Bride Is ‘Heartbroken’ After Maid of Honor Unexpectedly Tells Her She Can’t Attend Wedding

• A bride-to-be says she was “heartbroken” to find out that her best friend, who was set to serve as her maid of honor, can no longer attend her wedding in July
• The friend recently got accepted into a graduate program and is required to be at a mandatory orientation the same weekend as the wedding
• The bride asked Reddit users for ideas on how to include her best friend on her big day even though she can’t physically be there

A bride-to-be is feeling crushed and disappointed after hearing that her maid of honor can no longer attend her wedding due to a mandatory school commitment.

In a post on Reddit‘s “Wedding Planning” forum, the bride shared how she now has to get married “without” her “best friend in the world” by her side.

As the woman explained, she got engaged in August 2023 and will celebrate her wedding in July after “23 months of planning and excitement.” But with the big day just three months away, the bride recently discovered that her maid of honor is being required to attend a mandatory orientation weekend after getting accepted into her “top grad school program.”

The orientation just so happens to fall on her wedding weekend.

“She went all the way to the program director to ask for an excuse, and was straight up told that being the MOH and having committed two years to a wedding isn’t a good enough excuse to miss the orientation weekend,” the bride wrote of her maid of honor.

“Y’all, I’m so upset about it. Of course, I am 100% for her missing my wedding for this huge opportunity. I support the decision regardless of my feelings,” the bride continued. “But I just can’t understand what is so important in an orientation that can’t be relayed at an earlier or later time when needed. I’m super upset at the situation and at the school itself for being this strict. I’m completely heartbroken.”

The bride added that “it doesn’t feel right” to ask someone else to step into the maid of honor role — as her best friend will still be holding the title regardless.

“[She will be a part] of everything except having a physical presence the day of,” the bride wrote. “If anyone has any good ideas on how to include her in the wedding day without her being there, please share.”

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Reddit users came through with a number of helpful suggestions — from orchestrating a maid of honor speech via video call to live streaming the wedding ceremony for her friend. Someone even threw out the idea of the bride bringing a life-size cardboard cutout of her friend to the wedding so that her presence can be felt.

“At the rehearsal dinner a Zoom video MOH speech? Could bring a smart TV and do it on it,” one commenter recommended, to which the OP replied, “That’s a good idea! I would love to have her Zoom in or even if she can’t, have a recorded speech.”

“You’re a great friend for being so supportive,” another person commented. “Yes, don’t pick a new MOH. There is no need for that. Anyone present at the wedding can sign the marriage license. Maybe stream the wedding live for her.”

Yet another Reddit user pointed out to the bride that while having her best friend there is “so important,” she ultimately “will still feel all that love from her even from afar.”

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