Reason Why Gen Zer Refuses To Be Sister's Bridesmaid Cheered: 'Selfish'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A woman has taken to social media to reveal the circumstances that led to her backing out of being one of her sister's bridesmaids.
In a post shared to Reddit under the handle u/Smart-Gas3600, a 24-year-old woman revealed she had been "excited" when her older sister asked her to be one of her bridesmaids. That changed when she found out who the rest of the bridal party were.
Jen Glantz is a professional bridesmaid. She works 30 to 50 weddings a year, with the cost of her services starting at around $2,500 per wedding and going up from there based on other aspects of the role required.
She knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a good bridesmaid.
A stock image shows a bridesmaid wiping away a tear.
A stock image shows a bridesmaid wiping away a tear.
kkshepel/Getty
Glantz told Newsweek: "If you are a bridesmaid, you really have to make sure that you're putting some of your needs second. I often see bridesmaids crying and screaming because they don't like the way that they look on the wedding day."
She said: "As a bridesmaid, try to be as easygoing as possible and try not to give in to drama during the wedding process."
Everyone has their limits though and Glantz believes "having boundaries" is key.
"Before you say yes to a wedding, ask the bride what is required of you specifically," she said. "Being very clear about expectations before you accept the role is key, that way you won't end up resenting the bride."
Given Glantz's stance, it's perhaps understandable that the woman posting to Reddit as u/Smart-Gas3600 would say no to her sister after learning who she had recruited to be bridesmaids.
"Every single one of them is someone she's either not that close to, or has made fun of before for being 'awkward' or 'not photogenic,'" the Redditor explained. "Some of her actual best friends — the ones who she sees all the time — weren't even asked."
When the woman asked her sister about why she had chosen such an unusual group of women to be bridesmaids, her sibling told her: "You'll understand when it's your wedding. You don't want people who'll outshine you in your own pictures."
When the woman asked her: "So you picked them because you think they'll make you look better?" Her sister rolled her eyes, telling her: "It's not that deep. I just want to feel confident that day, and I'm allowed to be a little selfish for my wedding."
That response left the sister enraged.
"I told her I didn't want to be part of a bridal party built on tearing other people down," she wrote. "She should've picked people she actually cares about."
Now the bride-to-be is calling her sister "judgemental and sensitive" while her mom accused her of being "too idealistic" and urged her to support her on her big day. The internet, however, disagreed.
One user commenting on the post on Reddit said: "Why would you want to feel self-conscious and ugly all day just to make your shallow, selfish sister feel better."
Another agreed, writing: "I wanted my bridesmaids to look beautiful and confident. I felt beautiful being surrounded by beautiful people that loved me. It did not ever occur to me to surround myself with ugliness to match my insides."
A third added: "It's not being judgmental to have some basic decency. She's literally picking people based on looks, that's way more shallow. Just 'cause it's family doesn't mean you have to go along with something that feels messed up."
Newsweek reached out to u/Smart-Gas3600 but is unable to verify the details of her story.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
27 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Mom and Dad of 4 Used To Do Weekends Together—Then Realized Their Mistake
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Two parents from Oklahoma City are going viral for how they get some much-needed time alone. Marek Cornett, 41, told Newsweek it was one of the "best things" she and husband Casey, 42, have done for their marriage, parenting and mental health. In a reel on Instagram (@marekcornett), the mom of four boys, including a set of triplets, explained the system: on Saturdays, she wakes up with the kids, while Casey sleeps in and enjoys a free morning until 2:30 p.m. to nap time. From left: Marek Cornett, 41, enjoys her alone time while sipping a coffee and reading. From left: Marek Cornett, 41, enjoys her alone time while sipping a coffee and reading. @marekcornett On Sundays, the couple reverse roles. Each partner gets one long stretch of uninterrupted time to recharge, followed by full family afternoons and evenings. Marek said that the idea was born after a particularly demanding season for her and Casey. "I ran for office in 2023," she said. "While I was campaigning, my husband had large stretches of time when he was home with them solo. Once the campaign wrapped, he tossed out the idea of swapping weekend days." Before the change, weekends felt like an extension of weekday chaos. "We'd both try to rest, both try to parent, and end up feeling like we were doing neither well," Marek said. "We were constantly 'on,' constantly negotiating, and constantly tired." The swap helped them reset expectations and take actual time for themselves. Knowing that there was a break on the way for them both was a key component. "It's improved our marriage because it removes resentment or silent scorekeeping," Marek said. "And for our mental health, just knowing that a block of time is coming—to read, run errands alone, sit in silence—makes a huge difference," she continued. "It doesn't require money or child care, just intention." Marek's reel went viral on the platform, amassing more than 4.5 million views and over 20,000 likes. Hundreds of parents commented on the clip, sharing that they also have a similar parenting arrangement. "My wife and I swap every morning during the week and weekend, it's the best and works great for us!!" one user wrote. "We did that when the babies were little. It was a game changer for our family," added a second. Marek said she has even seen couples trying it out and sharing how much they enjoy solo time with their kids—and solo time without them. Many have reached out with practical questions, like how to handle the swap during sports seasons or when housework piles up. "I've been able to help guide with what we do in those instances as well," Marek said. She added that the time alone isn't just about physical rest—it is also about mental relief. "Because without it, you carry a mental load 24/7," Marek said. "Even when you're 'off,' you're not really off—you're listening for the baby monitor; you're mentally planning dinner; you're half-watching the kids while trying to recharge. "Guilt-free alone time lets you turn your brain off," she continued. "It reminds you that you're still a person, not just a parent. And when you come back to your kids, you come back full—not running on fumes."
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Spa Employee Fed Up With Unfixed Leak Does the Heroic Thing: 'Didn't Want To Wait'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A spa esthetician from Central Florida has been applauded for reporting her employer to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after they failed to fix a leak. The 21-year-old employee and original poster (OP), user Successful-Grass-135, took to Reddit to explain her decision, noting that their building "isn't in the best shape". "Our building had an issue, can't remember if it was the roof or the AC unit, but water was leaking into the ceiling and causing water damage," the OP wrote. "We had to remove and replace several ceiling tiles before." Recently, another ceiling tile had fallen off, and water was "pouring" from the hole. However, their employer's response left the OP and her coworkers stunned. Stock image of a clipboard holding an OSHA report. Stock image of a clipboard holding an OSHA report. Photo by designer491 / Getty Images "They put a garbage bin underneath the 'leak' and called it a day," the OP recounted. "We started calling it our 'tranquility waterfall' as a joke. "Imagine taking your client back for what's supposed to be a relaxing service, and you first have to pass the obnoxiously loud cascade of water flowing into an industrial-sized garbage can." Management reportedly dismissed concerns, even as water damage crept into massage rooms. "Some therapists were worried a ceiling tile might fall on them or a client during a service," the OP noted, adding that the entire building smelled like mildew because water had already seeped into the carpet. 'We had to shut down' Concerned for her coworkers' safety and that of their clients, the OP filed a complaint on OSHA's website, expecting it would take up to 30 days. "A few days later... I overheard my managers in the office talking about OSHA," she wrote. "We had to shut down for a few days, everything got fixed, thankfully." Following the inspection, mold inspectors were brought in, and one massage room was fully gutted and renovated. No Regrets "No one was complaining afterwards since the room was much nicer than it was before," she added. Though she never revealed to coworkers that it was her complaint, the OP stood by her actions. "I tell myself that if I hadn't done it, eventually someone else would've. Better sooner than later." Reddit Reacts More than 100 Reddit users took to the comments to applaud the OP, with one writing, "Never be ashamed to aim sunshine at the dark." "Girl, you're literally a hero!" another added. "That could've seriously hurt someone. Don't feel bad about doing the right thing." Some users, however, urged some caution. "I agree you did the right thing," one Redditor wrote. "I still wouldn't tell people at work because management seemed fine with the situation as it was, and may retaliate because of the work and money they had to put in to remedy a disgusting work environment. "This is why OSHA allows anonymous complaints." 'My managers would probably be a little annoyed' In a message to Newsweek, the OP noted that she is "pretty well liked by my managers and coworkers, so I don't think they'd ever go so far as to fire me for it, but my managers would probably be a little annoyed if they knew it was me." "Reddit was helpful, and people have been very nice and supportive about it, which makes me feel better about what I did," she added. Workplace Woes Employees who take steps to ensure their employers are being treated correctly are often backed online. In one incident reported by Newsweek, a Gen Z employee was applauded for refusing to work on her day off after half her team was laid off, even though her boss questioned her "reliability" and said she wasn't a team player. Patrice Williams-Lindo, a workplace futurist and work expert, told the publication, "Let's be clear: 'team player' is one of the most weaponized phrases in the modern workplace." In another example covered by Newsweek, a worker contacted HR after her new boss reported her for taking what she believed was too much paid time off. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek. To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Killer Whales Attack Boat Again
Two French sailors were rescued off the coast of northern Spain after their boat was rammed by orcas. They were taken safely to shore by the Spanish coastguard after the killer whales attacked their boat's rudder around two miles from the town of Deba, near Bilbao, according to several local media reports. A pod of orcas made headlines in 2023 for their repeated attacks off the Strait of Gibraltar at Spain's southern tip. Rescuers have said orca attacks like this are uncommon in the Basque region, close to France, where they had never before been called to assist in such circumstances. This has sparked questions about whether this is a one-off or the start of more attacks. The recurrence of these encounters is raising questions about animal behavior, the risks for boaters, and the future of human-orca interactions in a rapidly changing sea environment. Newsweek has contacted the Spanish coastguard, via email, for comment. On July 21 two French sailors were rescued off the coast of Deba, in Spain's Basque Country after their 10-meter yacht lost steering following an encounter with two killer whales, said the sources, including Cadena SER. According to the Spanish maritime safety agency Salvamento Marítimo, the sailors issued a distress call when their rudder was broken, leaving them adrift, though they did not take on water. The rescue vessel Salvamar Orión towed them safely to the port of Getaria. Researchers and sailors have reported a pattern of orcas approaching from behind and targeting boat rudders. If the vessel is immobilized, the whales often lose interest. British wildlife conservation professor Volker Deecke warned British sailors to be cautious, especially in orca hotspots like the "orca alley" of the Strait of Gibraltar. "For some unknown reason, the killer whales have developed a penchant for breaking the rudders of sailboats and once they have achieved this, they leave the boat alone," he told The Telegraph. Orcas have been causing problems for years in the Strait of Gibraltar and around the Iberian coast, but these attacks have intensified and spread in recent years. Data shows the attacks peaking in 2022 and making headlines in 2023 but have been common since 2020. Captain Dan Kriz, who has been ambushed at least twice by the same pod of orcas, previously told Newsweek: "There is not much one can do. They are very powerful and smart … First time, we could hear them communicating under the boat. This time, they were quiet, and it didn't take them that long to destroy both rudders. Looks like they knew exactly what they are doing. They didn't touch anything else." Biologist Alfredo López Fernandez, from the University of Aveiro in Portugal and a representative of the Grupo de Trabajo Orca Atlántica (Atlantic Orca Working Group), previously told LiveScience: "The orcas are doing this on purpose, of course, we don't know the origin or the motivation, but defensive behavior based on trauma, as the origin of all this, gains more strength for us every day." Spanish authorities continue to monitor incidents, issue advisories during peak activity periods from May to August, and advocate boaters' compliance with best-practice guidelines to avoid escalating confrontations. Scientists remain divided on the causes behind this pattern, proposing theories from learned behavior due to trauma, playful social learning, or even practice for hunting. Both researchers and conservationists continue to emphasize the importance of protecting the endangered orca subpopulation while safeguarding sailors. Increased surveillance, further study, and public education campaigns are anticipated as both communities seek sustainable coexistence. Related Articles Viewers in Awe at What Man Spots on Relaxing Stroll Along Vancouver BayKiller Whales Caught Harvesting Organs From Largest Fish in the SeaOrca Matriarch Seen Throwing Dolphin Into Air During HuntOrca Ship Attacks Spark New Danger Map and Safety Guidelines 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
