AITA for going “bridezilla” after my bridesmaid spilled wine on my wedding dress?

A bride shared her heartbreak after a bridesmaid spilled red wine on her late mother’s wedding dress, which she had been planning to wear for her ceremony. Her reaction led to her being labeled a “bridezilla” by her bridesmaids, and she’s wondering if she was in the wrong. Read the full story below:

‘ AITA for going “bridezilla” after my bridesmaid spilled wine on my wedding dress?’

I (27 F) got married a month ago. My dress was this long, lacy gown that my mom wore at her wedding. My mom passed away about 2 years ago. Because the dress was so important to me, I had a big plan to keep it safe from any damages. I would only wear the dress at the wedding itself, and I would switch to a more casual dress for the reception.

When I was wearing the dress, I wouldn’t eat or drink anything except water, and I would stay inside at all times. I promise I’m not usually this crazy about cleanliness, but this was my mom’s dress, and the thought of it being damaged broke my heart. But I also knew I wanted to wear it when I got married to have a piece of her with me. She adored this dress and always dreamed I would wear it.

My bridesmaids knew very well about my particularities with the dress. I had a room above the venue where I was getting ready. My dress was hanging in a safe place in the room. On the day of the wedding, I went down to check on something for the wedding, leaving my bridesmaids in the room. Here’s what happened, as they told it to me:

They opened a bottle of Pinot Noir (my favorite) as a celebration. They poured themselves glasses and began to walk around checking out the room. One of my bridesmaids, “Anna,” (27 F) wanted to get a closer look at my dress. She got really close to it, and she started touching the lace. Somehow, her hand holding the wine glass slipped, and wine spilled all over the bottom of the dress.

When I came upstairs, they told me what happened, and I started sobbing. My maid of honor called several professional cleaners, and they said there was no way they could get the dress in before the wedding. They told us ways to save the dress until we could get it into them, so my MOH started doing that.

After that call, I became extremely angry. I asked “Anna” what the hell she was doing holding red wine so close to my dress when she knew how careful I was being. She dismissed it and said it wasn’t such a big deal because I was planning to wear the dress, so it could have gotten damaged that way too.

I couldn’t believe she said that. I called her thoughtless and careless and stupid. I told her that she was no longer part of the wedding and that I wanted her to leave. She left, and neither of us have reached out to the other since. I got married in the dress I had planned to wear for the reception, and I was heartbroken not to be wearing my mom’s dress.

After the wedding, my bridesmaids joked that I was a bridezilla for kicking “Anna” out after she made a “honest mistake.” I absolutely don’t think I’m the AH or a bridezilla because Anna’s reaction was so horrible and insincere. But I wanted to get the story off my chest and ask some people who might be more impartial, AITA?

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

loloannd −  Why??? WHY would you wander around with a glass of wine next to a white wedding dress that had such extreme sentimental value??. NTA.. I just.
They couldn’t have waited? They couldn’t have waited to have wine?

IMO, even if the dress wasn’t sentimental because of your mom, the fact that’s it’s your wedding dress automatically makes it VIP. It doesn’t seem bridezilla or OTT to take precautions not to have big, ugly stains on your wedding dress. And the fact that Anna didn’t seem sorry makes me feel like she deserved to be kicked out.

[Reddit User] −  Honey, I think you need new friends. That was NOT an accident. Anna did it on purpose and the others covered for her.. NTA.

straightaspasta −  NTA at all. After that call, I became extremely angry. I asked “Anna” what the hell she was doing holding red wine so close to my dress when she knew how careful I was being. She dismissed it and said it wasn’t such a big deal because I was planning to wear the dress, so it could have gotten damaged that way too.

This right here is why I believe you were justified. If I was Ana, I would have been absolutely mortified and would have been apologizing profusely to you. (I also would never have red wine near a wedding dress, especially one that holds so much sentimental value).

Next-End-4696 −  I can’t be the only one who thinks she did this on purpose? I’m incredibly uncoordinated and even I wouldn’t do something like this.

Fainora −  NTA there is no way this was an accident.

No-Rub1544 −  NTA. Why the hell would anyone have red wine that close to the dress? She couldnt have waited to see it without the red wine?? I feel so bad you couldn’t wear your mothers dress. And to say it “could have been damaged from wearing it” is the lamest deflective excuse I would have done the same thing you did

Beck2010 −  Anna did that on purpose. NTA.

TinyRascalSaurus −  NTA. But why was there even red wine in the same room as that dress? Not saying any blame is on you, I’m just very confused why red wine was allowed when you were so stern about keeping the dress clean.

MajorRockstar79 −  Anna is a HUGE AH!! Bottom line. She was careless. She KNEW it was important to you as it would be for ANY bride but this was EXTRA and EVERYONE was aware. She should never have risked that. If people don’t understand that then they too are AH, but guess who ISNT one? YOU dear OP… NTA AT ALL.

I’m so sorry this happened to you. I think you should stand your ground on this. This wasn’t just a birthday “ruined” or an “I forgot the paper plates for the picnic”… this was one of the most important days of your life. She owes you a very sincere apology, showing that she truly understands what she did!! Until then, you deserve to be around people who value you and your feelings.

Sad-File3624 −  Why did they even open a red wine?! It might not have only been Anna trying to sabotage your wedding. Who thinks of opening a red wine before photos, and around a white dress?. NTA

Was this bride justified in her reaction, or did she overreact to a genuine mistake? It’s a delicate situation when emotions run high on such an important day. What are your thoughts on how she handled it? Share below!