I was waiting for something to happen, everything else was going too well. I'm not used to my life working out well! It's good to be comfortable.
My hall is up 1 flight of stairs. Cool. When I rented the hall, I was told there was an elevator so I didn't worry about people getting up the stairs. I have some elderly AND disabled guests. But cool, there's an elevator, right?
The owner contacts me yesterday, through email, and with a little frowny sad face emote she writes that a DJ put too much weight on her elevator without her permission, broke the elevator and now it won't be repaired in time because it's too old to be repaired or some stupid shit like that.
No solution to the problem. Just a big bomb drop and then she wants to talk about meeting for me to make my final payment???
I am so angry and stressed out I actually had a panic attack last night. This is just icing on the cake. I am currently battling my stupid ass school with school things that are not my fault, I got my foot ran over accidentally by an electric wheelchair at work yesterday (I'm okay, just cranky and sore), I dropped my phone and now the screen is fucked up, my nursing home is close to closing and so I'm worried about losing my job. I lost control and had a panic attack last night, and now I just need to vent and have someone tell me it will be alright. As FI said "it was a perfect storm of bullshit".
I started like hyperventilating and I knew what it was, I never had one before but I study mental health so it's kinda interesting to be on the other side of it. Neat experience when you see it all the time but never had one. I don't really remember dropping my phone I just laid on the bed and sobbed way harder than I ever had before. I also had heart palpitations that I usually get when I get really stressed out. It took about an hour to stop freaking out and to get my body back under control, and after I was so, so tired. Later last night when I calmed down, I skyped my FI, ate some dinner, took a few motrins and passed out for like 14 hours. I feel way, way better today, although I have some anxiety still about everything going on. That's not going away anytime soon.
Anyway, thankfully FMIL stepped up and offered to take this situation off my hands. She is contacting the owner to talk about options, and to gently remind the owner that it's illegal not to have a safe way for the disabled to get in and out of buildings. I am going to just stay out of it for now. She's helping to pay so she has just as much weight on things as I do. She also handles confrontation really well. I can't fight every single battle at once, so it's a big relief to have this off my shoulders.
The options we came up with just to get us through our wedding are to either give us a STEEP ass discount for the inconvenience this causes us (doesn't solve the problem, but it makes me feel less shitty), for her to get a stair lift or something, OR for her to find us another venue right the fuck now. Thank goodness I have been contacted by several of my disabled loved ones who know it's not my fault and are being very kind and supportive.
Sometimes I just want to run away and be some weird floozy with no worries in like cancun or something.
My FI can't even do anything, he's on a business trip! UGH
I am going to have like 90 margaritas this weekend, fitting into my dress be damned.
TDLR; Had an interesting first time experience with a panic attack, my venue is discriminatory against disabled people. I am about to become a drunk that takes sleep medication for longer than the recommended time. Is my life even real?
UPDATE: My FMIL bullied the venue owner into fixing it. The solution was to move the reception to the B&B where we are having the ceremony. I am happy with this solution, I suppose. There are pros and cons. The biggest con is the weather in Michigan is so hard to predict. If it rains I swear I'll cry. I guess we could get some cool photos.
The owner rented some tents. The ceremony chairs gets cleared out and then it's just this lovely little patio with lights hanging over it. The bar is right off the side. I asked her a million and one questions about how this all will play out, so I think it will work.
The backyard of that place is really beautiful. It's a garden with a lovely gazebo and bar, with a river even! It's really grown in and why I based my entire wedding on garden flowers and teacups.
I'm going to have to find a sunscreen dispenser that is really cute. People might have to sit at their tables to watch us get married. I will make the best of it.
She throws weddings back there all the time, I was just worried I would have too many guests to fit. Well I planned for 200, got 130. I don't remember what her backyard cut off was, but I know she said she had a 120 person wedding back there.
My officiant can make an announcement at the end of the ceremony.
Thank god I have a good head on my shoulders and am a laid back bride, right? I am actually loving the idea of this happening.
Any suggestions for an outdoor reception?