Dear Coleen,I got married in May and my best friend, who I’ve known since I was 13, behaved really badly in the run-up to the wedding and on the day itself.I was focused on the arrangements and enjoying my wedding day, but now I’ve had time to process it, I’m getting more and more annoyed with her attitude and don’t know how I should talk to her about it.First of all, instead of being happy for me, she was either negative or disinterested, then when it came to the hen do, she made me change the date to fit in with her schedule and later said she couldn’t make it at the last minute. She couldn’t care less that everyone else put themselves out for her.On the wedding day itself, she showed up in an off-white maxi dress, which raised a few eyebrows, but I let it slide and told her she looked great. She went back to her hotel early, so missed the cake-cutting and dancing and, in every single photo taken from the day, she has a face like a wet weekend.I feel she’s really let me down and hasn’t behaved like a friend. I understand she’s had a rough time with relationships and has been single forever, but I feel hurt if she’s taking it out on me. What do I do?Coleen says,Ouch! I think weddings can bring out the worst in some people unfortunately. But the main thing is not to let whatever is going on spoil your memories of your special day.It sounds like you navigated it well and had a fantastic time with your other friends and your family, so that’s what matters. As for your friend, I think this attention-seeking behaviour could be down to jealousy, but it’s probably less about you and more to do with her own unhappiness or insecurities.Your wedding perhaps brought it home to her that she’s not where she wants to be in her life, but of course that’s no excuse to behave badly and try to spoil things for you. Don’t let her think she’s got under your skin.If I were you, I’d say something like, “I had such an amazing time at the wedding and everyone else loved it, but you didn’t seem to enjoy yourself. Is there anything going on?”Maybe you’ll get some honesty from her that’ll help you move on positively as friends but if you don’t, then let it go and focus on enjoying this exciting time in your life.It’s hard when something shifts in a close, long-standing friendship, but it happens and people change, life takes you on different paths, circumstances intervene and so on. You might always know each other, but just not in the way you did when you were younger.Coleen’s words of wisdomI’m not a fan of that motivational phrase “No one is coming to save you” because I believe people show up for each other all the time – from small acts of kindness to bigger interventions. Be someone who checks in.
'My best friend ruined my wedding day'
Coleen advises a reader who doesn't know how to tell her bestie that she spoiled her big day with her selfish antics. The friend even turned up wearing a white dress!







