Woman Was Asked to Be a Bridesmaid at Her Cousin’s Wedding, But a Practical Joke Gone Wrong Pushed Her Into a Choice That Shook the Family.

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The Original Poster (OP), a bridesmaid at her cousin’s wedding, finds herself embroiled in a family controversy ignited by a seemingly innocent April Fools’ prank that outlined outrageous demands for the wedding party. OP, still stung by the distasteful joke, steps down from her role as a bridesmaid, a move that triggers a family uproar. As the wedding day looms, can the family bridge their differences, or will the joyous occasion be marred by the lingering discord?

The Proposal

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OP, a 26-year-old woman, was excitedly chosen by her cousin to be a bridesmaid at her upcoming wedding. The Maid of Honor was to be her 32-year-old sister, and they were joined by three more bridesmaids. The wedding was scheduled for April 1st of the following year.

The Unexpected Email

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Exactly one year before the wedding date, the bride-to-be sent a document to the bridesmaid group chat containing a series of surprising responsibilities, rules, and regulations for the bridal party. This included a picture of an unattractive, expensive bridesmaid dress that OP and others were expected to wear. It quickly became a source of discontent for OP.

The Weight Issue

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OP became angry as the bride insisted that anyone above a size eight must lose weight for the wedding, while she herself was a size 12. OP, who was a size 10, felt this was unreasonable. Even if she were to start dieting now, there was no guarantee that she would be the desired size by the time of the wedding.

The Tanning Ban

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One of the strange rules stated none of the bridesmaids could be tanner than the bride, forbidding them from spending significant time in the sun for a year. This bizarre condition was another layer of restriction that frustrated OP.

The Haircut Rule

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Adding to the growing list of demands, the bride wanted to have the longest hair amongst her bridesmaids. The bridesmaids were told to cut their hair shoulder-length or shorter, a condition that OP found to be overstepping.

Comically Overstepping

The bride announced a desire for a choreographed dance at her wedding and insisted on compulsory three-hour dance classes every Sunday until the wedding. The document also stated that the bride wished to have her bachelorette party in Paris, and all bridesmaids were required to chip in $3,000.

Ignoring the Group Chat

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Due to her mounting frustration, OP muted the group chat without finishing the document and decided to withdraw from the wedding party, although she kept silent about her intentions at first.

The Prank Revealed

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The following day, OP discovered that the outrageous demands were a prank by the bride. The document had an “April Fools” sign at the end, but OP had stopped reading due to her anger and didn’t find out until later.

The Divided Opinions

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While the other bridesmaids found the prank hilarious, OP was deeply upset and felt disrespected by the joke. She conveyed her feelings to the bride, who apologized but could not mend the damage that had been done.

The Fallout

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Despite the bride’s apology, OP still felt angry months after the prank and decided to step down from her bridesmaid role. This decision was due to the mean-spirited nature of the prank, which was still very much a thorn in her side.

The Repercussions

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OP’s decision to leave the wedding party upset her cousin, the bride, and caused an uproar among the bridal party and some family members. They bombarded OP’s phone, insisting she was overreacting to what they considered an “innocent prank.”

The Disagreement

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OP firmly believed that a prank is only funny if the recipient finds it amusing, which she clearly did not. This caused a deep rift between her and her cousin, resulting in increased tension within the family.

The Wedding Date

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As the wedding date approached, the division caused by the prank continued to create a tense atmosphere within the family. Feeling betrayed by OP’s decision, the bride refused to reconsider her actions.

The Unexpected Apology

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OP’s sister, the Maid of Honor, feeling the stress of the upcoming wedding and the ongoing family discord, extended an olive branch to OP, asking her to reconsider her decision. However, OP was still hurt by the insensitivity of the prank and stood by her decision.

Was The Bridesmaid’s Behavior Appropriate?

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OP posted her story online for feedback and perspective. The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “Even if it wasn’t the best prank in the world, it still was a harmless prank: done on April’s Fool, with a mention this is a prank in the document itself, and no one specifically targeted. It was a group prank.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote, “The prank wasn’t at the expense of anyone else, and no one was the butt of the joke. It also literally said on the bottom: April Fools’ Day. It was sent on April Fools’ Day, which I would be suspicious of immediately. OP, you are overreacting.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person stated, “No one was supposed to be hurt, done on April Fools’ Day, and I suppose it was a prank meant to throw some shade on bridezillas. OP took it too personally and held a grudge.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another reader commented, “Get over it. Especially since there were clear signals it was a joke, like the fact that the bride’s a bigger dress size than an eight and that it was April 1st.”