Fat-Shamed and Uninvited: What This Viral Wedding Drama Teaches Us About Body Positivity on the Fertility Journey

Picture this: You’ve spent months as the Maid of Honor—planner of bachelorette parties, emotional support extraordinaire, and confetti-thrower-in-chief. Then, in one swift, not-so-glittery group chat message, you’re out. The reason? Your pregnancy weight. Cue the record scratch.

If this sounds like peak fiction, think again. This exact scenario blew up this week thanks to a Bored Panda headline that left thousands with equal parts outrage and “Wait, WHAT?!” (Check out the full cringe-and-catharsis saga right here).

So, what do we, as a fiercely supportive fertility community, learn from such a mind-bogglingly tone-deaf (and viral) moment? Spoiler: It’s more than “don’t fat-shame your friends.”

The Pregnancy Elephant in the Room (No Pun Intended, Promise)

Let’s get real: Pregnancy is a wild ride. Forget the Instagram clichés of “glowing goddesses”—for plenty of us, it’s more sweatpants and puffiness than flower crowns and sunlit bump pics.

Yet, just when you’re told to “love your changing body,” along comes a social landmine like being uninvited from a wedding because of, well, existing.

But here’s the thing—this isn’t just a wedding problem. The stigma around pregnancy weight is a shadow that creeps into all corners of modern family-building: from the clinic, to the grocery store checkout line, to the comments section beneath every baby-bump reveal.

Ask Yourself:

• How many times have you seen people apologize for their size (up or down) during fertility treatments?
• Do you tense up when shopping for maternity clothes, wishing designers would embrace more than just S-M-L?

If you relate, you are absolutely not alone.

Why Does This Keep Happening?

Let’s open the loop a bit wider: why is “fat-shaming”—especially during something as miraculous (and yes, taxing) as pregnancy—still so rampant in 2025?

Honestly? It’s not just about weddings gone wrong. It’s society still clinging to outdated, picture-perfect notions of pregnancy and family-making. It’s the subtle suggestion that your worth—and your place at the head table—depends on fitting someone else’s mold.

But what happens when your body decides to write its own rules?

The Fertility Journey: No One-Size-Fits-All

Whether you’re growing your family through IVF, at-home insemination, donor eggs, or any other path, every fertility journey is unique—and so is every body. Sometimes you need a plan B (or C, or D), and sometimes you need a support kit that actually supports you, quirks and all.

That’s where the real magic happens. Need proof? Look at the rise of at-home insemination kits with actual real-world empathy built in. Take, for example, the MakeAMom website’s range of specially designed insemination kits, including options for sensitivities, low motility, and beyond. Not only are these kits reusable and discreet, but the company’s average 67% success rate is a reminder that family-building doesn’t have to fit a one-size-fits-all box—or a one-size-fits-all dress.

Imagine a world where our pathways to parenthood are celebrated—not scrutinized for how we look along the way.

Lessons from a Viral Wedding Fiasco

So, back to our defenestrated Maid of Honor. What should we take away, besides “choose your wedding party more wisely”?

1. Empathy first, always. Even (especially) when people’s bodies are changing.

2. Social support is not optional. From the fertility forum to your best friend’s wedding, everyone deserves a seat at the table—no matter the dress size.

3. Advocate for yourself. If someone tries to kick you out of their life (or party) for something as personal as your body, send them your Venmo request and find people who get it.

4. Choose resources that honor your experience. Whether it’s a supportive friend or an at-home fertility product built for real-life needs, don’t settle for less.

The Real Invitation: Join the Conversation

Let’s make shame the uninvited guest at every fertility journey. Whether you’ve faced side-eyes while shopping for baby gear or felt left out in a friend’s big moment, your experience matters here. We want FamilyFoundry to be your safe (and judgment-free) space to share, vent, and learn.

Question for you: Have you ever felt excluded or judged during your journey to parenthood? What did you wish people understood about what you were going through?

Comment below, or share this post with someone who needs to hear they are already enough, exactly as they are.

Let’s rewrite the guest list—and maybe, just maybe, the world’s attitude toward pregnancy, fertility, and every wild, wonderful body in between.