I booked tickets to a music festival a few months ago. I only go to music festivals once a year. The tickets were $200 and I’ve been really looking forward to it. It’s been locked into my plans for a while.
But just last weekend, one of my close friends proposed and announced the date of his engagement party. It turns out the party is on the exact same day as the festival, starting at 5 p.m.
At first, I thought I could go to both: attend the festival, leave for the engagement party for a bit, and then go back to the festival. But I checked the festival rules and discovered they have strictly no pass-outs, meaning once I enter, I can’t re-enter at all.
I want to go to the engagement party to support my friend. When I told him about the clash, he told me he’d prefer that I sell my ticket so I can be at his engagement.
Now I feel stuck. On one hand, the festival is something I’ve been excited about for months. On the other hand, it’s his engagement party and I don’t want to let him down
Seems like a pretty easy choice to me. There will always be other festivals and opportunities to see a concert, showing up to support a real friend at a major life milestone is not something I would want to miss. I’m sure you can sell the tickets and not lose any money, perhaps even make a bit extra.
NTA but adult decisions aren’t always about what you want.
ESH don’t tell your friend you have festival tickets, you just cant make it and send a great gift. Or go to the festival and leave early or roll up late.
NTA. Go to the festival, enjoy the festival. Send your apologies and a gift for the engagement party. An engagement party is just a party with a few speeches.
Tell him you’ll go his next one
NAH. If you can sell your ticket, go to the engagement party. It will hopefully be a once in a lifetime event and attending means you will not disrupt your friendship. If you decide to attend part of the festival (and go to the engagement party), decide which act is your favorite and go see that one.
It is a matter of deciding which is more important to your long term happiness.
Well it depends on your taste of music and who is playing. But seriously you had a previous engagement and without details (how long between announcement and party in regard to the festival). Without that do something special/ great gift and you should be fine. After all that’s your thing (festival).
NTA. You had plans already. Also, an engagement party? They already are doing bachlor/bachlorette parties (I’m sure) and a wedding. Like, how many times do you have the celebrate the exact same thing? Maybe send a card or a small gift with a “sorry I couldn’t make it”but if this music festival is something you plan and look forward to then I wouldn’t cancel it.
NTA, you had an event planned before his engagement party. Go to the festival, and if it’s not too late stop by the party on the way home.
Go the wedding, engagement party is no big deal. You’re mate should understand
“I want to go to the engagement party to support my friend.”
Sorry, exactly what kind of “support” does your friend need? Is this engagement already in trouble of some kind? It’s just a party.
You not only have a long-standing conflict, but you have a long long LONG-standing prior conflict. Enjoy the festival. Guilt free
NTA.
I’d go to the party.
NTA You spent alot of money and planned this for a long time. A good friend would understand. It’s not like you’re missing the wedding – it’s just a party.
He prefers you sell your ticket? Tell him you prefer he change the date of his party since your plans were made already.