So this happened a couple of months ago, and I still feel weird about it.

My sister married into a Somali family. We’re not Somali, but our families had been getting along great—until the wedding. The ceremony was beautiful, intimate, and honestly felt really wholesome. My sister looked stunning in her white dress, and I even brought her this lovely handmade sweater to wear later since the evening was going to get cold. It was something personal, warm, and thoughtful. She loved it when I gave it to her earlier that day.

Then came the reception… and the in-laws.

I kid you not, they showed up with trays of gold. Literal trays. Bangles, necklaces, earrings—you name it. As if that wasn’t enough, they began placing the jewelry on her in front of everyone. And don’t get me wrong, I know it’s part of their culture, and I totally respect that. But it didn’t feel like it was about welcoming her. It felt like a show.

All the women wore these insanely vibrant baggy sort of kaftans, sparkling headscarves, even coordinating gold accents. They looked beautiful, but again, it felt like it was all meant to upstage. My family? We were dressed nicely, but modestly. Nothing flashy.

My sister had a wild look in her eyes while the music blared on. She was enjoying herself even through this show. I felt… embarrassed. Not for my family, but for her. Like they hijacked the moment to make it theirs. So I quietly got up and left. No scene, no tears. I just didn’t want to sit through what felt like a cultural flex rather than a celebration of two families coming together.

She texted me later asking why I left. I just told her I wasn’t feeling well. Maybe that makes me a bad sister, but I just couldn’t watch her get buried in gold while wearing the sweater I gave her. It felt symbolic in a way I wasn’t ready for.

Still not sure if I overreacted.