Bride-to-be branded 'self-centred' after banning chronically-ill sister from bringing service dog to her wedding because it's 'not elegant'

Daily Mail​

26-05-2025

A woman has revealed her sister tried to ban her service dog from attending her wedding because the pooch would make the day 'less elegant'.
Taking to Reddit, the 28-year-old woman, believed to be from the US, shared how she has a chronic condition that can trigger sudden fainting spells and her dog Lucy is trained to alert her before an episode so she can sit down.
When the woman explained to her sister that her 'life-saving' dog will be with her at the wedding, the bride claimed Lucy would ruin her day and steal the spotlight.
She suggested her sister should leave Lucy at 'home for a few hours or that she should sit near the back where 'people won't see her'.
Upset by her sister's suggestion, she explained that it's 'unsafe' for her to go anywhere without Lucy but the 'bridezilla' 'dug in her heels' and accused her of 'making this all about me'.
The post read: 'I (28F) have a service dog, Lucy, who's been with me for four years. I have a chronic condition that causes sudden fainting spells, and Lucy is trained to alert me before an episode so I can sit down, and she'll stay with me during an episode until I'm alert again. It's a life-saving measure and has become a non-negotiable part of my daily life.
'When my sister (30F) got engaged, I was thrilled and, of course, very excited to attend her wedding.
'I reached out well in advance to let her know I'd be bringing Lucy along, expecting her to understand. But my sister was less than thrilled.
'She claimed Lucy would "distract'" from her big day and that having a dog there would make it less elegant.
'My sister suggested I "just leave her at home for a few hours" or that I sit near the back where "people won't see her."
'This upset me because, as I explained to her, Lucy is there for my safety and it's genuinely unsafe for me to go anywhere without her. I offered to keep her as out-of-sight as possible and assured her that Lucy is highly trained and would stay by my side quietly.
'But my sister dug in her heels. She told me I was "making this all about me" and asked why I couldn't "just be normal for one day."'
When the woman explained that she couldn't compromise her health or safety, her sister said she was 'choosing my dog over her.'
According to the woman's post, her family is now divided on the issue, as her parents believe she should honour her sister's wishes.
She concluded: 'Our family is split. My parents think I should respect my sister's wishes since it's "her special day", but a few of my friends believe she's being unreasonable. I've even thought about skipping the wedding to avoid the whole mess, but I know that would upset her too.
'So, AITA for insisting on bringing my service dog to my sister's wedding?'
When the woman explained to her sister that her 'life-saving' dog will be with her at the wedding the bride claimed the service dog would ruin her day and steal the spotlight (stock image)
Many rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts on the drama, with most slamming the bride's attitude.
One person said: 'Seriously, OP's sister sounds very self-centered'
Another said: 'It's like she would tell a person in a wheelchair to not bring their wheelchair because it would distract from her "special day".
Someone else added: 'At 30-years-old, if she thinks she will be outshone by a dog, she has bigger problems than you.'
Many suggested it would actually draw even more attention away from the bride if her sister fainted during the ceremony without warning from her service dog.
One person wrote: 'Having an episode at her wedding because you don't have your dog will inadvertently make it even more about you.'
Another added: 'I was gonna say something similar - wouldn't it pull focus from the bride if the sister has an episode in the middle of the wedding and doesn't have Lucy to pre-warn her?'
Someone else added: 'Sister is really ignoring the obvious. EMS having to come in and tend to someone who fainted is much more distracting than a quiet dog.'
A fourth agreed: 'I was thinking, wouldn't collapsing at the wedding in the middle of the ceremony or onto the buffet table at the reception be more of a disturbance than a quiet, well trained dog?'
Others also called the woman's family out for siding with her sister, as they suggested they were essentially 'choosing a party over your health and safety'.
One person's comment read: 'If I had a sister who was prone to fainting, I'd let her bring her dog, her cat, her horse, and her doctor. She could come in a horse-drawn carriage, for all I care. You sister is a bridezilla, and that's the NICE word for her.'