Hey , I'm so sorry you r going thru this. Not seeing you on mother's day bc mother in law more important. Nonsense . Sounds like the gf is a chip off old block of mom. Sounds like sons gf is a well....brat. idk best advice other than talk to your soon about how you'd like to be with him more , or make plans to take walks, lunches , etc things that don't break the bank. Invite son and gf or if gf doesn't come just son. Start to do all you can to make effort to be with son away from this so he can make sure it's what he wants . You are his mother , you deserve to be held high
7:35PM
Re: Gap Update
Then do those photos at the reception.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
My ceremony starts at 6:30 and goes until 7:00. Cocktail hour will be hosted at the same place from 7:00 until 8:00 with premium open bar and 8 passed hors d'oeuvres and the reception will be starting at the same venue precisely at 8:00. WITH us in attendance. Dinner will be served almost immediately and guests are free to stay as long as they like (though, IMO, they'd be missing out if they didn't stay until 10 when the late night snack will be served - red velvet coated deep fried Oreos with cream cheese frosting - aka orgasm in a napkin).
My photos will be taken at my venue (you know, the venue I willingly chose) during cocktail hour and any photos I want at another location will be organized for another day. Easy peasy.
My husband has been a professional audio engineer for nearly 20 years. It was extremely important to him. You know what we did to incorporate it? Had a grooms cake that was a sound board.
The big deal is that you're insisting on something completely unnecessary (photos at third location, but not before the ceremony or after the wedding day) at the expense of your guests. As so many people have already commented cocktail hour lasting longer than an hour is BORING. I've experienced it, specifically because the bride and groom were having so many photos taken. It feels like days. It's not fun, even if it's an open bar. And in this case, the photos weren't even being taken at a third site--they were being taken a 2 minute walk from cocktail hour! It was STILL excruciating, and all those cute bridesmaids/groomsmen jumping photos seem really stupid in light of the fact that they were taken while 200 people were waiting waiting waiting in a room without seating for everyone, and no idea when dinner was going to start.
But, you're probably going to have to be just a little bit more flexible here. If you can take a bunch of pictures before the ceremony, do it, especially those that don't have you and your FI together, like family pictures and bridal party. That cuts down on the number you have to do afterwards. I don't think the pictures you want will take nearly as long as you think they will. Be as organized as you can and just get them DONE, fast. Know what you want ahead of time so you don't waste time thinking of shots. Just do a few and go, a dozen maybe rather than a hundred. Just enough so you know you were there. Then get to your reception as fast as possible, by 5 at the latest. If you want more pictures, see if you can take them after the reception.
Am I missing that there is a reason your restaurant reservation is at 5? Why can't you have your 3 PM ceremony and family photos. Go right to the restaurant, have dinner, then go take pics at this bridge with just you and FI. Just move up your dinner reservation, to 3:45, so people can go right there if not required for family photos. Have some apps for them. Then you arrive at 4, start dinner immdiately. If your reception is just a dinner, you should be at the bridge by 7 and still have an hourish of light.
My dad worked for the railroad for 30 years until he retired. My aunt also worked for the railroad until she retired. I am just not understanding this obesession. I was taught to be respectful of trains. Standing too close to a fast moving train can can get you sucked into it. That if you can see the train, you shouldn't cross the tracks because its going much faster than it looks. And that it takes most trains a mile in distant to come to a full stop. My dad would have been pissed at me for my decision to have pictures taken on train tracks. But go ahead and have your pictures on the tracks, even with that permit.
Does anyone else feel that if this were a mining family, they would also be taking pictures at a mine?
This. You won't believe the number of cases we get where Plaintiffs claim the train "should have stopped." WHAT?! That's like trying to stop an apartment building. You can't do it in 2 seconds.
@OliveOilsMom @TheGrimReaper clearly you don't know what a TOP is...and again ladies, I'm not justifying myself to a bunch of internet strangers.
@OliveOilsMom @TheGrimReaper clearly you don't know what a TOP is...and again ladies, I'm not justifying myself to a bunch of internet strangers.
I quite like this idea and it may work! I will discuss it with FI
~ Push your ceremony start time back to 3:30pm, eliminate or limit the pictures after your ceremony, go to the bridge right after the ceremony and take those pictures, head to reception venue by 5pm and take additional family photos.
~Have ceremony as planned but move reception start time up, take pictures after ceremony, then head directly to reception and do the bridge pics after the reception.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."