But Tyler, being the amazing guy he is, refused to let me dwell on it. When I told him about my worries as we got ready separately, he just smiled and said, M, this day is about us. Nothing else matters.
If anyone tries to ruin it, I’ll personally escort them out. That made me laugh, and for the first time in weeks, I felt lighter. The venue we chose was perfect.
It was small and intimate, a garden surrounded by flowers, twinkle lights strung through the trees, and a little gazebo where we’d say our vows. I didn’t want a giant, elaborate wedding. I wanted something that felt real and full of love, and that’s exactly what it was.
My closest friends were there, along with some extended family who’d actually been kind to me over the years. It felt right. As I stood in front of the mirror, putting the final touches on my dress, my maid of honor, my best friend Jenna, walked in and grinned.
You look amazing, M. Thanks, I said softly, feeling a wave of emotions. Jenna sat on the edge of the couch and watched me for a moment. Are you okay? I hesitated before nodding.
Yeah, I’m just… I don’t know, sad, I guess. Not about today. Today is perfect.
But about the fact that my family isn’t here. She frowned and leaned forward. Emily, it’s okay to feel that.
Just because you made the right choice doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Her words hit me hard. I turned to look at her, tears welling up in my eyes.
I wanted them to care, you know? I wanted them to fight for me when I was a kid, and they never did. Jenna stood up and hugged me tightly. You don’t need their approval.
You have people who love you. Focus on that. I nodded, taking a deep breath.
She was right. Today wasn’t about my family. It was about me and Tyler.
When the ceremony started, I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of it all that I forgot about everything else. I remember standing at the end of the aisle, staring at Tyler and thinking, This is it. This is what happiness feels like.
As I walked toward him, I felt this sense of freedom wash over me. I wasn’t the forgotten little sister anymore. I wasn’t the kid who begged to be included and got turned away.
I was a bride, surrounded by people who truly loved me and wanted to see me happy. The vows were perfect. Tyler promised to love me, protect me, and always stand by my side, and I promised the same.
By the time we said, I do, there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience, including mine. The reception was everything I hoped it would be. We laughed, we ate, we danced until our feet hurt.
My friends toasted to us, sharing funny stories and heartfelt wishes for our future. Tyler’s parents, who had always been so kind to me, told me they were proud to have me as part of their family. At one point, I snuck away from the crowd just to take it all in.
I stood at the edge of the garden, looking at the lights twinkling in the trees and the people laughing together, and I felt so full. For so many years, I’d believed the lie my family told me, that I didn’t matter, that I wasn’t important enough to be part of their lives. But standing there, watching all these people who truly cared about me, I realized something.
I matter to the people who actually deserve to know me. Later that night, as the reception started winding down, one of my cousins pulled me aside. Hey Emily, I probably shouldn’t say this, but… I groaned.
What is it now? She looked sheepish. Your mom and Rachel apparently threw some kind of dinner tonight, like as an alternative to your wedding. I stared at her for a second, then burst out laughing.
Are you serious? She nodded. I know. It’s pathetic.
I just thought you should know. I shook my head, still laughing. That’s fine.
Let them throw their pity party. I hope the food’s good. I could tell my cousin expected me to be upset, but honestly, I wasn’t.
If anything, it was proof that I’d made the right decision. My family had spent my whole life excluding me and then trying to justify it. Now that I was the one drawing the boundary, they couldn’t handle it.
At the end of the night, Tyler and I shared one last dance while everyone gathered around us. As we swayed together, I whispered, I’m so happy we did this. He smiled down at me.
Me too, Em. This is just the beginning. And for the first time, I believed it.
My family wasn’t there. They didn’t get to see the best day of my life. But that was their loss, not mine, because as I looked around the room, surrounded by love and laughter, I realized I had everything I’d ever needed and none of it had come from them.
I thought the worst of it was over after the wedding. I really did. The day had been perfect, everything I hoped for and more, and I felt like I’d finally moved on from my family’s nonsense.
I didn’t miss them at the ceremony. I didn’t spend a second wondering what it would have been like if they were there. I was surrounded by people who loved me, and that was enough.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about my family, it’s that they don’t like being ignored. It’s almost like they couldn’t handle the fact that I was happy without them. So, they decided to stir the pot one last time.
It started with a message from Rachel a week after the wedding. Of course, it was Rachel. She’d always been the one to throw the first stone when it came to family drama.
Saw some pics from your wedding. I can’t believe you had it in a garden. Looked casual, but I guess that’s what you wanted.
I stared at the message, stunned. She couldn’t even pretend to be nice. It wasn’t enough for her to just leave me alone.
She had to find something to criticize. I was tempted to reply with something snarky, something about how her wedding might have been fancier, but at least mine wasn’t full of fake smiles and people who didn’t care about me. But I stopped myself.
I didn’t owe her a response. A few days later, I started getting messages from extended family members I hadn’t heard from in years. Apparently, Rachel, Mike, and Chris were on some kind of campaign to paint me as the villain.
My Aunt Linda, yes, the same one who tried guilt-tripping me before the wedding, sent me another message. Emily, I don’t know what happened between you and your siblings, but they’re really hurt. Rachel says she tried to reach out, and you’re ignoring her.
Maybe it’s time to let go of the past. I sighed and rolled my eyes. How many times did I have to explain this? How many people did my siblings need to rope into this mess before they realized I wasn’t budging? Tyler noticed I was frustrated and sat down beside me.
Another guilt trip, he asked, glancing at my phone. Yeah, Aunt Linda again. She says they’re hurt.
He snorted. Hurt because they can’t control you anymore. I smiled faintly.
He wasn’t wrong. I just don’t get it. They ignored me for years.