I dreamed of having my wedding in my father’s backyard, a place that held so much significance for me. However, I made a difficult request for my stepmother not to attend, as my mother felt uncomfortable with her presence. When I approached my stepmother, she responded sharply, saying, “Are you kicking me out of my house? Be grateful I’m even welcoming you!” I reminded her that it was my father’s home, not hers.

On my wedding day, she didn’t attend, and everything seemed fine—at first. But then I noticed my father was missing. I checked my stepsiblings’ rooms and found them empty as well. When I stepped into the backyard, I realized that most of my father’s side of the family hadn’t shown up.

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Confused and upset, I called my father. His response stunned me: “If you disrespect my wife of 15 years in her own home, don’t expect me to be there either!”

My heart sank. I was shocked that my stepmother had managed to turn my father against me on such an important day. It felt like manipulation, and that realization hurt the most. The absence of my father, half-siblings, and many guests left the day feeling incomplete and sad. I feel like I was punished for wanting my wedding to reflect my vision, but instead, it became a day marred by conflict and disappointment.