I (29F) recently got married to my husband (30M) in a beautiful, intimate ceremony. It was a dream come true—we spent over a year planning every detail, and the day was everything I hoped for… except for one issue.
My sister (26F) has a 3-year-old daughter, Lily. Months before the wedding, I gently asked my sister if she could consider leaving Lily with a babysitter for the evening. I explained that the ceremony and reception were going to be formal, and I wasn’t sure it would be the best environment for a toddler. I even offered to help find and pay for a babysitter. However, my sister insisted that Lily would be fine and on her best behavior. Not wanting to cause tension, I reluctantly let it go.
Fast forward to the wedding day. Initially, everything was fine. Lily was a little excited but manageable. However, during dinner, she started getting fussy and restless. My sister gave her a tablet to keep her occupied, but it didn’t help. Lily became increasingly whiny, refused to stay seated, and started wandering around the reception area. The distraction became noticeable, with guests whispering about the noise and how hard it was to hear the speeches over Lily’s fussing.
After about 20 minutes, I decided to approach my sister. I politely asked if she could take Lily outside for a walk or find a quiet spot to calm her down. My sister brushed me off, saying, “She’s just a kid. She’ll be fine.”
Unfortunately, things escalated. As the evening continued, Lily began walking around the tables, interrupting conversations. At that point, I felt the need to address it again. I told my sister—calmly and politely—that while I loved her and Lily, it might be best if she took Lily home since she wasn’t settling down. I wanted to preserve the atmosphere of the wedding I’d worked so hard to create.
My sister was furious. She accused me of being dramatic and uptight, saying that I should’ve been more understanding. She told me I was “ruining my own day” by letting something so minor bother me. Despite her anger, she eventually left with Lily, but we didn’t speak for the rest of the night.
Since the wedding, tension has lingered. My mom and some family members think I overreacted and should’ve just let it go, arguing that toddlers being fussy is normal and no big deal. Others, including my husband, believe I had every right to ask my sister to leave if her child was disrupting the event.
Now my sister isn’t speaking to me, and some family members think I made a mountain out of a molehill. I still feel like I was justified in my request, but the backlash has left me questioning myself.
So, AITA for asking my sister to leave my wedding after her toddler wouldn’t settle down?
