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
July 12
Re: Gap Update
This. No one was talking about your TOP. I was speaking with another member of this board about our experiences with the railroads and how I would never think of a railroad as a play place/picture backdrop. No matter the circumstances.
The second option is to move up the ceremony closer to the reception to elimitate the gap, have a short cocktail hour, then go to dinner, and then drive to the third location for photos with the wedding party, which it sounds like the OP is considering.
My FI was originally super against doing a first look before the ceremony in order to let us get our photos done. It was seriously one of the only things he had a strong opinion about. There were two things that finally made him flip.
1) The $90/head open bar tab. We want the wedding party to make use of it! And we want to be at at least half of cocktail hour.
2) I came up with an awesome first look idea and, guess what, it is at a secondary location. The terrace that we are getting married on overlooks the Washington Monument through this clearing in the trees. It's beautiful. So our first look will be at the Monument. He's going to show up first and stand on the far side, and I'm going to sneak around the corner. What's cool is that it'll be this up close picture then from the terrace you'll see it from afar. It's also special because we run together and we do these "Monument Tag" runs (it's a perfect 6 mile round trip from my condo to the Monument). We're doing this at 3 then having the bridal party meet us at the venue at 4 for photos before our 5:30 ceremony.
What I'm getting at is that the train tracks could make for a super special first look, so maybe try not to rule it out. You could come up with such a beautiful picture that is even more meaningful because it's the first time he'll see you in that dress, so it may mean even more than just taking random pictures there. I wouldn't worry to much about him not having that dopey happy smile when you walk down the aisle, just because it isn't the first time he sees you. It'll be there.
My FI didn't want one either at first, until I reminded him how emotional I get over things like weddings and movies and babies, and wouldn't it be nice to do that in private instead of sobbing in front of all our friends and family.
When he thought about the opportunity to have an emotional, connecting moment with me in private, he changed his mind.
@GlitterWitch22 Wow! I was completely against doing a first look and now, I think I will definitely be doing one. Just casually sobbing at work now.
I can understand not wanting to do a 1st look- we aren't doing one either- but I LOVE the 1st look photos I have seen across the internet. I think doing one is something OP and her FI should seriously consider in their situation since the bridge is very much out of the way.
@phira I think earlier you said you don't get/don't like photos taken off site. I agree if they are super out of the way and an inconvenience to everyone. I'm totally ok with them if they are taken at a location(s) on the way to the reception or in the immediate area and if they don't greatly delay the reception.
ETA: Oh fuck, the more I look at those photos and read the article the more I am thinking maybe we should do one ><
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
Any other family shots can be done at our reception venue.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
Will this building is across the street from another university's chapel that everyone and their mother are obsessed with in my city, and get married in. Then they all haul it across the street to take photos in front of the building where FI did his PhD research. I also worked in a lab there for a year.
So FI feels that we actually have a legit reason to have photos there, rather than everyone else who just goes there because it has pretty columns and they got married across the street, lol.
It's ironic because I hated everyone taking wedding shots there. I got yelled at many times for ruining a bride's shot because I just happened to be leaving he building from the main entrance. *Sigh*
Hey genius photog and bride- this is a research building where people actually work, but it's not Charle's Xavier's Psychic Institute. So if you don't want people to ruin your damn photos how about you post info inside the lobby to warn us of your presence! Then we could use the side entrances. Or just get over it and retake the shot.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."