Unemployed artist quotes sister £1500 for wedding invitations, sister refuses to pay and dad tells her to cave into doing it for free, she refuses: ‘Your degree from Central Saint Martins was dad’s midlife crisis money’

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Molly Vincent
Aug 18, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Weddings can bring things to the surface that were repressed, yet hovering, for years or decades. Maybe money is an issue for you, and sensitivity should be taken into consideration. But when it's your big day, you might forget things like "sensitivity," like the protagonist's sister does in the story below. She's getting married, and as her sister is an artist, she asks her to make the wedding invitations. As a good sister does, she produces them, as well as a bill to go along with it. The bride-to-be is taken aback, assuming her artist sister would do a good deed in honor of her big day. Alas, she's not as altruistic as her engaged sister makes her out to be. Her financial situation doesn't allow for free work, but it ends up putting them both in a tough position. 

Tensions run high between them, and past affronts and resentments come out in all the worst ways. The only thing I have to say is that it's better to not mix money and intimate relationships, but people do all the time. Read the full story below to see how it ends between the sisters, and if they make up in time before the wedding. 

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  • 01

    AITA for telling my sister she can print her wedding programs at Office Depot after she called my art a ‘cute hobby’ ?

    Two sisters arguing
    via Изображения пользователя Anton Estrada / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I'm an unemployed artist from Istanbul living off savings and commissions, while hunting for a visa sponsor. My older sister is
    via u/UsualFlamingo3683

  • The bride-to-be is taken aback, assuming her artist sister would do a good deed in honor of her big day. Alas, she’s not as altruistic as her engaged sister makes her out to be. Her financial situation doesn’t allow for free work, but it ends up putting them both in a tough position. 

  • 03
    getting married in November. She asked me to design invitations, menus, seating chart, a 12 meter
    via u/UsualFlamingo3683
  • 04
    aisle runner and live portrait during cocktail hour. Total labor about 120 hours... I quoted her
    via u/UsualFlamingo3683
  • 05
    £1500, huge family discount. She laughed, said the wedding already costs too much and I
    via u/UsualFlamingo3683
  • 06
    should be grateful for 'exposure' because her friends 'love boho stuff'. Then she joked that my
    via u/UsualFlamingo3683
  • 07
    A beautiful wedding invitation
    via pixelshot / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    degree from Central Saint Martins was dad's midlife crisis money. I told her exposure doesn't pay
    via u/UsualFlamingo3683
  • 09
    rent and suggested she try Office Depot's template section. She blew up, told our dad I'm
    via u/UsualFlamingo3683
  • 10
    sabotaging her big day. He says I should cave for family. I think she crossed a line. AITA?
    via u/UsualFlamingo3683
  • 11
    atmasabr · 11h ago NTA she crossed a line. You can take care of family after you've gotten even. No you should not "cave" for family.
    via u/atmasabr
  • 12
    SignificanceGlum... • 11h ago NTA, if she wants free, generic designs she can go to Office Depot, but if she
    via u/SignificanceGlum9586
  • 13
    wants 120 hours of custom art, she needs to respect that your skills aren't a cute hobby.
    via u/SignificanceGlum9586
  • 14
    SignificanceGlum... • 11h ago Family or not, your art is labor and expertise, not a hobby she gets to exploit.
    via u/SignificanceGlum9586
  • 15
    sunny_suburbia • 11h ago My friend, your graphics will not make a final difference to her wedding, her
    via u/sunny_suburbia
  • 16
    marriage, or the memories you have of your mother. She can pound sand. Go in peace.
    via u/sunny_suburbia
  • 17
    NeeliSilverleaf • 11h ago NTA. I bet she can get a discount at VistaPrint.
    via u/NeeliSilverleaf
  • 18
    A wedding before it begins.
    via SatawatFoto / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    Al1as 11h ago NTA! The discount is already a huge wedding gift. CSM is so legit, congrats on getting your education there. You
    via u/Al1as
  • 20
    must be really talented and you have big things ahead of you. Don't let family keep you down.
    via u/Al1as
  • 21
    ThePythiaofApollo • 11h ago Your sister is ridiculous. Supporting living artists is so important to a thriving society., especially with the
    via u/ThePythiaofApollo
  • 22
    Al boom. Human creativity should be fostered and, yes, it has a price tag. NTA.
    via u/ThePythiaofApollo

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family drama drama sisters reddit story family feud relationships wedding love family reddit thread Reddit unemployment money
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