Weddings are such special days for the happy couple who are saying their vows, and for the family and friends that get to witness such a monumental event.
After the nuptials, often there will be a party, and speeches will be a key highlight, with many people rushing to congratulate the newlyweds, whilst also having a cheeky dig or two, bringing up embarrassing or funny moments about the past.
But one blushing bride was left mortified after her brother-in-law called her "the one that got away" in his wedding speech, hinting at their flirtationship that had happened prior to her marriage.
The stressed woman took to Reddit to say she thought she'd "done serious damage" to her marriage before it had even properly begun.
She wrote: "I met my husband through his brother (Chris) who I had a crush on in college. I never was clingy or never acted on my feelings and I never really allowed myself to get too close to him because I knew that my feelings weren't reciprocated.
"Chris knew however I had a crush on him or at least he felt it. He would always say that I was 'girlfriend material' and that he wouldn't want to lead me on. He wanted to have fun before that. He would say this to others but even once to me.
"On two occasions he would text me that he had feelings for me, only to apologise later and retract his words but on Christmas four years ago he texted me that he was in love with me and wanted to take me out on a date. He said he was done playing around and wanted a relationship."
She explained that she invited him to a New Year's Eve party that her then-roommate and she had, and he brought his brother. Chris spent the party "making out" with her roommate all night, but then later said he "f**ked up" - but she'd gotten to know his brother who was the "opposite" of Chris.
"He was shy and hated attention and he was just the best and soon after he asked me on a date. We are married now. Our wedding was last Wednesday", she shared.
"I want to make two things clear. I never went beyond a crush on Chris and only after I fell for my husband that I understood what love is. He is everything to me and I love him more than anything. I never told anyone about my crush and when I met my husband I didn't tell him either. Chris wasn't happy I was seeing his brother and he's been cold towards me since. Even when it got serious between my husband and I."
But it got worse, as at her rehearsal dinner he "outed" everything, ending his speech by sharing his "regrets."
She continued: "Chris held a speech at our rehearsal dinner and he basically outed everything and ended with how he regretted not asking me out sooner and how he will always regret it.
"It was very awkward afterward and nobody talked, and on our wedding day my husband did everything to act normal and he made sure everything was as planned but I could feel that he was hurt and angry.
"After the party, he asked me if I loved Chris and if I dated him for that reason. I started crying because it was absolutely not true. We started dating and became friends and I made sure it was him I wanted before committing and I never loved anyone like I love my husband.
"I told him all this and more and I apologised so much for not telling him everything. In the beginning, I thought it was my own private matter and I didn't feel the need to discuss it with a then 'stranger' to me. When our relationship evolved I just never thought Chris was relevant and my crush seemed a silly thing.
"Now it's back to bite me in the a**. My husband is very sad and he barely talks to me. We're leaving for our honeymoon in two weeks."
In the comments, people said that they were baffled by the situation, saying that Chris had behaved inappropriately.
One wrote: "Your husband's brother is a massive a**hole. Totally trying to sabotage your wedding day by some pathetic last effort to what? Share his clearly not reciprocated feelings on the eve of your wedding lol cmon brother in law….What a total d****ebag.
"I think your husband will get over it. Probably won't want you two spending one on one time (I think that has more to do with feelings towards his brother that are justified).
"Give it time. You did nothing wrong here. How would you ever know that a crush that literally barely got vocalised would turn to this? Your husband's brother just sucks."
Another fumed: "Chris is a d**k. No question about it. However, I do think you should have mentioned your crush on Chris to your husband.
"Chris told you he loved you. And no, I don't believe he was genuine. I think he was trying to manipulate the situation to keep you as his back-up plan.
"But still, I would want to know if my sibling and partner had any kind of history."
Have you been on the receiving end of a dramatic wedding day admission? Email: danielle.wroe@reachplc.com
