'AITA for getting engaged a couple hours north of my brother’s destination wedding?'

What should have been a joyous celebration of love turned into an unexpected family feud when a destination wedding at the Grand Canyon became the backdrop for a proposal—and a controversy.

A Reddit poster shared how her fiance proposed just days after her brother’s intimate wedding ceremony.

Woman's unexpected proposal days after her brother's wedding sparks family feud

“It was a very small destination ceremony, under 15 people total,” she explained. After the event, she and her fiance decided to extend their trip and explore the Grand Canyon.

“A couple hours north of the wedding, he proposed,” the original poster said.

Overjoyed, she immediately shared the news with her brother and new sister-in-law, expecting excitement. Instead, she was met with anger.

“He responded with hostility, saying that it looked like we were competing,” she recalled.

Realizing the hurt feelings, she apologized. “I quickly realized that he was advocating for my SIL and that she felt hurt,” she said, though she admitted "she couldn’t quite understand why."

In an effort to mend things, she sent a separate apology to her sister-in-law, explaining her intentions.

“It was not our intent to encroach. I just wanted to share the news with family, and it’s my belief that there’s room for happiness for everyone,” she wrote.

The apology wasn’t well received. “She did not respond,” the woman said, adding that her brother wasn’t ready to move past it either. “He doubled down and said the timing and location were hurtful, and that we shouldn’t have planned around the wedding,” the original poster said.

Internet defends woman accused of stealing the spotlight

As the poster stood by her belief that her engagement didn’t overshadow the wedding, the Internet collectively declared her NTA.

One fan shared, "NTA! And I can see you're trying valiantly to understand, but I'm not sure your brother or his wife will be able to give you a good reason for their reaction. Cause their reaction is WILD! Sure, it's rude to propose at someone else's wedding.....but that's not what happened. The fact that you and your fiancé got engaged a few days after their wedding, before you flew home....is a totally different thing. Also, the level of hostility in that message from your brother is nasty and definitely not normal. I'm so sorry that he treats you like that."

Another wrote, "NTA. Your brother needs to calm down. The bride gets a day, her one wedding day. She does not get a location, a week, or anything else. She gets her wedding. That is all. You did not encroach."

A different viewer pointed out, "Right? SIL probably got used to everyone making a fuss over her in the months leading up to that day and didn’t want to let that go. Now they will be making a fuss about someone else and she’s jealous."

A follower commented, "NTA. You were proposed to days after the wedding while exploring the state the wedding was in, and several hours away from the wedding site, and also this wedding was an "elopement". I get that eloping has changed definitions from essentially marrying in secret and private, to a generally a small planned wedding.... but she's throwing a tantrum as if this were an all-expense-paid luxury wedding in a rented locale and that you were proposed to the same evening as the wedding steps away from said wedding and announced it in front of everyone."

One opinion stated, "They owner neither the weekend nor the state. NTA at all.

I'm petty, so I'd tell them I'm sorry their joy at wedding the love of their life is overpowered by jealousy of your engagement. Like, shouldn't they have more important shit going on?"

Another individual observed, "NTA. People need to get over themselves. I personally have never understood this wedding insecurity. Truly, what is the big deal if someone gets engaged if it's not changing the tone of the celebration. But frankly everyone should be able to celebrate happiness together when they have it."

As someone explained in support, "NTA! You didn’t do it at the wedding or during any after ceremony festivities. You extended your trip and it happened after when everyone had left. Your SIL and brother had their day. Life does not pause for everyone else after their SINGLE DAY! That’s the craziest reason to be pissed at someone. Congratulations on your engagement!"

"NTA. While doing this at his wedding/reception would be wrong, your brother does NOT own the month or even the week AFTER the wedding! Your timing was fine," another Reddit comment read. 

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