Weddings: the petri dish of family drama
All sorts of your interests and lifestyle choices probably seem a little odd to your family, but until you’re planning a wedding, it’s easier to ignore the differences. It’s not until you have the combination of two families coming together, social anxiety, financial considerations, religious and cultural traditions that all these things are forced up into your face.
Lost ships: When election results strike fear in your wedding planning heart
It’s safe to say this recent election has brought increased tension to the (often already-dysfunctional) dynamics in many families throughout the nation. As the weeks go on, many of you (especially on the not-winning side of the election results) may now find yourselves feeling lost at sea in turbulent political and emotional waters. And if your shipmates in this metaphor are the family members with whom you most butt heads, it can feel like there’s mutiny afoot.
Oh, and all your seemingly-mutinous shipmates? They are invited to your upcoming wedding.
The 6 discussions you should have with your partner before the wedding
Is it getting down to the wire? Wedding date almost here?! Have you had these six big ol’ convos with your partner yet? Oh, it’s on. Time to start waylaying fears, saying thanks, and talk about TV shows. Wait, what? Yep, all of the above need to happen stat. Here are the six discussions before the wedding that probably need to happen.
…Because sometimes you have a wedding day brawl (+ some wedding crasher tips!)
I’ve seen a lot of stuff photographing weddings, but brawls are a different story. This is not the story of that time I totaled my car on the way to a wedding or that time the groom spent the wedding day grabbing my assistant’s ass. This is the story of Meggen and Jake and their wedding day brawl.
Kicking ’em out: how can we word our “zero argument” drama-free wedding rule?
We are no strangers to family and guest drama at weddings. Hell, we’ve got whole archives for family advice, family drama, and conflict resolution. People are people and people can bring the dramaz. You’re totally on the right path by nipping it in the bud early and diplomatically addressing the issue on your wedding website. Wedding websites are the best place to explain anything you want explained: dress codes, ceremony rituals, accommodations, and of course, any specific drama rules that you’ll be putting in place. Let’s talk about how to word it.
How to deal when friends and family don’t support your wedding
When someone refuses to celebrate your happy times, neglect, criticism, and even humiliation are often the emotions you experience. And that’s why is can be so hard and painful. My father’s negative reaction to one of the most joyous occasions of my life has been a really painful and difficult learning curve. But, most importantly, there are some things that I have learned about having unsupportive friends and family that I hope will help other readers in a similar predicament feel better…