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Being forced to go on stag do

My little sister is getting married in June and my future brother in laws stag do is planned for Madrid on Easter weekend. When the stag do was first mentioned last year I decided there and then I wouldn’t be going as because 1. It’s too expensive 2. It’ll be three weeks before my little boys first birthday and 3. I just don’t want to go anyway. My future brother in law is 8 years younger than me and we have absolutely nothing in common. Whilst he’s still into going out and drinking himself into oblivion I long out grew that.

My parents came round this morning and the topic of the stag do came up. I just told them I’m not going because I can’t afford it but they just failed to understand my point of view. To the point they basically said they’ll pay for me to go to which I said don’t waste your money on something I don’t want to do but they just ignored me. So now I’m being forced to go on this stag do when it’s going to be expensive when I’m there and both me and my girlfriend will have to take time off work so that I can go on this stag do and so that my girlfriend can stay off work to look after him.

What should I do? I really really don’t want to go but have essentially been forced to go by my parents. They won’t accept no for an answer and won’t respect me for saying the money I’ll spend in Madrid could be better spent going towards a family holiday for me, my girlfriend and our little boy.

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I mean, you’re an adult so just explain that whilst money was a factor, you’d decided not to attend for other reasons as well. Tell them to give the money to the newlyweds if it’s burning a hole in their pocket.

Reply 2

Original post
by Anonymous
My little sister is getting married in June and my future brother in laws stag do is planned for Madrid on Easter weekend. When the stag do was first mentioned last year I decided there and then I wouldn’t be going as because 1. It’s too expensive 2. It’ll be three weeks before my little boys first birthday and 3. I just don’t want to go anyway. My future brother in law is 8 years younger than me and we have absolutely nothing in common. Whilst he’s still into going out and drinking himself into oblivion I long out grew that.
My parents came round this morning and the topic of the stag do came up. I just told them I’m not going because I can’t afford it but they just failed to understand my point of view. To the point they basically said they’ll pay for me to go to which I said don’t waste your money on something I don’t want to do but they just ignored me. So now I’m being forced to go on this stag do when it’s going to be expensive when I’m there and both me and my girlfriend will have to take time off work so that I can go on this stag do and so that my girlfriend can stay off work to look after him.
What should I do? I really really don’t want to go but have essentially been forced to go by my parents. They won’t accept no for an answer and won’t respect me for saying the money I’ll spend in Madrid could be better spent going towards a family holiday for me, my girlfriend and our little boy.

Well first of all you tried to address it but in doing so you buried the lead. You suggested your reasons for not going was financial rather than the truth. The real bottom line is you don't want to and you should of started with that

Reply 3

Original post
by Stormgrad
Well first of all you tried to address it but in doing so you buried the lead. You suggested your reasons for not going was financial rather than the truth. The real bottom line is you don't want to and you should of started with that

They are both reasons I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go in the first place and I don’t really have the free money.

Reply 4

It sounds like your role in going, from your sister's and parent's point of view is to observe proceedings.
And to report back if your possible future brother in law gets up to anything too outlandish.

That's an important role. And one where your sister and parents may not be able to turn to anyone else to do this.

You could even act as an agent provocateur. And encourage him to do stuff, "Don't be boring!!", and see if he bites.

Or they may be looking for you to be a calming influence on him, "Nah, that's a bad idea, let's do this instead!!"

Sometimes doing the right thing and stepping up to the plate involves you going the extra mile for the people you love.

Reply 5

Original post
by Dunnig Kruger
It sounds like your role in going, from your sister's and parent's point of view is to observe proceedings.
And to report back if your possible future brother in law gets up to anything too outlandish.
That's an important role. And one where your sister and parents may not be able to turn to anyone else to do this.
You could even act as an agent provocateur. And encourage him to do stuff, "Don't be boring!!", and see if he bites.
Or they may be looking for you to be a calming influence on him, "Nah, that's a bad idea, let's do this instead!!"
Sometimes doing the right thing and stepping up to the plate involves you going the extra mile for the people you love.

My dad is going too. I just feel like I’m being forced to go because “he’s my future brother in law” yet him and my sister have made zero effort to visit my little boy since he’s been born. They’ve visited us once but he has had another nephew who was born 7 weeks after our little boy was born and they visit him every week.

Reply 6

In that case your role may be to act as chaperone / minder for your Dad and future brother in law.
And to report back to your sister and mum what they got up to.

Your Dad may feel that he'd strongly prefer to have your company, instead of him being the single elder gentleman there.
And that it may be an opportunity to bond with you.

Reply 7

Original post
by Anonymous
They are both reasons I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go in the first place and I don’t really have the free money.

I get that but you not wanting to isn't something that can be fixed
At the end of the day they’re not going to frogmarch you onto a plane with a hood over your head.
If you're that set on not going, then just don't go.

Reply 10

Original post
by Admit-One
At the end of the day they’re not going to frogmarch you onto a plane with a hood over your head.

That is basically what is going to happen. My dad has said he is paying for me to go so now I have to go apparently. This however has now opened a whole can of worms where my parents are saying I am out of order for not wanting to go and I have told them they are out of order for being so controlling.

Reply 11

Original post
by Anonymous
That is basically what is going to happen. My dad has said he is paying for me to go so now I have to go apparently. This however has now opened a whole can of worms where my parents are saying I am out of order for not wanting to go and I have told them they are out of order for being so controlling.


At the end of the day you have to decide whether your preference for not going is going to cause more hassle than it's worth. I'm going to guess there's some mad Asian/South Asian family politics going on here?

Personally I'm quite stubborn so would just ensure that they knew full well that I wasn't going and would then be someplace else on the day if they decided to arrive to 'collect' me.

Reply 12

Stand up for yourself, say No.

If it was a local pub crawl or something I'd say just suck it up for sake of a night - but a holiday to Madrid, when you don't want to go? **** that!

Why is your dad going anyway? does he actually want to?

Reply 13

Original post
by StriderHort
Stand up for yourself, say No.
If it was a local pub crawl or something I'd say just suck it up for sake of a night - but a holiday to Madrid, when you don't want to go? **** that!
Why is your dad going anyway? does he actually want to?

My dad doesn't want to go either but he says he has to go really because he is the father of the bride. So I feel like I'm being made to go just because he has to go.

Reply 14

Original post
by Admit-One
At the end of the day you have to decide whether your preference for not going is going to cause more hassle than it's worth. I'm going to guess there's some mad Asian/South Asian family politics going on here?
Personally I'm quite stubborn so would just ensure that they knew full well that I wasn't going and would then be someplace else on the day if they decided to arrive to 'collect' me.

I honestly am starting to feel like not going is more hassle than it's worth so I may as well just go and not enjoy myself because at least then I can say I went.

Reply 15

Original post
by Anonymous
I honestly am starting to feel like not going is more hassle than it's worth so I may as well just go and not enjoy myself because at least then I can say I went.

I don't know your family so do not know the dynamic but you have every right to say sorry you cannot make it.
You have to put your own young family first and it is not like you are best man.It does seem you have a bit of resentment about your sister not visiting your kids,is that playing in here?
End of day I would talk to your sister and ask if she minds if you do not go or just make your apologies and buy them a nice wedding present.
Husband just makes excuses now as he has grown out of all the drinking etc and costs a fortune

Reply 16

Original post
by Scotney
I don't know your family so do not know the dynamic but you have every right to say sorry you cannot make it.
You have to put your own young family first and it is not like you are best man.It does seem you have a bit of resentment about your sister not visiting your kids,is that playing in here?
End of day I would talk to your sister and ask if she minds if you do not go or just make your apologies and buy them a nice wedding present.
Husband just makes excuses now as he has grown out of all the drinking etc and costs a fortune

Thing is this wedding is already extremely expensive as it is, my parents are paying for about 80% of this wedding which includes renting out a big manor house for the event. I and other family members then have to pay £200 to stay in a glamping pod the night before the wedding, then there is a wedding gift on top of that too. Add in my expenses for going to Madrid and I would be looking at minimum spending £500 on someone elses wedding that could go towards a family holiday instead.

My sister is the favourite child, me and my older sister have said that for year. My parents always help her out with money so she doesn't know the value of it whereas me and my older sister have money worries and my parents don't understand that.

Reply 17

Original post
by Anonymous
My dad doesn't want to go either but he says he has to go really because he is the father of the bride. So I feel like I'm being made to go just because he has to go.

Is that really a tradition/expectation?

I'm not married but was under the impression a stag night was for the groom, best man and close friends? I don't think inviting future parents in law is common?

Reply 18

Original post
by StriderHort
Is that really a tradition/expectation?
I'm not married but was under the impression a stag night was for the groom, best man and close friends? I don't think inviting future parents in law is common?

My dad seems to think it is an expectation that he goes.

Reply 19

Original post
by Anonymous
My dad seems to think it is an expectation that he goes.

I obv don't know the people involved, but I think he might be mistaken. How would you describe the invite that you got?

This could be one of those invites that is made out of politeness, but you aren't really supposed to take up. When you think about it coldly, wtf would you future BiL and his pals want your dad out on their foreign drinking binge?

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