Bride Excludes Cousin From Her Wedding Because She Doesn't Want Her Service Dog During Her Special Day

The bride and her cousin used to be close, but the wife-to-be distanced herself once her cousin got a service dog

Chelsi

• Published in Animal Stories
• August 18, 2023

A controversial Reddit post divides the Am I The A**hole community every so often. The OP is judged to be technically right to make a choice but morally flawed for doing so.

These Reddit posts are the most interesting ones to keep tabs on. One such post made the rounds a few months ago.

The 27-year-old OP was in the last stages of planning her 90-person wedding. She and her fiancé are financing the whole event and, thus, control every aspect of it.

One of the people who didn't make the guest list when the couple trimmed down was OP's cousin. She was excluded from the event because she had a service dog.

They had a close relationship growing up that OP even considered asking her to be a bridesmaid. OP stopped hanging out with her cousin when she got a PTSD service dog when they were college-age.

OP claimed not to know the specifics of why her cousin needs a service dog. More than that, OP is not fond of dogs, and her relatives are aware of that.

Once the wedding invites were sent out, OP's cousin sent her a message asking why she didn't receive an invitation. OP said she had to lessen their guests, and she simply didn't make the cut.

Her cousin was confused because she knew how close they used to be and kept asking OP for the real reason why she wasn't invited

OP finally came clean and admitted that she didn't want any dog at her wedding

Her cousin took a whole day to finally day to process OP's reply

OP finally told her that she is free to come to the wedding, but she can't bring her service dog with her

Her cousin called to yell at OP for being ableist. Some relatives heard what happened and backed out from attending OP's wedding. Her mom is on her side because it's ultimately up to OP and her fiancé who they wish to invite to their ceremony.

OP's post does reek of ableism and Redditors challenged her views through helpful questions like this one

Distancing yourself from a cousin you were close because she suffered something traumatic which led to her need of a service dog is major a**hole behavior

This goes past beyong pet preferences, OP. A service dog is not like any regular pet either. They are medical aids and your cousin can't simply leave her service animal behind so you won't look like an ass on your wedding day.

Well, looks like OP has some rearranging to do after a few relatives rescinded their RSVPs

I doubt if OP's cousin would even want to associate with her after this

Is OP worried that a working animal will take attention away from her?

That petty invite was just OP's attempt to save face and assuage any guilt she might have felt over the discriminatory wedding invitation

Right? OP is basically punishing her cousin, whom she claimed to love, for having trauma

OP doesn't need to know what her cousin went through for her to have compassion and empathy. OP's just heartless.

OP's only concern was her dislike for dogs and that she's technically within her right who can attend her wedding because she's paying for it

How is a service animal going to disrupt a wedding when its working?

I highly doubt if OP learned anything from her post

If the OP thought she would have Reddit's sympathy, she massively miscalculated. Well, OP showed her true colors.

Her cousin doesn't have to wonder anymore why OP suddenly distanced herself from her. May OP have the wedding day she deserves.

Chelsi