Weddings are a stressful business, especially when people feel the need to offer unwanted opinions on everything from the flavour of the cake to the arrangement of the flowers.
And while most people know other people's wedding choices are none of their business, there are a select few who believe their take on someone else's big day is as important as the bride and groom's.
One person, who has left Twitter reeling, is of the opinion that a chosen bridesmaid should take a step back from proceedings, due to the fact she walks with a limp.
Yes, you read that right.
In a letter to 'Dear Prudence' on Slate, one user deemed it appropriate to suggest their daughter might reconsider her choice of bridesmaid on account of the woman's 'birth defect'
"My 27-year-old daughter and her best friend, Katie, have been best friends since they were 4. Katie practically grew up in our house and is like a daughter to me," the letter begins.
"My daughter recently got engaged to her fiancé and announced that Katie would be the maid of honor (Katie’s boyfriend is also a good friend of my future son-in-law). The problem is that Katie walks with a pretty severe limp due to a birth defect (not an underlying medical issue)."
"She has no problem wearing high heels and has already been fitted for the dress, but I still think it will look unsightly if she’s in the wedding procession limping ahead of my daughter."
Disclaimer: You may need to take a deep breath before reading on.
The writer continues: "I mentioned this to my daughter and suggested that maybe Katie could take video or hand out programs (while sitting) so she doesn’t ruin the aesthetic aspect of the wedding."
"My daughter is no longer speaking to me (we were never that close), but this is her big wedding and I want it to be perfect."
The letter concludes with a jawdropping finisher: "All of the other bridesmaids will look gorgeous walking down the aisle with my daughter. Is it wrong to have her friend sit out?"
And Twitter is officially dead.
Thankfully, Prudence wasted no time filling the writer in on the many, many reasons the letter could be deemed little short of a disgrace.
"I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this letter. I encourage you to reread it and to ask yourself that time-honored question, “Do I sound like a villain in a Reese Witherspoon movie?” Prudence replied.
"This girl is “like a daughter” to you, and yet you want to shove her to the side of your other daughter’s wedding just because she walks with a limp," Prudence marvels.
"Your daughter’s wedding will be perfect with Katie as a full and honored member of the bridal party. A limp is not a fly in the ointment; it’s a part of Katie’s life."
And the clincher?
"It is not only wrong to have asked your daughter to consider excluding her best friend over this—it is ableist, and cruel, and it speaks to a massive failure of empathy, compassion, and grace on your part."
Well said Prudence, well said.