My Sister Demanded to Walk First at My Wedding, I Let Her – Just Not the Way She Expected

My sister demanded she gets to walk down the aisle at my wedding first, so I said yes, but never clarified what I was actually saying yes to. My older sister is 35, and her biggest dream in life is to have the perfect wedding. Unfortunately, her rancid personality means she’s never even had a boyfriend, much less a wedding.

Jessica’s the type of person to steal a homeless man’s change while he’s sleeping; that’s actually why her first and only talking stage ended. For the last 15 years, she’s blamed everybody but herself for her relationship struggles. The most recent example of this is when I started dating my boyfriend, Alec.

I kept our relationship quiet for six months because I knew what would happen. Sure enough, when Jessica found out by snooping through my phone, she ran to our parents crying that I was copying her by trying to get married before her. Our parents backed her up; they had the audacity to tell me to break up with Alec.

I didn’t listen, and that’s when Jessica started stalking us. When Alec and I went to our favorite Italian place, there she was at the next table. Things escalated about eight months in when she saw how serious we were getting.

She created a fake dating profile using my photos. She sent him screenshots of it, pretending a concerned friend had found them. When he didn’t respond, Jessica double-texted him saying she was here if he needed anything, and I mean anything at all, to support him through his breakup with me.

He showed me her text and we laughed about it. He blocked her number, but unfortunately, that was far from the end. My parents contacted me a few days later, screaming down the phone about why my boyfriend was isolating me from my sister.

According to them, Alec was controlling and I needed to leave him right away. I didn’t, and that’s what came back to bite me. About a year and a half into dating, I announced mine and Alec’s engagement at family dinner.

Everyone except Jessica and my parents celebrated. My parents’ faces turned sour. They looked at Jessica, nodded, and on cue, she stood up clutching her chest and collapsed on the floor.

My parents stopped all celebrations immediately, got everyone out of the house to make sure me and Alec didn’t get any spotlight, then rushed Jessica to the hospital. Of course, Jessica made a miraculous recovery on the drive. Me and Alec were already thinking of just not inviting her, but our breaking point came during our venue meeting.

Alec and I were going over details when my sister and my parents came in uninvited. Jessica was crying, and they all had this pleading look on their faces.

“Jessica has cancer.”

My world stopped.

“Doctors are giving me eight months, a year max.”

She then began sobbing harder.

“My only dying wish is to walk the aisle in a wedding dress. Can I walk first at your wedding?”

My parents immediately backed her up.

“It’s such a small thing to ask. She’s your older sister. She deserves this before she dies.”

I wanted to say yes—she was dying—but the thing was, it all felt so strange. They talked about nothing but her walking down the aisle, even when I asked what kind of cancer they had. Jessica and Mom gave different answers, and so I told them yes, but to give me a few days to confirm with Alec’s family.

I used those few nights to investigate. You see, Jessica didn’t know that Alec’s dad was a doctor, and once we told him our suspicion, he volunteered to dig a little through some medical contacts. Jessica had no idea it was happening.

Within days he had proof. Jessica never had any oncologist appointments, no chemo prescriptions, no medical records; she didn’t have cancer. At first, we wanted to call her and tear her a new one, but instead, we came up with a better idea: let’s give her exactly what she wants.

We went back to my parents that night and told them yes. Jessica’s eyes lit up immediately; she hugged me so hard and my parents told me they were proud to have raised such a selfless sister. I smiled back because I knew exactly what we were going to do.

You see, Jessica loved luxury and my parents had money to spare, meaning at every decision point, me and Alec acted like we had budget limitations knowing Jessica would insist my parents upgrade everything. This tactic worked for the photographer, flowers, even the venue itself and more. We got the best everything for free.

The absolute best part of it all was watching my parents and Jessica put themselves through hell to keep up with their cancer story. They spent money on ridiculously expensive medication so Jessica could take it in front of me, only to run to the bathroom and spit it out. Jessica started starving herself to lose weight and she even went as far as shaving parts of her hair every so often to make it look real.

I acted concerned every single time. Everything culminated on my wedding day. Jessica arrived in a dress that cost twice what mine did; she had a professional wig and makeup done, a photographer, and a bouquet bigger than mine.

When I saw her, we shared a huge hug. Our parents arrived minutes after, my mom dressed in red and my dad wearing his nicest suit. They hugged me crying, telling me they’d remember this forever; I told them the same.

We started heading inside, and it’s while going past security that it happened. I went in just fine, but the two 6’6″ security guards I’d hired stopped Jessica and my parents.

“You’re not allowed past this point.”

Jessica’s face went from triumphant to confused in seconds. She looked at the guards, then at me, then back at the guards.

“What do you mean we’re not allowed? I’m the bride’s sister.”

The guard checked his tablet.

“Your names aren’t on the guest list. I’m sorry, but we have strict instructions.”

My mother’s voice shot up three octaves.

“This is ridiculous! We’re her parents!”

She grabbed the guard’s arm, which he gently but firmly removed. Jessica started hyperventilating; her hands flew to her chest and she stumbled backward into Dad.

“My medication. I need…”

She collapsed onto the pavement, her wig sliding slightly to reveal stubble underneath. Guests arriving for the ceremony stopped to stare. An elderly couple from Alec’s side gasped as Jessica writhed on the ground.

My father dropped to his knees beside her.

“Someone call 911! She’s having a reaction! The stress!”

“No stress.”

Jessica gasped between theatrical breaths.

“My oncologist said…”

She clutched at my dress from the ground.

“Please, I just wanted to see you married before I—”

Mom whipped around to face the growing crowd.

“Look what she’s doing to her dying sister!”

Her red dress caught the sunlight as she pointed at me, the price tag still attached fluttered in the breeze.

“Denying her final wish!”

More guests gathered. I recognized Alec’s great aunt Martha clutching her pearls. Jessica’s performance intensified; she started making choking sounds while Dad fanned her with his jacket.

The venue manager appeared holding a folder.

“Is there a problem here?”

“Yes!”

Mom screamed.

“My daughter is dying of cancer and they won’t let her into her sister’s wedding!”

The manager’s face remained neutral. He opened his folder and pulled out a contract.

“Ma’am, I have documentation here showing that Jessica, along with you and your husband, were explicitly excluded from this event.”