Man Remarries His Late Wife's Best Friend, Years Later His Daughter Refuses to Let Him Walk Her Down the Aisle in Retaliation for His Choice in Wife: 'She tried to replace mom'

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Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Dec 18, 2024 6:00 PM EST

Welcome, web-surfin' sisters. More and more women are refusing to let their fathers walk them down the aisle. Sure, it is the traditional way of doing things, but it is born out of a patriarchal ritual wherein a man ceremonially gives his property away to another man. Some modern brides reject these traditions on principle, and others simply have better relationships with other family members and prefer to be walked by their mothers, grandmothers, or by themselves. 

Our story today features a rocky father-daughter relationship. After our protagonist's dad remarries his late wife's best friend, she has to endure his new wife making an active effort to replace her mother. She grows resentful of her own father as well when he refuses to see things from her perspective and instead takes the side of his new wife during every argument. Fast-forward several years, and our protagonist is refusing to let him walk her down the aisle in retaliation. Get all the details down below. 

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  • 01
    "Linda made it her mission to "replace" my mom. She would go through all my stuff, tell me how to dress, and once she even threw out my mom's old jewelry because she said it was "too sad" for me to keep around. My dad always took her side, and it hurt."
    via Floral Deco
  • 02
    r/AITAH u/ScarletLuxeGirl • 22h AITA for telling my dad he can't walk me down the aisle after what he did?
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 03
    Ok so I (27F) am getting married in 3 months to my fiancé Jake (29M). We've been together for 5 years and he's amazing. Like, the kind of guy who makes you coffee in the morning and listens to you vent about work. I'm so excited to marry him, but of course, my family is making it a whole thing.
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 04
    For context, me and my dad have always had kind of a rocky relationship. My mom passed when I was 10, and he did his best to raise me and my brother (Sam, 30M), but the thing is, he started dating my mom's best friend, "Linda," like 6 months after the funeral. I know people grieve in their own way, but it felt so... gross to me, like he couldn't even wait a year?
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 05
    Anyway, they got married when I was 12, and Linda made it her mission to "replace" my mom. She would go through my stuff, tell me how to dress, and once she even threw out my mom's old jewelry because she said it was "too sad" for me to keep around. My dad always took her side, and it really hurt.
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 06
    Fast forward to when I was 19, I found out from Sam that Linda had cheated on Dad multiple times over the years, and he just forgave her every time. It made me lose a lot of respect for him. Like, how can you just let someone walk all over you like that? But whatever, it's his life, and I tried to keep some sort of relationship with him.
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 07
    Now to the wedding drama. A few months ago, Dad was supposed to meet Jake's family at a dinner we planned. It was a big deal because they've never met before, and I really wanted to make a good impression. But guess what? Dad shows up with Linda. I told him beforehand it was just supposed to be immediate family, but he said he didn't want her to feel "left out." She spent the whole dinner talking over Jake's parents and making passive-aggressive comments about how our wedding was "too fancy" for
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 08
    After that, I sat him down and told him I didn't want Linda at the wedding. He got super defensive and said, "If Linda's not welcome, then maybe I shouldn't be there either." I told him, "Honestly, that's up to you." He stormed off, and we didn't talk for weeks.
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 09
    Then last week, I found out from Sam that Dad has been telling people he won't walk me down the aisle because I'm "disrespecting" Linda. I was LIVID. Like, first of all, that was MY decision to make, not his. And second, he's acting like he's the victim when he's the one who brought all this drama into my life in the first place.
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 10
    So I called him and said, "You know what, Dad? Don't worry about walking me down the aisle. I'll handle it myself." He tried to guilt-trip me, saying how much it would hurt him, but I just hung up. Now half my family is saying I'm being heartless and "punishing" him for his past mistakes. But Jake and Sam are on my side, and honestly, I feel like I'm doing what's best for my mental health. AITA for telling my dad he can't walk me down the aisle? 2,056 226 D
    via u/ScarletLuxeGirl
  • 11
    No. Gemethyst. 22h Ask Sam. And if you don't want them there fine. Side note, my stepdad made a joke about having a "date" the week after mum's funeral, and was fully involved about 6-8 weeks after. Reply 1.5k
    via u/Gemethyst
  • 12
    Exed1944a1 • 22h Sounds like a clear no. If you don't want them there, that's your choice. 247
    via u/Exed1944a1
  • 13
    Marahute-21h "No" "Non" "Nada" "Nope" "Nah!" "How about no?" 89
    via u/Marahut-
  • 14
    Airotica 18h Why does she have to ask anyone? She's a woman with free will. She doesn't need to be "given" away to a man. Walk yourself down the aisle with pride! 16
    via u/Airotica
  • 15
    Agoraphobe961 • 22h NTA. It's not a "past" mistake, it's one that happened last week and is still ongoing Reply 226
    via u/Agoraphobe961
  • 16
    Early Objective_6081 • 12h You're under no obligation to include someone who causes conflict and fails to treat you with respect OP, even if that person is your father. Your wedding is a celebration of love and joy, and you have every right to decide who is part of that day. It's your event, your choice, and your boundaries deserve to be honored. ← 11
    via u/Early_Objective_6081
  • 17
    brownhn4 22h • NTA. You're not obligated to include someone who brings drama and disrespects you, even if it's your dad. Your wedding, your rules. Reply 244
    via u/v
  • 18
    SparkleChicX • 21h You're allowed to set boundaries, especially on such an important day. It's your wedding, and you shouldn't have to tolerate drama or disrespect, even from family. Your dad's actions have consequences. NTA 39
    via u/SparkleChicX
  • 19
    lodebolt 22h NTA, have your brother do it if he's still on your side. You may want security at your wedding in case your dad and Linda show up. ← Reply 110
    via u/lodebolt
  • 20
    WinterFront1431 • 22h It's not past mistakes. He's still allowing this woman to dictate your relationship with him. More than likely, they were already sleeping together before your mom's passing.
    via u/WinterFront1431
  • 21
    At this point, I'd just block him and tell him Your mom would be absolutely ashamed of him for all the years he has allowed this woman to drive a wedge between you and try and act like your mom didn't exist ... ← Reply ✩ 57 3
    via u/WinterFront1431
  • 22
    DrKiddman • 22h NTA. Dad would probably bring Linda if he came and she would try to dominate the whole wedding. It's best to leave them both away. Reply 18
    via u/DrKiddman
  • 23
    Savings-Peach9087 • 14h She threw out your mom's old jewelry. I've never met Linda and still despise her for that. ← Reply 4 ↓
    via u/Savings-Peach9087

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bride wedding drama toxic stepmom reddit story relationships parenting wedding cheating couples divorce cheater love infidelity reddit thread daughter Reddit Father
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