Sorry but I just need to vent. My guests vetoed my ceremony!!!!!
It was an outdoor wedding, short ceremony (10 minutes I guessed, but it turned out to be 8) and it was in the mid-80's. Apparently, that's just too hot for my guests comfort (note: overwhelming majority weren't elderly) because rather than make an aisle for me to walk down they just hung out nearby under a tree.
People asked what I was waiting for and I explained I was waiting for them to rejoin the ceremony site - and that message was relayed, so I know they knew. I also used four pumpkins to define the aisle space. They just didn't care. I guess they thought any wedding in a park doesn't count.
My poor MoH finally just asked me "Um... Should I just go?" I told her I guess so - but I then had to tell her where the stone step up was as it was where everyone was hanging out. When my turn came I walked with my dad through an empty space and then had to ask most of my guests to get out of my way so I could use the stepping stone to get up to the groom. They all just laughed. Apparently, blocking a bride's processional is hilarious if it's not your wedding.
When it was over we were supposed to walk up the aisle while people blew bubbles - but even the people who didn't watch the ceremony from way off to the side still didn't leave us an aisle. After all, no one else made one! My DH asked what we should do instead so I just guessed we had to go to the picnic tables.
Now all the shots of the ceremony are at weird angles (and still have the back of peoples' heads in them) because even with her telephoto lense the photographer had no aisle to shoot down!
I asked one of my guests later on what happened and she just said "Well, the pumpkins seemed like they were at a wierd angle, so...." She shrugged. The pumpkins formed a long, thin rectangle leading straight to the minister and groom - how is that weird? Then my 'friend' said "Don't worry about it. Everyone had a good time. It was so informal!"
Yeah, it was informal - because that's what they wanted. Then they told me they'd lay the food out on the table (I was running late) and that I couldn't help because it was 'my day,' but no one wanted to move the cake so it sat on a garbage bag at some other table. I had this whole martha-Stewart-esque banquet table planned, but seeing as their was no time to pick up the flowers I guess that was never going to happen anyway.
I really don't mind the table and the garbage bag, but to have my own guests tell me I couldn't walk down the aisle because it was a sunny day... I felt like a sh*tty little kid being yelled at for asking for something too expensive at Christmas, or like I wasn't 'worth' something I guarantee they all plan on for their weddings.
During the day I kept thinking "This must be what it feelsl ike to lose an election. All that work and planning and research and money... and then everyone just says "No."
Most of the pics and the cake came out good, at least. And it was a great day before the wedding started. Everyone else had a really good time. I just wish I could get amnesia so people could just show me the pics and tell me it went fine.