<p>Julie, congratulations! I’m sorry about the bad stuff, but I hope the good stuff is a taste of things to come in a very happy marriage!</p>
<p>It sounds like you managed everything that could be managed. Relatives cannot be managed, unfortunately. Glad you and your guests had a wonderful time – that’s what matters!</p>
<p>No, it’s the right thread, just an older post. Sorry!</p>
<p>Best wishes for many years of good fortune and happiness! Sounds like the good far outweighed the glitches and that you have a very good perspective on things. </p>
<p>I would focus on the great parts and not dwell on the things that didn’t go exactly according to plan. However, I would ask that the museum refund you a part of the venue fee as well as the set up fee. Ditto the dress. There should have been no excuse for that. </p>
<p>You’re right that your mom and sister needed to be told exactly what time they had to be there, especially since your mom sounds disorganized to begin with. All’s well that ended well, though! Travel plans the DAY before, though ? Really?!?! </p>
<p>Your aunt had some nerve. Wow. How dare she!</p>
<p>Sorry, football, MommaJ had made a very similar post right before that in another thread. My mistake :)</p>
<p>Julie - I’m glad that for all the good things that went well. Don’t feel bad about your Aunt. She sounds like the kind of person who was just looking for a reason to start screaming at you and your new husband. Either of you could have said anything and she would have still done it. </p>
<p>Enjoy your new married life!!!</p>
<p>roske said exactly what I was thinking as I read your account of the wedding: “I would focus on the great parts and not dwell on the things that didn’t go exactly according to plan.”</p>
<p>My suggestion is that you re-write the wedding story in your head starting right now to minimize the dramas and maximize the happy moments, gorgeous decorations, delicious food, etc. Don’t let your relatives create a negative family legend you will have to live with forever. Repeat after me: “There were a few little hiccups but I married the man I love and our wedding was beautiful.” Congratulations, I’m so happy for you!</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the support leading up to and following the wedding, everyone!</p>
<p>As far as the wedding goes, I just wanted to post an honest blow-by-blow, but I really did enjoy our day and I am thrilled to be married. I am excited to get photos back from the photographer. I would love to share how the centerpieces and other parts turned out, and the general vibe and look of the reception was definitely influenced by all of you! </p>
<p>I think initially I was really deflated by the sting of my aunt’s behavior, but it really is something she does all of the time and reflects poorly on her and not on me. </p>
<p>Oh, some other good stuff I wanted to share:</p>
<p>-One of my best friends and bridesmaid did my makeup and she did an absolutely fabulous job. I think I could’ve paid a makeup artist a good amount of money and not been nearly as happy with how it turned out.
-People LOVED the museum.
-This is a biggie - I have a cousin who is severely autistic, but as he has aged his behavior has been better managed. I think partially due to the fact that it was in a museum and there were quiet places to get away, this was the first major family event he has attended since infancy - he is 21 years old. I can’t say how special it was that he was able to be there.</p>
<p>"-This is a biggie - I have a cousin who is severely autistic, but as he has aged his behavior has been better managed. I think partially due to the fact that it was in a museum and there were quiet places to get away, this was the first major family event he has attended since infancy - he is 21 years old. I can’t say how special it was that he was able to be there."</p>
<p>Oh my, that tells us who you are. Congratulations to all !</p>
<p>Congratulations on your marriage, Julie! Can you describe the wedding favors that everyone liked so much?</p>
<p>Congratulations Julie! Thanks for the update. It sounds like you handled yourself beautifully. A couple of hiccups, an obnoxious relative, but so many beautiful memories and things that worked out great. After a wedding you have a marriage, that’s the most important part. :)</p>
<p>I also feel your description of your cousins participation at your wedding just speaks volumes about what a gracious and caring person you are.</p>
<p>Oh yes, the favors!</p>
<p>They were milk and dark chocolate pyramids filled with orange ganache. Delicious! </p>
<p>Oh, and random other cute story. My husband’s young cousin (I think he’s 5 or 6) attended the wedding as well, and our meal had pulled pork and Cajun corn as one of the entrees and sides. When my husband asked him what he thought of the food, he said “I didn’t like the meat on the bread but I liked the corn with the dirt on it.” Adorable.</p>
<p>Julie, it sounds like a very individual and special wedding, which was very much appreciated by all. As you say, your aunt has a history of pulling this kind of thing, and she would have found any excuse to do so. The rest of the family knows it already, so your H should have nothing to worry about. I’m glad people liked the favors. :)</p>
<p>Now I’m dying for pulled pork!</p>
<p>What a wonderful milestone for your cousin (and that you appreciate its importance)! The favors sound beautifull and yummy!</p>
<p>How can you not like pulled pork?! :eek:</p>
<p>Sounds like a great wedding. Boo hiss to the bad aunt.</p>
<p>Seems to me that if this is the bad aunt’s modus operandi, the very best response would be to act as if it never happened, thus depriving her of the attention. Perhaps next time you see her, both you and your new hubby can behave as if you didn’t even notice her at the wedding. If the subject comes up, you can look puzzled and say that all you remember is that it was a happy and beautiful day.</p>
<p>It sure does sound like it was a wonderful wedding. And kudos to you for doing so much yourself and sticking to your budget. I am hopeful that my own kids will do something very similar when the time comes.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>For my DDs wedding, I had no idea I was to be included in photos for the ‘getting ready’ shots 6 hours before the wedding. Luckily I have short hair that looked fine and could throw on my dress, but no make up. The photographer got some great black & whites which helped the make up issue. The photographer later told me she often has that issue, somehow that conversation between bride and photographer is often not specified to Mom. She is going to now make a note to tell Moms herself and I am going to mention it to any friends as weddings are discussed!</p>
<p>Julie,</p>
<p>Sorry I haven’t been keeping up. Congrats and best wishes to you and your new husband. Wishing you many many happy years together (where has the time gone; I remember when you were in the throes of the college process).</p>
<p>Thanks for the well wishes, everyone! Sybbie, it is pretty crazy how the time has gone. I remember I joined this site in junior year under the suspicion that I had done well on my PSAT, and having no idea what it meant for me. </p>
<p>Basically, as far as bad aunt goes, we’ve decided to pretty much pretend nothing happened. We sent her a very nice thank you note and we’re not going to bring up the issue around her. We are braced for future conflict but it won’t originate from us.</p>
<p>That’s the way to handle it! :)</p>