Weddings have a way of bringing families and friends together, but ironically, they can also end up tearing them apart.
Sometimes the special occasion is an excuse to mend patches between old friends and relatives, but for one bride named Alex, she might have just lost a friend, Courtney Duffy, for good.
Courtney, who is currently pursuing her MBA at Dartmouth, was asked to be a bridesmaid in Alex's wedding. As we all know, when someone chooses you to be a part of their big day, it means they think of you as a good friend or who knows, maybe they're hoping to take advantage of your ability to help plan the wedding.
But for this story, we're going to assume that Courtney and Alex have been good friends prior to their recent wedding-related fallout.
Even though Courtney lives across the country in New Hampshire, she still accepted the invitation to be a part of the bridal party.
However, as the wedding day approached and the festivities began, Courtney was forced to adjust her busy schedule in order to participate in some of the activities, including a bachelorette weekend.
Courtney soon realized that she couldn't be there for the full experience that Alex wanted, and could only book a flight for the evening of the ceremony.
While Alex seemed to have given it some thought before responding, the passive-aggressive email she sent to Courtney asking her "to relinquish" her "duties as a bridesmaid" was painfully awkward. Especially the part where she asked for the bridesmaid outfit to be mailed back so someone else could have it.
Hey!
I'm so glad to hear you booked flights! I'm sorry classes are taking such a long time to sort out. I know how hard you're working to be here for the wedding and it means so much to us!
I have a massive favor to ask you, though - and this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to ask anyone - but I need to ask you to relinquish your duties as a bridesmaid.
Come to the wedding, have a fabulous time, and travel in the time you need to without stressing about anything else!
When I asked you, I was really hoping that you could be a part of this whole thing - the bachelorette trip, at least the weekend, prep and the full night of the event (a Sunday night flight means you won't even be able to be there for the whole wedding)... the whirlwind nature of what your travel has become just won't work with the duties as a party member. I'm so, so sorry!!
Please don't feel you're letting me down, I am asking you to do this. I love you and value your friendship so much and I fully understand the need for you to prioritize school! I want you to be able to focus on that without also worrying about any extra wedding worries.
And I know this is incredibly awkward, but there is a possibility that I might be able to have someone else step into the role and assume the duties. Could you please mail the jumpsuit to me? I'll Venmo you the postage and the cost of the jumpsuit - just let me know the total.
I know everyone is looking forward to seeing you there! I know I am!
And if you'd like to chat on the phone, let me know! I promise we're totally cool!
All my love,
Alex
Courtney shared the correspondence on Twitter and asked JetBlue, the airline she booked her flight with, to refund the tickets.
"SOS JetBlue! Booked my X-C flights for a wedding, then was asked "˜to relinquish' my "˜duties as a bridesmaid' & mail my bridesmaid outfit X-C so another girl could fill in and wear it (Happy bday to me!)," she wrote. "I am laughing & crying & must avoid this wedding at all costs. Pls help?"
It wasn't after that JetBlue replied to Courtney's tweet promising to give her tickets for a "future girls' weekend" when she and the bride-to-be are "ready to patch things up."
Hey Courtney, we've been thinking. The jumpsuit may have been borrowed, but we'll bring the (Jet)Blue. When you're ready to patch things up, we'd like to help make your old friendship feel like new. A future girls' weekend is on us!
— JetBlue Airways (@JetBlue) July 28, 2018
People on the internet also responded to Courtney's post, but the opinions were divided.
There were those who agreed that Courtney had every right to be angry and doesn't have to return the jumpsuit at all.
There really aren't any except for the maid of honor, who has some stuff. You just show up sober and say nice things, and maybe run an errand if that's necessary. This is really "U aren't putting down ur entire life for my wedding, so eff u, but in a passive aggressive way."
— Odette Roulette (@odetteroulette) July 27, 2018
girl you keep that jumpsuit and do a photoshoot in it
— Molly Priddy (@mollypriddy) July 27, 2018
Bridesmaids *should* be there for the entire wedding festivities??? Try "Bridesmaids are invited to the entire wedding festivities. It's an honor, not a summons. God forbid life duties could take precedence. 👿👿👿👿👿
— Benedict the Mad 🤡🎈 (@benedictthemad) July 28, 2018
Then there were those who sided with the bride and applauded her for having the courage to send the email.
I'm a woman. I don't see how email is bad. At 18 my bff was supposed to room with me in college but changed her mind and wrote me a similar email. I wasn't mad. I didn't take it personal and nobody was being rude or mean.
— Ricki Spanish (@GisEloquent) July 27, 2018
i respect the hell out of this bride, go hard or don't go at all https://t.co/K80mox1ph2
— will defries (@WilldeFries) July 28, 2018
Judging by everything that has happened, it might be a while before Courtney and Alex take JetBlue up on their offer, but we hope someday they'll be able to look back and laugh about it all.
Who do you think is in the wrong, Alex or Courtney? Let us know in the comments!
