A bride and her father | Source: Midjourne\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou look beautiful, Emily,\u201d Jason said, taking my hand from my father.\n\n\n\n

The ceremony began with the priest talking about love and commitment, just as he had told us he would.\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time for the vows,\u201d the priest said, smiling at us both.\n\n\n\n

\u201cJason, you are my best friend, and I\u2019ve always wanted to marry my best friend. I promise to support you, to always laugh with you, and to grow with you. I vow to be faithful and cherish every moment we have together. In this life, and the next.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Bride saying her wedding vows | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

My sister sighed next to me, wiping away her tears.\n\n\n\n

\u201cJason,\u201d the priest said. \u201cIt\u2019s now your turn.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Jason looked at me and smiled, and then he turned to his groomsmen, causing them to snigger.\n\n\n\n

A bridesmaid crying at a wedding | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmily, my love,\u201d he said. \u201cI promise to always be there for you, even when you\u2019re nagging me to take out the trash because you think the house smells.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Jason\u2019s groomsmen chuckled.\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ll always hold your hand, especially when we\u2019re walking through spider-infested areas because we all know how much you love those eight-legged critters.\u201d\n\n\n\n

The groomsmen laughed louder. Some of our guests joined in.\n\n\n\n

Groomsmen laughing | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

And still, Jason continued.\n\n\n\n

\u201cI vow to remind you to pick up your dragging feet when you walk, so we can avoid another trip to the emergency room like that time you tripped over absolutely nothing. And to taste all the burnt lasagna in the world because that\u2019s your signature dish.\u201d\n\n\n\n

The more Jason spoke, the more embarrassed I got.\n\n\n\n

Groom reading his vows | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

I frowned at him, hoping that he would understand that there was nothing beautiful or romantic about his words. But he ignored me and continued.\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlso, I will tolerate your singing in the shower. It may sound like a cat in distress but at least it makes me appreciate good music! And most importantly, Emily,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\n

\u201cI promise to forgive you for basically forcing me to propose to you after you left those bridal magazines all over the apartment.\u201d\n\n\n\n

My jaw dropped.\n\n\n\n

A woman in the shower | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t know how to react. Jason\u2019s groomsmen were all but falling over each other with laughter.\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally?\u201d I whispered to him.\n\n\n\n

Jason winked.\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, it\u2019s time for you to exchange rings,\u201d the priest said.\n\n\n\n

Jason\u2019s niece came up to the altar with the wedding rings tied onto a little cushion that she clutched tightly.\n\n\n\n

\u201cHere you go, Aunty Emily,\u201d she said nervously.\n\n\n\n

A little girl holding a ring cushion | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you, sweetheart,\u201d I said, taking the rings from her.\n\n\n\n

Holding the rings, I realized I didn\u2019t want to put Jason\u2019s ring on his finger. We were married now, all but for signing the registration book.\n\n\n\n

But after hearing Jason\u2019s vows, I didn\u2019t know if I wanted to be with this man.\n\n\n\n

\u201cGive me your hand,\u201d Jason said, pulling my hand.\n\n\n\n

He slid the ring onto my finger and held his hand out for me to do the same.\n\n\n\n

A bride putting on the groom\u2019s wedding ring | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n

My stomach turned. Suddenly, my dream bubble had burst. Nothing felt as it had moments before.\n\n\n\n

\u201cJason, you may now kiss the bride!\u201d the priest exclaimed.\n\n\n\n

Jason grabbed my waist and pulled me close to him, his other hand gripping the back of my neck. He kissed me without passion or feeling.\n\n\n\n

A couple kissing at the altar | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat on earth was that?\u201d I asked Jason when we were doing our photographs before the reception.\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d he asked, frowning.\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour vows,\u201d I said. \u201cThey were insensitive and embarrassing.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo! They were cute!\u201d he said. \u201cI kept them true to us.\u201d\n\n\n\n

A bridal couple talking outside | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou basically told everyone that I\u2019m a nag and clumsy. And that I forced you into marrying me.\u201d\n\n\n\n

I crossed my arms and waited for some kind of explanation.\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, come on, Emily,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone was laughing. It\u2019s not as deep as you\u2019re making it. Let\u2019s just do this photoshoot and go back to the party. I am starving.\u201d\n\n\n\n

I bit my tongue. I didn\u2019t have it in me to fight.\n\n\n\n

A smiling groom | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n

At the reception, Jason truly let himself go. He went overboard with the drinks and ate enough steak and potatoes to make anyone sick to their stomach.\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom,\u201d I said, kneeling next to my mother before the formalities began. \u201cI don\u2019t feel good.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, sweetheart?\u201d my mother asked.\n\n\n\n

\u201cJason\u2026\u201d I said, my voice trailing as the weight of my uneasiness set in. \u201cThose vows were nothing but an embarrassment.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe it was just nerves, Emily,\u201d my mother said. \u201cYou know how Jason can be sometimes.\u201d\n\n\n\n

A bride looking down | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Mom,\u201d I said. \u201cI just feel like the magic has escaped.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Soon after, the emcee got up and began the formalities. Jason\u2019s brother stood up and spoke about how we met and his first impressions of me.\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think Emily would stay!\u201d Jackson laughed, his beer bottle in his hand. \u201cBut I guess she knows how to deal with my brother.\u201d\n\n\n\n

It went on and on, and my husband ate up his brother\u2019s words, chuckling loudly.\n\n\n\n

A man giving a speech | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

Then, it was time for my father-in-law\u2019s speech.\n\n\n\n

\u201cLadies and gentlemen, I have a few words to say to my son and his new bride, the lovely Emily,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\n

I held my breath. I had always gotten along with Robert, and he had always treated me well. But I had thought the same of Jason until his vows were said.\n\n\n\n

A man giving a speech | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t know if I had to prepare myself for something from Robert, too.\n\n\n\n

If I had to be honest with myself, I just wanted to run away. I didn\u2019t feel like a bride. I didn\u2019t feel much like anything. I didn\u2019t even feel like myself.\n\n\n\n

I wanted to rip off my wedding dress and get into my comfiest pair of sweatpants. I wanted to cry.\n\n\n\n

A bride feeling sad | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

\u201cJason, do you know what makes a marriage work, son?\u201d Robert asked.\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh, love? Attraction? Chemistry?\u201d Jason said, faltering.\n\n\n\n

Who on earth is this man? I wondered to myself.\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s respect,\u201d Robert said, shaking his head. \u201cIt\u2019s about cherishing your partner and never making them feel small or embarrassed. Today, you turned your vows into a series of jokes at Emily\u2019s expense. That was not only inappropriate but also deeply hurtful.\u201d\n\n\n\n

A groom looking upset | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

I glanced around and saw some of the guests were shaking their heads.\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo teach you a lesson, Jason,\u201d Robert continued. \u201cI\u2019m going to share something about you that you might find equally embarrassing.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? Dad! Stop!\u201d Jason said, standing up.\n\n\n\n

\u201cJason still sleeps with a nightlight. He says that it\u2019s because he likes to read in bed, but we all know that it\u2019s because he\u2019s afraid of the dark.\u201d\n\n\n\n

A nightlight next to a bed | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

Laughter erupted through the room.\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd let\u2019s not forget about the time when Jason tried to cook for Emily and set off the fire alarm because he didn\u2019t know that normal people don\u2019t put metal in microwaves.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cDad, just stop it,\u201d Jason hissed.\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr about the time when he got drunk after a party, and insisted that he needed to sleep on the floor in my bedroom.\u201d\n\n\n\n

The crowd laughed louder.\n\n\n\n

A crowd laughing | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

\u201cI shared these stories not to embarrass you, Jason. But to show you how it feels. Humor at someone else\u2019s expense isn\u2019t funny, it\u2019s cruel. You need to understand the consequences of your actions.\u201d\n\n\n\n

I smiled at Robert, finally feeling seen.\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmily, on behalf of my son, I apologize. Jason still has a lot to learn about being a loving and respectful partner. But I know that he can do better, and I hope you give him the chance to prove it.\u201d\n\n\n\n

A smiling bride | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Emily,\u201d Jason said from beside me. \u201cI thought I was being funny, but I see how ridiculous I was being. Give me another chance.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cFine,\u201d I said. \u201cBut it\u2019s going to take more than just empty words to fix this.\u201d\n\n\n\n

I want to give us another chance, but something still feels very off.\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a groom | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n

What would you do?\n\n\n\n

If you enjoyed this story, here\u2019s another one for you |\n\n\n\n