Woman's fiancé sells her late father's Fender guitar behind her back while on a "minimalism kick," she calls off the wedding when he refuses to get it back: 'I told everyone that this guitar was off-limits'

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Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Aug 13, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

It feels like everyone and their grandma went through a minimalism phase a few years back after Tidying Up with Marie Kondo first aired. Even if you didn't go full, one-set-of-cutlery-level deep with your decluttering, you likely started to ask yourself whether or not all of your little knick-knacks really, truly "sparked joy," as it were.

Some people took it pretty far, though. My best friend got rid of a suitcase full of gorgeous, vintage, prairie-style dresses from the 70s that she had inherited from her aunt. Even though I personally couldn't wrap my head around why she would do something like that, it was her perogative to sell her property. 

However, the guy in today's tale never really got the memo that you're not supposed to sell off other people's possessions. Or maybe, because he was a mere three weeks away from his wedding, he started thinking in a "what's yours is mine" mindset and figured that his future wife's things were also his to do whatever he wants with. Either way, he dooms his own matrimony before it ever comes to be when he decides to put his wife's guitar, a gift from her late father, on Facebook Marketplace.

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  • 01

    AITA for wanting to cancel my wedding after my fiancé "accidentally" sold my late dad's guitar?

    Cheezburger Image 10542056448
    via urbazon from Getty Images Signature
  • 02
    When I was 14, my dad passed away suddenly. The only thing I kept of his was his old Fender guitar, it wasn't
    via u/PreciousPetall
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    worth much money, but to me, it was priceless. He taught me to play on it, and every time I touched those
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  • 04
    strings, it felt like he was still here. I told everyone in my life, especially my fiancé, that this guitar was off-limits.
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  • 05
    Fender
    via Federico Abis from Pexels
  • 06
    Fast forward to last weekend. We're getting married in three weeks. My fiancé has been on this weird
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  • 07
    "minimalism" kick, selling random things on Facebook Marketplace for "extra honeymoon cash." I came home from work and noticed my
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  • 08
    home from work and noticed my guitar stand was empty. I thought maybe he moved it because we were deep cleaning. Nope. He sold it.
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    Cheezburger Image 10542055680
    via Lais Schulz from Lais Schulz
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    When I confronted him, he said he "forgot" it was sentimental and thought it was just "collecting dust." He even bragged that he got $150 for
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  • 11
    it. I lost it, like, ugly crying, shaking, couldn't breathe. He kept saying, "Babe, I'll just buy you another one. You can get the same model online."
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  • Even if he forgot that that specific guitar was off-limits, it seems pretty basic to ask before selling someone's things – even if they seem unimportant. 

  • 12
    But it's not the same. My dad's fingerprints were literally worn into the fretboard. You can't buy that back.
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    I immediately asked him to message the buyer to get it back. He refused at first because he "didn't want to look stupid." I told him I didn't care if he looked like an idiot, go get my guitar.
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  • 14
    When he finally reached out, the buyer said they'd already gifted it to their teenage son, who "absolutely loves it" and wouldn't give it back.
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  • 15
    Since then, my fiancé has been sulking, acting like I'm overreacting and ruining the wedding vibe. He told
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    his mom (who already doesn't like me) and now his whole family is texting me to "stop punishing him for an honest mistake."
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    I'm not sure I can marry someone who can be this careless with something I've been crystal clear
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  • 18
    about for years. It's not about the guitar, it's about the fact that he didn't care enough to remember. AITA for thinking about calling off the wedding?
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  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 10542056192
    via Mixmike from Getty Images Signature
  • 20
    Obi-Juan_Valdez Time to go to the police and report the guitar as stolen.
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  • 21
    PreciousPetall OP That's actually what I've been debating. I already spoke to the police once, but part of me feels like if I go through with filing an official
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    stolen property report, there's no going back from that, it's the end of the relationship, period. But then again... maybe it should be the end.
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    He knew exactly what that set meant to me, and he took it anyway. If that's not theft, I don't know what is.
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  • In a twisted way, she's pretty lucky that this guy showed her who he really is before they actually tied the knot. 

  • 24
    JustAslCanBeSoCruel He bragged he got $150 bucks for something that is deeply, deeply sentimental to you.
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    And I'm guessing he didn't even give you the money either. After selling your item.
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    File a police report, but FIRST get as much evidence as you can. Then dump his a
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  • 27
    Melody Munchkiin Honestly, I wouldn't blame you at all for calling it off. This isn't just about a guitar, it's about the lack of respect, care, and understanding he showed
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    toward something you made crystal clear was precious to you. The fact that he's sulking instead of taking full
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    responsibility says a lot. You deserve a partner who values your feelings and possessions, especially ones tied to such deep memories. NTA
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  • 30
    PreciousPetall OP Thank you...that's exactly how I feel. I've told him countless times over the years how much that guitar meant to me, and it's like it went in one ear and out the other. The fact
    via u/PreciousPetall
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    that his first reaction was to defend himself instead of even trying to make it right is what's really eating at me. If he can dismiss something so personal now, what happens down the line when it's something even bigger?
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  • 32
    onefeatherplume He knew it was important to you. He didn't care. He thought it will be easier to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.
    via u/onefeatherplume
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    This man does not respect you. I would end it but it's up to you. He took something very important to you and is sulking cause you are rightfully angry. Is this the type of behavior you want to put up with the rest of your life?
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  • 34
    PreciousPetall OP Exactly!! that's exactly how it feels. Like he made a calculated decision that my feelings didn't matter as much as whatever story he told himself to justify it. And now, instead
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    of owning it, he's sulking like I'm the one who did something wrong. I keep asking myself that same question...is this the dynamic I want for the rest of my life? Right now, it's leaning toward a hard no!
    via u/PreciousPetall

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guitar relationship advice wedding drama relationships wedding couples entitled breakup engagement red flag daughter parents entitled people Father
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