Man Threatens To Ban Brother From His Wedding After He Plans To Propose During The Reception

Planning a wedding is stressful enough without family drama, but for one groom-to-be, his brother’s plan to propose at the reception is creating chaos. After his brother casually asked to pop the question at the wedding, the groom thought it was a joke until his fiancée found out he was serious.

Now, the groom has threatened to ban his brother from the wedding if he goes ahead with the proposal, citing past family tensions and a need to keep the focus on his own special day.

Is the groom overreacting, or is he justified in drawing a firm boundary? Read on to see how this emotional dilemma plays out.

A man threatens to ban his brother from his wedding after he plans to propose during the reception

 

Family and weddings are both emotionally charged subjects, and when the two collide, tensions can rise quickly. At the center of this situation is a boundary about what is appropriate on your wedding day.

Weddings are universally understood to be a celebration of one couple’s commitment; it’s a day dedicated to their relationship, their plans, and their memories. That’s precisely why the idea of someone proposing to their partner during someone else’s wedding can be controversial and uncomfortable for many. (Inside Weddings)

According to wedding etiquette guides, it is considered inappropriate to propose at someone else’s wedding without the couple’s explicit permission.

This rule exists because a wedding is already a full emotional and logistical event, and diverting attention to a separate major moment can shift focus away from the couple of honor. Even when a wedding guest might mean well, the general etiquette advice is to avoid hijacking someone else’s special day.

Across wedding‑planning resources and etiquette forums, the sentiment is consistent: if someone wants to propose to their partner, there are many other meaningful times to do so, and choosing another couple’s wedding day, even with good intentions, can be seen as inconsiderate.

One planner quoted in mainstream media notes that weddings are typically planned with specific moments and timelines in mind, and interjecting another major life event can throw that off or distract from the newlywed couple’s celebration.

That said, there are nuances. Some online discussions suggest that if the couple getting married expressly invites a proposal at their event, and both parties are truly comfortable, then it might be acceptable. This still depends entirely on the couple’s wishes, and even then, not all guests may understand or appreciate it.

This context helps explain why the OP and his fiancée feel strongly about keeping the focus on their day: it’s a very common expectation that weddings remain centered on the couple getting married. Allowing another big reveal, for example, a proposal, can unintentionally overshadow that moment or create awkwardness for other guests.

At the same time, the brother’s desire to propose may come from a place of excitement or emotional comparison, especially if he felt slighted by how his sibling’s engagement was announced.

Feelings about fairness and emotional competition among siblings are real, even if the request itself was poorly timed. This is where family dynamics and communication become important.

Wedding planners and relationship guides often recommend setting clear boundaries early in the process, communicating them respectfully, and explaining why certain requests may not fit with the couple’s vision for their wedding.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

These commenters all agree that proposing at someone else’s wedding is highly inappropriate and selfish

This group emphasizes that the brother’s actions are manipulative and that he should respect the wedding day as the couple’s moment

These commenters recommend disinviting the brother immediately and standing firm against his proposal plans

They feel that the brother is acting out of spite and trying to manipulate the situation, turning his own issues into a spectacle at the wedding

These commenters support the decision to prevent the brother from proposing

Do you think the groom was too harsh on his brother, or did he do the right thing by setting boundaries? Share your thoughts below!