Okay, so I (28F) am getting married in a few months to my fiancé, *Steve* (32M). I’ve been planning this wedding for a while, and everything is pretty much set. But recently, a huge issue came up, and I’m not sure if I’m being unreasonable about it.

My best friend *Dana* (30F) is someone I’ve known for over 10 years. She’s a little “out there” in terms of lifestyle, but I love her because she’s super supportive and always ready to help when I need it. She’s also a huge animal lover, and recently, she got a pet snake. I’ve never been a fan of reptiles—like, at all—but I respect that she loves her snake and treats it well.

So, here’s the problem. Dana has made it VERY clear that she wants to bring her pet snake, *Hercules* (yes, I’m not kidding, she named it that), to the wedding. She claims that *Hercules* is “basically a family member,” and that “he’s part of her support system,” and that it wouldn’t feel right to be without him on such an important day.

I told her, “Dana, I love you, but no. This is a formal, indoor event with a lot of people. A snake is not appropriate for a wedding.” She got really upset and accused me of “not respecting her choices” and “being ableist towards her emotional support animal.”

Now, I’ll admit, I’m a little on edge because I don’t know the first thing about snakes, and the thought of one slithering around near guests is making me nervous. Also, I have a cousin who’s TERRIFIED of snakes, and I know it would be a disaster if *Hercules* showed up.

After I said no, Dana stopped responding to me for a few days, and now she’s texting me about how “no one understands how important Hercules is to her.” She even suggested that I *should* allow him to be there because it’s “just a small ask” compared to the bigger wedding details.

I feel like I’m stuck between wanting to maintain my friendship and standing my ground about what’s appropriate for my wedding. But I also don’t want her to feel alienated because she’s my best friend. So, AITA for not letting her bring her snake to my wedding