I (28F) am getting married this summer to my fiancé (29M) and we’re doing kind of a small outdoor wedding at a botanical garden, it’s super cute and been my dream since forever. No kids, no pets, just like… adults chilling, flowers everywhere, romantic vibes, y’know?

So here’s the issue. My brother (26M) has a dog that he calls his emotional support animal. It’s a golden retriever, very sweet, whatever. He brings her everywhere. Like even to restaurants that don’t allow dogs technically, and somehow no one ever stops him bc she’s got this little vest on. (I don’t even think it’s a legit service dog thing but I haven’t said anything.)

Anyway he asked me last week if he could bring her to the wedding and I told him no. The venue has a no pets rule, and I also just don’t want a dog at my wedding?? It’s not a casual backyard BBQ, it’s like… flowers, rented chairs, fancy outfits, you get it. Plus my fiancé is lowkey allergic. Not majorly but enough that it’d be annoying.

He got kinda pissed and said I’m being “ableist” (he has anxiety, not anything physical) and that I’m putting my aesthetic above his mental health. I told him he could bring a fidget cube or smth instead and he hung up on me lol. My mom thinks I should just let it go and let the dog come bc “it’s one day” and “family is more important.” But like… it’s my one day??

I feel like if it was a legit service dog like for blindness or seizures or whatever that’s different. But this feels more like emotional blackmail.