Bride’s Sister Backed Out of Bridesmaid Role One Month Before the Wedding Because She Didn't Want to Wear "Ugly" $1,000 Dress

Being a bridesmaid is a huge honor, but it comes with responsibilities. According to a post on Reddit’s “Am I the A------“ on October 15, 2024, a 16-year-old female, Emma, begged her older sister to let her be a part of her wedding party, so the woman of honor obliged. However, a month before the wedding, Emma backed out of the role because she didn’t like her dress. Now, the mother of the bride is asking Emma to cover the cost of the gown, a request that she’s refusing to oblige.

In the post, the mom noted that Emma wasn’t an original part of her sister’s bridal party, but after she pleaded with her, the bride decided to make some room. “It was Emma who really wanted to be a bridesmaid because she was excited and wanted to be involved,” the mother of the bride shared. “My oldest agreed to include her, even though it meant extra costs and adjustments.”

To prepare for the honorable title, Emma had to buy the designated attire for the affair, which amounted to $1,000. Since Emma is just a teenager and doesn't have hundreds of dollars lying around, her mom agreed to cover the costs. Then, a month before the wedding, Emma decided to back out of the role because she hates the dress. “She [refuses] to wear the dress since she thinks it is ugly, saying it is unflattering on her,” her mom said. “She said she felt uncomfortable, wasn’t close to the other bridesmaids, and didn’t want to participate anymore. I reminded her that she had been the one pushing to be a part of the wedding, but she was firm and backed out.”

The bridesmaid dress, though, is nonrefundable. Since Emma abandoned the role at the last minute, her mom thinks it’s only fair that she repay her. Because Emma doesn’t have the money, her mom said she could get a part-time job or save any cash she's gifted. Her daughter, though, is against this proposal. “Emma is upset and says it’s unfair, claiming we’re punishing her for not wanting to do something she wasn’t comfortable with anymore,” the OP said. Some of her relatives think she should go easy on her daughter, according to the post.

Reddit users are in disagreement, claiming Emma should learn her lesson the hard way. “If the 16yo wanted to be part of it, attended all the fittings, shopping trips, etc then backs out because she just doesn't want to anymore, then the child needs to learn actions have consequences,” a Redditor declared. “She is 2 years away from being an adult. It is past time she started maturing and learning that sometimes we have to do things we don't like. Sometimes that means wearing things we don't like to make others happy.”

Many also commented on the 16-year-old’s behavior—both forcing her way into the bridal party and throwing her mom's money around. “Never mind the fact that it's unfair to [strong-arm] your way into someone else's wedding party, or to expect people to change plans for you because you weren't included in a very personal event,” someone else wrote. “She's old enough to know better, but since the lesson clearly hasn't stuck yet, she's old enough to learn it now. Some said she was playing the victim to get her way again. “Emma had zero problems spending her parents' money or her sister's money,” another said. “But now that the cost has come back around to impact her wallet, she's claiming ‘unfairness.’”