As the date got closer, I messaged her, just checking when the invites were coming so I could RSVP. Honestly, I was worried mine got lost in the mail or something.
That’s when she told me they decided to have a small Vegas wedding, and were only inviting 10 people because they were tight on money. No judgment from me, I get it.But then, the very next week, I got another message from them. When I opened it, I GASPED. It was a notice that they had decided to cancel the Vegas wedding altogether. Instead, they were planning a destination wedding in Hawaii! My jaw dropped. Hawaii? That’s not exactly the kind of place you go to when you’re ‘tight on money.’ I was confused, to say the least.
I called my cousin right away. ‘Hey, what’s going on? I thought you were doing a small Vegas wedding because of budget issues. Now you’re going to Hawaii?’
She laughed nervously. ‘Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. But here’s the thing—my fiancé’s aunt owns a resort in Maui, and she offered to host the wedding for free. All we have to cover is flights and a few extras. It’s too good to pass up!’
I paused, trying to process this. ‘Wait, so… are you inviting more people now? Or is it still just the 10 of you?’
She hesitated. ‘Well… we’re expanding the guest list a little. But not by much. We’re keeping it intimate, you know? Just close family and a few friends.’
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. ‘Okay, that makes sense. So, am I still invited?’
She laughed again, this time more genuinely. ‘Of course you are! You’re family. I’ll send you the details soon.’
I hung up, feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was excited—Hawaii sounded amazing. On the other hand, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Why the sudden change? And why did it feel like there was more to the story than she was letting on?
A few days later, the official invite arrived. It was beautiful—a glossy card with a picture of the resort, nestled between lush mountains and a sparkling blue ocean. The ceremony was set for sunset on the beach, followed by a reception under the stars. It sounded like a dream. But as I read through the details, I noticed something strange. The RSVP deadline was only two weeks away, and the wedding was just a month after that. That seemed rushed, especially for a destination wedding.
I decided to talk to my mom about it. She’s always been the voice of reason in our family. When I told her about the sudden change of plans, she frowned. ‘That does seem odd. Did she say why they’re rushing it?’
I shook my head. ‘No, she just said it was a great opportunity and they didn’t want to pass it up.’
My mom sighed. ‘Well, I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Just make sure you book your flights early. Hawaii isn’t exactly a last-minute kind of trip.’
I took her advice and booked my flights that same day. As the weeks went by, I couldn’t help but notice that my cousin was being unusually quiet. Normally, she’s all over social media, posting countdowns and wedding planning updates. But this time, there was nothing. No photos, no updates, no nothing. It was like she had gone radio silent.
The day of the wedding finally arrived. I landed in Maui and made my way to the resort. It was even more stunning in person—the kind of place you see in travel magazines. I checked in and was given a lei, a traditional Hawaiian flower necklace, as a welcome. The staff was friendly and efficient, and I could see why my cousin’s fiancé’s aunt was proud of the place.
I headed to my room to freshen up before the ceremony. As I was unpacking, I heard a knock on the door. It was my cousin. She looked… different. Not in a bad way, but there was something in her eyes that I couldn’t quite place. She hugged me tightly, and I could feel her trembling.
‘Hey, are you okay?’ I asked, pulling back to look at her.
She nodded quickly, forcing a smile. ‘Yeah, I’m fine. Just… a lot of emotions, you know? Wedding jitters.’
I studied her face. ‘Are you sure? You seem… off.’
