I’m an unemployed artist from Istanbul living off savings and commissions, while hunting for a visa sponsor. My older sister is getting married in November. She asked me to design invitations, menus, seating chart, a 12 meter aisle runner and live portrait during cocktail hour. Total labor about 120 hours… I quoted her £1500, huge family discount. She laughed, said the wedding already costs too much and I should be grateful for ‘exposure’ because her friends ‘love boho stuff’. Then she joked that my degree from Central Saint Martins was dad’s midlife crisis money. I told her exposure doesn’t pay rent and suggested she try Office Depot’s template section. She blew up, told our dad I’m sabotaging her big day. He says I should cave for family. I think she crossed a line. AITA?
AITA for telling my sister she can print her wedding programs at Office Depot after she called my art a ‘cute hobby’ ?
r/AITAH
Comments
NTA she crossed a line. You can take care of family after you’ve gotten even. No you should not “cave” for family.
Family or not, your art is labor and expertise, not a hobby she gets to exploit.
NTA, if she wants free, generic designs she can go to Office Depot, but if she wants 120 hours of custom art, she needs to respect that your skills aren’t a cute hobby.
NTA. I bet she can get a discount at VistaPrint.
NTA! Don’t do it.
NTA! The discount is already a huge wedding gift. CSM is so legit, congrats on getting your education there. You must be really talented and you have big things ahead of you. Don’t let family keep you down.
If you want to help that is fine. If it were me I would tell her to choose one of the things that she wants and you will do that for her wedding present.
NTA don’t back down.
My friend, your graphics will not make a final difference to her wedding, her marriage, or the memories you have of your mother. She can pound sand. Go in peace.
That’d be the end of the family discount for her.
You could bill her for materials and do the work for free “As A Wedding GIFT.” Then not actually spend any money on any wedding-related gifts.
Of course, then she’ll cry about how miserly you are not to give her anything.
Or, stand by what you already said.
I assume she’s one of those women you just can’t win with.
NTA
Your sister is ridiculous. Supporting living artists is so important to a thriving society., especially with the AI boom. Human creativity should be fostered and, yes, it has a price tag.
NTA.
Offer her full price if she doesn’t want Office Depot.
NTA
Hold fast on this – if your training and experience aren’t worth paying for, then why does she want your work? She can shove it.