OP is owed an apology.
Licensed social worker Alex Banta agreed with Webb’s perspective: “No one is obligated to spend their money on something they do not want to spend their money on. It is a wonderful thing that her sister has decided to get help—this is clearly needed, but for the expectation to fall to OP to foot the bill is unfair under any circumstances, but especially after a ruined wedding.”
Banta went on to explain that family systems often pressure the “successful” member to take responsibility for others’ issues, which leads to imbalance and resentment. “OP should not be punished for having her life together any more than her sister should be punished for having a hard time.”
Social Media Reacts
The Reddit community overwhelmingly sided with the bride, echoing the sentiments of the experts.
“It seems your sister is not your only problem. Tell your parents one firm ‘no’ and then refuse to discuss it anymore,” said one user.
The OP replied: “I think you’re right. I just need to say no and stop letting them guilt-trip me.”
“She’s not your responsibility. If anything, why aren’t your parents helping her?” said one user, Square-Sprinkles4090.
Another added, “She is their child, not yours. It’s their responsibility, not yours. Your success is an accomplishment that comes from your hard work, and you deserve the rewards—not to be treated like the family piggy bank. Her ruining your wedding and whether she apologizes or not isn’t the main issue. She. Isn’t. Your. Financial. Responsibility!”
Newsweek reached out to u/Expert-Letterhead61for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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