For years, Melanie and I had been inseparable since our days back in high school. So, when she asked me to be her Maid of Honor, my excitement was through the roof. Motivated by a desire to see her wedding day become as magical as possible, I didn't hesitate in spending generously on the bridal shower, a lavish bachelorette weekend getaway, décor, and various other wedding-related expenses. The total cost ran into thousands of dollars—a significant sum for my husband and me—but Melanie was like a sister to me, and I wanted nothing but the best for her special day.

However, things took an unexpected turn two months ago when I announced my pregnancy. Initially, Melanie appeared happy for me but soon started to distance herself. She began to exclude me from wedding-related discussions and frequently hinted at how challenging it was to manage a wedding when people were not fully focused. At first, I attributed this change to pre-wedding stress.

But just a few days back, Melanie sat me down for a talk and bluntly stated she no longer wanted me in her wedding. Shockingly, she complained that I was “getting too fat” and that my presence would not complement her "wedding vision" in the photographs. Shocked and hurt, I questioned if this was due to my pregnancy, but she denied it, claiming her decisions were impersonal. Additionally, she declared she was replacing me with another friend who seamlessly matched her “aesthetic.”

Reacting to this news, I told her that since I am not to be a part of her wedding, I wouldn’t attend it either. I presented her with all the receipts of my expenses and insisted that either she or her fiancé compensate me, given that these were costs I incurred as her Maid of Honor. This demand infuriated Melanie, who called me selfish and accused me of trying to sabotage her wedding. She labeled my request for reimbursement as “tacky,” claiming that such expenses were “my responsibility as MOH.” I countered that since she removed me from the role, these were no longer my expenses.

Since that confrontation, I’ve been bombarded with calls and messages from Melanie, her fiancé, and even their families. They've branded me as petty and overly sensitive, blaming my "pregnancy hormones" while telling me I should have just let the matter slide and considered the money a loss due to wedding stresses.

My husband, however, has stood firmly by my side, insisting that I was right to stand up for myself. He also shares a sense of outrage over Melanie's demeaning behavior and supports my decision not to absorb these costs for a wedding we are no longer welcome to.

Feeling both betrayed and humiliated by someone I regarded as a close friend has been incredibly painful. Even so, the relentless criticism makes me wonder if I perhaps reacted too severely.

Had this been captured on a reality show, viewers would likely be split. Some might view my strong stance sympathetically, as standing up for dignity against a friend's unreasonable demands. Others might see it as creating drama or lacking understanding toward the unique pressures a bride faces.

What’s your take: Should I have fought for reimbursement or let it go? For me, my friend turned into a real Bridezilla...

I’m debating on my decision; what do you think I should’ve done?

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