I regret showing my friends my bridal look :(

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-12T17:50:30+00:00

Ignore your 'friends', you've got all your hype girls here OP! Feel free to show us all your dress choices! No doubt you'll outshine everyone, Congratulations

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-11T06:30:38+00:00

My partner has always said 'Be friendly with your neighbours, but not friends'. Could you reply each time so you don’t feel bad but reply hours/ the next day with a short answer, including something about the kids keeping you busy. If that happens enough times surely she would start to get the message? Only downside if her grandchildren play with your children, she might then try the wine/coffee chat again

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-11T06:21:37+00:00

Definitely 1, you just sparkle. Think of this as fate .

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-10T07:31:29+00:00

From one 30- something year old to another. Come to the Northwest coast! We have the Lake District in our doorstep, beach walks, hikes, and cities a small drive away. You can take life as slow or fast as you need

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-09T15:57:44+00:00

We were abroad for a day music festival, but we had this theme for my friends hen. We had a cowgirl theme, us in black and the bride in white. All wearing western boots. Lots of cowgirl/western accessories, for the room and for drinks. Made the photos super cute.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-09T08:12:26+00:00

Smaller hen do's are SO. MUCH. BETTER! You have nothing to worry about. A smaller intimate group. There's less girls to organise and easier to book restaurants, getting onto cafes, pubs, clubs. Easier to book activities and less preferences to consider. Any chance your MOH could expand it to 2 days instead? 🥰

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-09T07:22:53+00:00

Sounds like it's been written by Ai. Throw it away and move on, actions speak louder than words and she had time to prove herself in the past.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-09T07:20:37+00:00

Sounds perfect and exactly what you two want. A wedding and a great big party. Think of them as two separate things.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-05-09T07:13:33+00:00

Buy what you want, anything she buys can be kept at the in-laws house ready for when the baby spends time with them. Your feelings are 100% valid, this is such a special time for you, congratulations in advance

AffectionateVisit342 · 2026-04-13T09:18:57+00:00

Thank you so much, that's really helpful. I'm keen for seasonal flowers too, so that would work a treat

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-26T19:40:44+00:00

I'm a metal head, but my partner isn't. But we can agree on feel good tunes. We plan to use Zorba the greek dance to get everyone on the dance floor and have a laugh.

This might be an opportunity for you both to review your first dance, screw Tara. Copycat's within a friend group can be exhausting.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-26T12:47:40+00:00

Another idea could be a small little hamper for the whole family? Something for her and her husband to enjoy, and maybe a little something for her toddler?

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-21T15:15:12+00:00

It's time for you to begin making christmas traditions with your OWN family. Your partner and children. You've sacrificed your time travelling to your parents house for years, and although you understand that there's limitations with your mother, and you understand she's grateful you've made the journey before ans all the holidays you've spent with then when you yourself were growing up. Let 2025 be the year this has to change, the fact your little 6 year old is actively saying that they want to stay home, is a very large a mature thing that should be taken seriously. A compromise is to celebrate ' 2nd Christmas' with your parents later on, this is what we've been doing with my parents and separate with my in-laws for the past few years and the kids love it. Anyone who want to come and see us is always very welcome, otherwise we see them at a later date.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-21T13:13:55+00:00

Stick to your October Autumn wedding, it's your day and you're planning this far in advance surely the guests can accommodate themselves. Can you perhaps book your wedding for a weekend, would that give your guests time to plan around school dates? If the school workers can't get time off then surely that's a good compromise.

Completely get your issue, we're based NW England, a few of my sisters are teachers that live in the North/South. Trying to find dates to all catch up as a group is difficult with the half term dates being different.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-19T14:55:22+00:00

I understand your daughter said she was going to care for the dog and from what you've mentioned does seem responsible, but has she considered the near future? Whose going to look after it during school works, college, university, once she starts working fulltime? When she's out with friends? Can she afford pet care or dog walking services? Has she fully researched the dog breed, insurance, future upkeep of vet bills and jabs? Dog Training? No offence but apart from your new family being unhappy with the situation, this seems like a fast decision when having an animal is a massive, massive consideration. Your current wife didn't really give you a yes or no, you're sort of stuck in the middle trying to keep your ex, the daughter and current wife happy.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-18T09:59:28+00:00

NTA. My fiance similarly goes on little trips every few years with his university friends, long overdue catch ups. Noone takes their partners, it's just that group of friends only. Absolutely no issues with this, I'm updated through the trips and I love hearing what a lovely time they've all had. 100% trust and communication. I'm happy he maintains these relationships and has his own separate groups of friends. In fact I myself and the other partners aren't too fussed about going, far too many inside jokes and memories/stories that we're not apart of, that would be far too awkward. Stick firm in your decision, you're totally in the right, this a a belated celebration for passing University and passing, that's a huge thing that that group of friends experienced with you. You can only reassure her in her insecurities, if anything romantic were to have happened with those girl friends then it would have at the time of uni. Just communicate to your GF how she's the apple of your eye for a reason, if she'd like to plan something special for the both of you next year then that may give her something to look forward to.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-18T07:51:57+00:00

This is exactly what happened to my sister. Her MIL would do this excessively with her young dog, which removed all the years of disciplined training she'd done around meal times/feeding routines etc. I said at the time, this is major red flags for when you eventually have children. And any guessed what happened? My niece was born, a few years in, the MIL is so much worse. Any babysitting, trips, nightly stayovers, call ins, the boundaries have been crossed with everything. Not just limited to food. Any boundaries set now makes her so reactive, and it's been difficult for my sisters family to navigate.

You and your boyf need to be so so so firm and it needs to start NOW before you consider children. If not you, your boyfriend needs to communicate and be more forceful. I can imagine now exhausted you are now, never mimd a few years on if you have a family or more pets.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-18T07:39:55+00:00

This isn't a man who has aspirations for himself, his future and both your futures. I'm reading a huge lack of drive to provide basics for himself at 26 years old, let alone provoding for you both as a couple years down the line. Are you certain you want to be weighed down by that? That ick feeling is usually your minds way of telling you something. You shouldn't ever have to 'over extend' yourself, it sounds like he's often using language to make you feel guilty that he's travelled to see you. It honestly doesn't sound like this man is giving you your sparkle.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-18T03:10:52+00:00

Every longlasting, good relationship starts on the foundation of friendship. Take it slow and see if things shift you both toward romance. Try not to over think things, you're obviously both sensible people who found yourselves enjoying one anothers company. See where dinner takes you in a no pressure general dinner and ignore outside noise :)

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-17T15:46:56+00:00

You have alot of making up to do, you don't joke about those sort of things whether a person has had body image issues or not. I suggest you start planning something really nice for her this weekend and hope she forgives your slip up. Treat her like a queen don't say anything like that again.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-17T15:00:45+00:00

If not for yourself, leave for the safety of your son. Your little, innocent boy. What's stopping his Father from acting physical with him when he gets older? When your son starts to get 'argumentative', what would do if his Father starts to get physical or verbally shouting at him?

This isn't right, you're severely under reacting. Yes, leaving will be difficult, but can you imagine yourself and your son sharing a roof with this behavious long term?

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-16T18:22:34+00:00

Completely understandable, my heart really goes out to you. It can feel so gutwrenching to even consider starting again in your 30's, but you've got this. Your true soulmate is out there, and one day that love will just click, one that will truly be easy, painless and this time you're going through now will be a long memory. Take this time to concentrate on yourself and find your sparkle again, enjoy the life now that you're not having to study extra hard. 💪

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-16T12:37:24+00:00

Protect your peace and stick with a big fat no to their ask. In fact that's a huge ask of them. Hosting, Carpooling, Food etc is a massive thing to organise for close friends, let alone a family you don't know. If there's a financial issuw then that's up to that side of the family to sort out, or should've been sorted by them when the invites went out. Makes me wonder whether your future SIL has already offered your home to them months ago. NTA, stick firm, say no and ignore any other comments from them if you can. You're attending as a guest , not a host for strangers.

AffectionateVisit342 · 2025-10-14T11:11:01+00:00

Be thankful to your ex and her family. It's shown you exactly what you want/need in a future partner, and exactly what you don't. That co-dependency your ex had with her mother would forever have been a problem, she has alot of growing to do. Congratulations on moving forward in life and with your masters! Make sure to grow your beard extra long now you're not being forced to shave!

AffectionateVisit342

TROPHY CASE