
'It tore my heart apart': The pain of being the guest, never the bridesmaid
'Everyone kept asking me why I hadn't been chosen.'
In a recent podcast episode, hosts delved into a deeply relatable and often unspoken emotional experience: being a close friend consistently invited to weddings, yet never asked to be a bridesmaid. One host candidly shared her personal journey, revealing the profound impact this recurring situation has had on her. "I've been in many, many, many friendships where I've always been the friend, never the bridesmaid," she stated, emphasizing that her feelings were not a critique of her friends' choices but rather a personal struggle. She further explained that she has cried at weddings, not out of joy for the couple, but from a longing to be included in the bridal party. "It hasn't been because I'm crying with happiness of them getting married, it's actually I wish that I was their bridesmaid," she admitted, highlighting the complex emotions involved. The host even disclosed that she has had "multiple therapy sessions" to process these feelings, underscoring the significant emotional toll of feeling quietly left out. This segment sheds light on the often-overlooked emotional nuances within friendships during significant life events like weddings.
'Everyone kept asking me why I hadn't been chosen.'