Man Left Furious After He & His Fiancée Attend Family Dinner Where His Brother Proposed To Her

Sep 26, 2023

So much can happen when two people are engaged to be married, but one thing that Reddit user u/Equivalent didn’t have on his bingo card was the possibility of his younger brother proposing to his fiancée. In a Sept. 8, 2023 post, the original poster (OP) took to the platform to share his grievance with fellow Redditors.

The OP started the post by explaining that his brother, Mark, and his fiancée, Jenn, are exes. The former couple had dated for a month in August 2022 before his brother ended the relationship, citing boredom and unreadiness to get married. The OP explained that he wasn’t aware that Mark and Jenn had dated, as he was in another state.

“At the time they were dating I was in a different state so I had no idea he even had a girlfriend and I had no idea who Jenn was until I met her,” he wrote.

The OP met Jenn on his return to the state in October 2022, and the two hit it off immediately, eventually making their relationship official after a few more meetings. Two months into their relationship, the OP brought up the topic of introducing his girlfriend to his family and proposed a meeting with her at Christmas.

Although his family knew he was in a relationship, they didn’t know who his partner was, as he kept the details of his personal life private. Per the OP, they asked to see a picture of his girlfriend and began passing his phone around the dinner table. It was at that point that Mark figured out that the OP was dating his ex-girlfriend.

“Mark saw it and blew up calling me a sh*t brother for dating his ex girlfriend and he demanded I break it off with her. I refused,” the OP wrote.

After hearing Jenn’s side of the story, the OP moved on with their relationship and assumed Mark was over the situation when he stopped whining about it. On Jenn’s birthday, the OP planned a dinner where he popped the big question in the presence of both families and Jenn’s intimate friends in attendance. Mark, who was seemingly offended by the proposal, put up a show that was quelled by the OP and his sisters.

Two months after the proposal, Mark was quiet about the situation, but it wasn’t a problem for the OP as he assumed that Mark was deliberately maintaining minimal contact with him. That quietness was interrupted when Mark invited the OP, Jenn, and the rest of the family to a dinner at his place. Although the OP felt something was amiss with the invitation, he decided to accept it since the rest of the family was going. All was going well with the dinner until Mark went on bended knee to propose to Jenn.

“About 30 minutes into normal conversation Mark stood up and told us he had an announcement. He made a long speech about being happy to have his family around for his big moment then got on one knee and pulled out this cheap ring while asking Jenn to marry him,” he wrote.

Needless to say, Mark’s ill-thought-out move marked the end of the dinner, with Jenn confused and the OP throwing a punch at Mark for his actions. In response, Mark told the OP that he was trying to prove that Jenn was with him only because she wanted to spite him for ending their one-month relationship. The OP ended the post, expressing worry that Jenn might be having second thoughts about going on with their engagement.

Readers on the platform took to the comment section to share their views about the post, with most advising the OP to pay his brother no mind.

“Wow, he’s that ex. It sounds like your brother needs more time away from Jenn before he can be a normal acquaintance/FBIL. You and Jenn should go LC (low contact) for at least 6mo to 1y to ensure he moves on properly,” a user commented.

“Block your Brother out of your life for good, that's the only way you and your fiance will be able to live peacefully. Don't listen to 'he's family' BS if anyone tries to give it to you,” a second user commented.

“A woman who wants to marry you isn't going to back away from it over a crazy brother she probably doesn't like much anyway (and with who you'll probably go NC/LC (no contact/low contact) anyway). Only your own actions can do that. So handle it as an adult and don't engage your infantile brother at his level. Apologize to her and set up a nice date to wash off the stench,” a third user wrote.

“Why are you talking to your brother for? Hes obviously jealous, and you'll get no sense off him. He proved that by proposing to your fiancee in front of the family. He has no respect or morals. Im guessing he though(t) Jenn would stay home moping about how she lost the best thing ever, when in fact she went out and found you. It hurts him to see her happy,” another wrote. “Dont bother speaking to him, and just block him. It will be for the best. Hes not going to give you his blessing, His side of the relationship doesnt matter. He ended with her because he didnt want to be tied down. Full stop. There nothing to talk about except his hurt ‘feelings’.”

What do you think of the OP’s brother proposing to his fiancée? Do you think the OP and his fiancée should go on with their relationship? What would you do if you were in a similar situation? Let us know, and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family members and other people you think would have an answer!