As for "inviting myself to be a bridesmaid," that was totally her decision. Yes, I brought up the fact that I was surprised I wouldn't be in it but a) this was several months after she told me she was engaged and b) we're close enough that I could be honest about that. She didn't have to ask me just because I said that. In retrospect, I wouldn't have said it, I didn't mean to sound like I was butting into her wedding. But hearing a statement like that is your opp to explain your cousins all filled the spots, not ask me out of pity (if that's what she did). Plus, it did it did throw me off that she "didn't plan to ask" but had my dress already designed for me.
Anywho, I don't mind the task at all. I'm happy to assist in her special day any way she wants me to (and I don't have to wear those stripperesque shoes she picked out--my friend is wonderful but I'd rather go barefoot). When I told my other friends this, they all got super indignant on my behalf like I had been mortally wronged and I didn't feel that way. But as I'm the only one out of our circle of mutual friends who's been cut, I wondered if I really had been sniped and didn't know it, lol.
