AITA for not wanting my half-sister at my wedding?

As a bride plans her dream wedding, old wounds from her father’s affair resurface, leading her to bar her half-sister—born from that betrayal—from the guest list. Though she’s grudgingly allowing her father to attend, she views his daughter as a stranger, not family, and wants no part of her at the celebration.

Her sister and mother argue the teen is blameless, urging inclusion, but the bride stands firm. This Reddit story, raw with unresolved pain, echoes your own struggles with family boundaries, like cutting contact with your brother’s fiancée or excluding your dad’s partner from your wedding dinner. Is she wrong to keep her half-sister out, or is her wedding her call?

‘AITA for not wanting my half-sister at my wedding?’

Weddings often unearth family fractures, and this Reddit user’s choice to exclude her half-sister reflects deep-seated resentment from her father’s affair. Her decision to invite her father but not his daughter or wife shows a selective reconciliation, complicated by viewing the half-sister as a stranger, much like your own boundaries with estranged family members. The sister and mother’s plea for inclusion highlights the half-sister’s innocence, creating a moral tug-of-war.

Dr. Pauline Boss, a family estrangement expert, notes, “Children of affairs often bear unfair blame, but adults aren’t obligated to embrace them as family” . The bride’s stance is her prerogative, but her family’s perspective suggests a chance for healing if she’s open to it.

She could explore meeting her half-sister separately, as you’ve navigated tense family ties, to assess her feelings without wedding pressure. A clear explanation to her family—focusing on her comfort—might ease tensions.

These are the responses from Reddit users:

Reddit split on this one, with some backing the bride’s right to choose her guests and others calling her out for punishing an innocent teen, offering empathy and blunt advice. Here’s their take:

Reddit’s divided, but are they grasping the bride’s pain or just debating fairness?

This bride’s decision to bar her half-sister from her wedding has stirred family conflict, pitting her pain against a teen’s innocence. Her story, like your own family boundary battles, asks where personal choice meets family duty. Is she right to exclude her half-sister, or should she reconsider? How would you handle a family member tied to past betrayal? Share your thoughts or stories of navigating family at big events!