There are certain social rules we all know that we need to follow when it comes to attending a wedding, such as not wearing a white dress as a guest, and not announcing a pregnancy or engagement in the middle of the reception.
These unspoken rules are in place to stop guests from overshadowing the bride and groom on their special day, but one woman has apparently found a new way to steal the spotlight from the happy couple - by refusing to cut her hair short.
The woman said she always used to wear her hair in a short pixie cut, but last year she decided to grow it out and currently has hair just past her shoulders.
However, her new look has annoyed her friend, as she's now demanded that the woman cut her hair again ahead of her upcoming wedding because she thinks her longer locks will "take her spotlight".
In a post on Reddit, the baffled woman said: "I have wavy brown hair. I used to have a pixie cut, which I maintained for six years. While I did love it, the main reason why I kept cutting it short was because it looked awful whenever it grew longer. Last year, it started growing well for the first time in forever, so I decided to grow it. I haven't gotten a haircut since January 2022, and my hair is now just past my shoulders. I have no interest in cutting it shorter right now.
"Anyway, my childhood friend 'Ally' is getting married next month. Last week, I saw her for the first time in a while at our friend's birthday party. The first thing she did when she spotted me was comment on my hair, saying she was shocked it looked as pretty as it did.
"The next day, Ally called to say she wanted me to get a pixie cut again for her wedding day. I was a bit shocked, but politely declined. As much as I loved having short hair, I had to get it cut every three months to keep the hairstyle. If I didn't, I'd get a mullet that would put Hulk Hogan to shame. Also, while it's not too far off my budget to get four haircuts a year, I had a baby three months ago, and I'd rather spend that money on diapers and clothing.
"Ally got more forceful, demanding me to do it. She said that her family, who hasn't seen me in years, still thinks I 'look like a boy', and that seeing me with longer, more 'feminine' hair would take her spotlight. I'm wearing a dress to the wedding, and my boobs have increased twice in size since I started breastfeeding, so I don't think I'd "look like a boy" even if I did get a pixie cut, but oh well."
The woman also explained she's getting married herself next year and doesn't want to ruin the progress she's made toward having longer hair for her own special day.
She added that she isn't even a member of the bridal party at her friend's wedding and is only attending as a guest, so found the haircut request unreasonable.
"Ally hasn't banned me from the wedding or anything drastic but is clearly bitter about this," she stated, "She's been making passive-aggressive comments about my refusal in our group chat, and keeps sending me old pictures of us from when my hair was still short. I really don't want to budge on this, but I'm starting to doubt myself."
Commenters on the post were firmly on the woman's side, with many saying no one has the right to tell her what to do with her own hair.
One person said: "Even if you were in the wedding party, she doesn't have the right to demand you cut your hair. She sounds deeply insecure and very controlling."
While another added: "Your head, your choice. She has zero right to dictate a guest's hairstyle. Even if you were in the wedding party she might suggest a style for your hair's length but cutting it is not for anyone else to decide. If she continues to badger you, don't attend."
And a third posted: "It would be unacceptable to ask you to cut your hair if you were a bridesmaid. Asking you as a guest is beyond the pale. She's jealous and taking out her insecurities on you."
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