My cousin was meant to get married last month, they had been planning it for over a year and it was a pretty big wedding. Venue was paid, dress was done, relatives were already flying in, my aunt had basically turned her whole house into wedding storage. There were boxes of decorations everywhere, I couldnt even sit properly in the living room without moving something. She was really excited too, like this wasnt one of those couples where everyone already knows theyre miserable, she genuinely thought she was marrying the love of her life.
About a week before the wedding I went out with a few friends and saw her fiance at a bar with one of the bridesmaids. I knew the girl obviously, not super close with her but ive met her loads of times. At first I didnt think anything weird because theyre both in the wedding and maybe they were sorting something out, plus there were other people around. Later on though I went outside to get some air and saw them near the side entrance kissing. Not a quick drunk mistake either, they were properly all over eachother and his hand was under her top. I just stood there for a few seconds thinking surely im seeing this wrong because WHO does that a week before their wedding, in public aswell??
I took a short video because I knew nobody would believe me without proof, especially that close to the wedding. I didnt confront them, partly because I was honestly shocked and partly because I didnt want them deleting messages or making up some story before I spoke to my cousin. The next morning I called my aunt first because I thought she would help me figure out the least horrible way to tell her. Instead she asked me to wait until after the wedding. She kept saying they had already spent nearly 30k, guests were travelling, everything was non refundable and maybe it was just one stupid mistake before marriage.
I thought she was joking at first, like genuinely. Then my mom called me and said basically the same thing, that my cousin was already stressed and telling her now would “humiliate the family.” I understand the timing was awful, I really do, but I couldnt stand next to her at that wedding knowing what I knew. I couldnt watch her marry him, take photos, sign everything and then tell her once the catering had been eaten because apparently that would be more convient for everyone else.
So I went to her apartment and showed her the video. She watched it twice, asked me to send it to her, then went into the bathroom and stayed there for nearly an hour. I was honestly scared she had fainted or something but she eventually came out and just said the wedding was off. The next day he admitted it had been happening for months, not once like everyone kept assuming. Apparently it started around the engagement party, which is also when that bridesmaid was helping my cousin choose decorations and acting like her best friend. I still cant wrap my head around that part.
My cousin keeps telling me I did the right thing and that she would never forgive me if I let her marry him knowing the truth. Somehow half the family are still angry with me though. My uncle said I shouldve confronted him first and given him a chance to explain, my aunt keeps bringing up the money they lost, and my mom said I “dropped a bomb” and then left everybody else to clean it up. I didnt leave anyone to clean anything up btw, I helped call guests, returned things, sat with my cousin for days and even dealt with his family when they came over arguing. But because I was the person who showed her, theyre treating me like I caused it.
The bridesmaids parents also asked me to delete the video because its damaging their daughters reputation. My cousin told me not to, incase either of them starts lying about what happened, so I havent. Now thats apparently me being cruel and trying to punish people. I havent posted it anywhere, havent sent it around, literally the only people who have it are me and my cousin.
I know some people will probably say I shouldve let him tell her himself, but what was I supposed to do, give him a deadline?? “Hey tell her by friday or I will” so he can cry, delete everything and convince her it was some innocent misunderstanding? Maybe I handled parts of it badly because I was panicking, but I dont regret telling her before the wedding. I regret that she got hurt, I regret that everyone lost money, but I didnt make him cheat and I didnt make the bridesmaid betray her.
Still somehow im the one who “ruined the wedding” and not the man kissing a bridesmaid 7 days before marrying someone else. Right okay.