At My Own Wedding, My Parents Insisted My Older Sister Walk down the Aisle First – We Agreed, but with One Condition

"Because I know your family. If they're planning something stupid, they'll let it slip at a family dinner. And that way, we can be ready for whatever they're planning. Yeah?"

I nodded, but I should've known better. Even if we were prepared for any nonsense from my family, nothing would stop them.

We were halfway through dessert when Mom set her fork down and dabbed her mouth with her napkin like she was preparing for a courtroom statement.

I nodded, but I should've known better.

"Anna, sweetheart," she said. "You do understand that Emily has to walk down the aisle first, right?"

"You mean, like... as the first bridesmaid?"

"Anna, she's older," Dad added without looking at me. "It doesn't matter what capacity she'll be walking down in, but it only makes sense."

"You do understand that Emily has to walk down the aisle first, right?"

"Sense? There's no sense here," I argued. "Emily doesn't even have a partner to walk down the aisle with. There's a theme, and it's all coordinated, Dad."

My mother sighed dramatically.

"It wouldn't be fair for the younger sister to go first and take all the attention, Anna. Emily deserves that moment. You know it, she knows it... we all know it."

"Emily doesn't even have a partner to walk down the aisle with."

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Not at first.

There was a tightening behind my ribs, the kind that comes with years of shrinking yourself down so someone else can shine a little brighter.

I stared at the lemon tart in front of me — Emily's favorite, of course. Not mine. I'd always hated the sharpness of it.

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

But there it was again, being passed around like peace, and a decision had already been made.

"She's not the bride," I said, my voice finally returning.

"She's your sister," Mom said, as if that explained everything.

And in their eyes, it did.

"She's your sister."

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