Drunk Groom, Lost Eye & Celebrity Breakups with Cora Lakey
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
Ever seen a groom so drunk the venue owner had to hold him up for the cake cutting?
Yeah… it’s that kind of episode. Christa and Cora Lakey spill the tea on one of the wildest wedding stories ever submitted: Fireball shots, a missing glass eye, and a bride in tears.
From chaotic ceremonies to healing after heartbreak, this episode dives into what happens when boundaries vanish: on the aisle and in real life. Buckle up for celebrity breakups, red flags, and hard-earned lessons about love, growth, and protecting your peace.
Some weddings are beautiful. This one? Unforgettable.
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Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
02:18 Life Updates: New Beginnings and Viral Stories
04:05 Crazy Wedding Stories and In-Law Drama
07:04 Celebrity Breakups and Social Media Facades
13:14 Marriage Realities and Setting Boundaries
24:44 The Bachelorette and Reality TV Drama
30:59 Red Flags vs. Green Flags: Bridal Party Edition
33:07 Discussing Red Flags in Wedding Stories
37:47 Wild Wedding Vendor Stories
40:32 The Drunken Groom Disaster
46:31 Derek’s Glass Eye Fiasco
50:11 Wedding Confessions and Boundaries
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Dream Dress Derailed – A bride’s excitement is crushed when her mom says she can’t buy the dress because of her “back fat.”
- Cora’s Divorce Diaries – Cora shares how six months post-divorce brought her more growth than six years of marriage.
- Celebrity Illusions – Why perfect celebrity couples (and Instagram lives) aren’t what they seem.
- In-Laws Behaving Badly – The real cost of not setting boundaries early.
- Wedding Horror Story of the Year – A groom too drunk to stand, a glass-eyed guest crawling on the dance floor, and a bride who ran off crying.
- Generational Shifts in Marriage – How modern couples are redefining partnership and equality.
- Healing After Heartbreak – Learning self-worth and the power of starting over.
- Red Flag vs. Green Flag Game – The outrageous bridal party moments that test your patience (and loyalty).
- Boundaries Aren’t Mean – Why saying no is the most loving thing you can do for yourself.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “Boundaries aren’t mean. They’re how you take care of yourself—especially on your wedding day.” – Christa Innis
- “If someone’s money comes with strings attached, sometimes it’s better to say no.” – Christa Innis
- “Why do parents think they’re ‘giving us away’? I was already out living my life!” – Christa Innis
- “Your family should make you feel good on your wedding day, not add to the drama.” – Christa Innis
- “You deserve a wedding that feels like you—not a performance for everyone else.” – Christa Innis
- “Don’t accept money if it means losing control of your own wedding.” – Cora Lakey
- “I walked myself down the aisle because it felt right for me—that’s what matters.” – Cora Lakey
- “The people who push your boundaries usually have the strongest ones themselves.” – Cora Lakey
- “Weddings expose family dynamics in ways you can’t ignore—but it makes you stronger.” – Cora Lakey
- “Your wedding day is the perfect time to start doing things your way, no apologies.” – Cora Lakey
*This conversation is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek a licensed professional for your specific situation.
About Cora:
Cora Lakey is a lifestyle content creator and social media influencer who shares thoughtful reflections on wellness, personal growth, and life experiences, including navigating her divorce. She actively produces content on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, offering guidance and inspiration in areas such as self-care, emotional healing, healthy living, and mental well-being. Beyond sharing tips, she cultivates a supportive online community, engaging with followers to foster personal growth and resilience. Cora also adapts her content strategy across different platforms, blending storytelling, practical advice, and authentic insights to connect with a broad audience while encouraging positive lifestyle changes.
Follow Cora:
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A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi Cora.
Cora Lakey: Hi
Christa Innis: Krista. Thank you so much for coming back on. I’m so excited.
Cora Lakey: Thanks for having me back. I feel like it’s such an honor to be on more than once, so super excited.
Christa Innis: I feel like we just had so much fun last time we were just talking and it was like, old friends hanging out and we read crazy stories and just we wanna spill more tea.
Cora Lakey: Yeah. Yeah. I’m excited to spill with you or hopefully hear more tea. I feel like the stories we covered were crazy last time. Yes. So can’t wait.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
well I’m so excited to have you back on. I know I just said that, but I feel like last time it just like flew so well.
and what’s new for anyone that I did not listen to? Last episode When you came on, what’s new? Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Cora Lakey: Yeah, so a lot has changed since I was last on. I feel like I have a new name, new life, which is crazy. So I think last time we were together I was still in the Bay Area, just like kind of having my life implode.
my divorce was kind of just starting and now I’m six months in it. I’m living on my own for the first time in my life. I have two dogs and I think we got connected on TikTok. So I primarily post on TikTok, which is maybe how my audience knows me. And I first went viral there for a wedding story time that maybe could have been featured on this show.
and maybe it was an omen for the marriage working out, but you know, to give me a whole new. Career and, a lot of great relationships like with you, so, yeah.
Christa Innis: yeah. It’s funny all the stories like that get sent to me and like, I always wanna do like, follow up segments with people too, to be like, I feel like yours.
What had to do more with like, bridesmaids, right. And like a friend fallout. But like, a lot of times when I like hear about these crazy, like in-law stories that are sent to me, I’m like, I wanna follow up with people and be like, did the marriage work? Sometimes they tell me like, oh, this is my ex-husband story, or This is my ex we never made it down the aisle or something.
‘ cause I’m like, some of these stories are so insane where I’m like, how could you put up with that for a marriage? Knowing your in-laws hate you, or a sister-in-law hates you? that sounds like hell to me. That sounds terrible. Yeah.
Cora Lakey: And I mean, people are sneaky and I feel like, yeah, you just never know.
And I feel like if people are having those signs before they even walk down the aisle, it’s only gonna progressively get worse. So I agree. I wanna hear the updates. So anyone listening, give us the updates your lives. Yes.
Christa Innis: I know I’ve had a couple like brides come on and let me like, ask them any questions.
They come on anonymously and spill some stuff. but it was funny, one time someone came on and, she was like, yeah, things are, better than like where they left off. And then we like hung up and like, where we stopped recording and she was honestly, like things are like getting kind of worse again.
But like, I don’t wanna say anything yet because I’m not sure. I’m like, oh my gosh. like what is going on? Like there’s just, I don’t know, people deal with a lot of stuff in relationships.
Cora Lakey: Is it crazy? You never know what’s going on behind closed doors. And I feel like I’ve been trying to toe that fine line ’cause I’ve been talking about my divorce publicly, but I obviously haven’t said like the actual reasons publicly because you know, A, it’s no one’s business and I think there’s a fine line with creators, but BI think it’s like, I don’t wanna make anyone, I guess like second guess things going on in their relationships because you just never know what’s happening.
And even like the little tidbits I’ve shared, it is crazy. Like the dms I’ll get of like, oh my gosh, I’ve been through that too. Or I’ve experienced that scenario and on paper they look so happy. Or I’ll get messages from, you know, people with all their wedding pictures and they look so in love and they send me the craziest confessions.
I’m like, oh my gosh. So if you’re ever comparing yourself to anyone, like you really just can’t because there’s a reason why 50% of marriages end in divorce. You just never know what’s going on. And I think that’s especially important for me being 31 now and kind of starting my life over, like I want women to see my story and see other women that maybe, aren’t where they thought they’d be in life and feel encouraged because it’s such a beautiful chance to start over.
And also, like you just never know what you’re comparing yourself to. You’re only looking at the most glamorized version of people’s lives online, and sometimes it can be really easy to fall into that trap. So yeah, it is really crazy what that people don’t share. But when they do share.
Christa Innis: Yes, I know. It’s like that social media comparison game of like, you never really know what lives people are living because they wanna put up a facade or like, they just want things to look pretty.
And then that’s why like, I think a lot of times, like people are shocked with like celebrity divorces or celebrity breakups because they’re like, they look so perfect and beautiful and like blah, blah blah. And it’s like, well, we’re only seeing them as like a celebrity. You know, we’re seeing them in a movie or we’re seeing them on a red carpet.
We’re not like in their home. So we’re not, we’re only seeing what they wanna put out, you know? Right.
Celebrity Splits & Secret Friendships
Cora Lakey: Are we gonna talk about Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban?
Christa Innis: I was actually thinking that when I first said that, I was like, what? Because they’re like the og. They’ve together
Cora Lakey: a while. I know, I don’t know when this is gonna air, but in real time this is like breaking of like all the details coming out.
I can’t believe it. That’s a great example. You just never know what’s going on behind the scenes. They seemed so in love and dang, I’m shocked. I thought nothing would shock me anymore.
Christa Innis: But because I feel like in like celebrity or Hollywood years, even 10 years, even five years sometimes is like in celebrity marriages, that’s like a long time.
’cause it just happened so quickly. So they were going on 20 years almost. so have you heard anything else like about it? Like details come out.
Cora Lakey: There’s allegedly the Nashville community is saying there’s allegedly another woman that is involved. I don’t know how true that is, but I guess we’ll find out more.
It seems like day by day, but so today as we’re filming Nicole filed, which is interesting. Okay. So I think details are to come, but I can’t believe it. It’s so sad.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I know it. I had to take a double take. Wasn’t there? What other there was just another celebrity divorce, I feel like, where there was, oh, not divorce, a breakup.
Sean White and yes. Yes. I just saw that last week. And there’s all these cheating rumors about like he’s like dealt with cheating in the past. So I don’t know if it was directly on her, but now all these things are coming out. But again, this is all a legend. I don’t know, a legend, but all the players listening.
Yeah, they were always a shocking couple to me because I remember hearing things about him years ago that he was kind of like, full of himself. I mean,
Cora Lakey: I think just living in LA you hear stuff, So I’ve definitely heard some interesting stories about him as well. What man Who fumbles Nina Dore, you know, no matter what happened, it’s like, I know she seems amazing.
She’s so successful. Gorgeous, so funny. What a bummer. Yeah, I know. Yeah, that one shocked me too.
Christa Innis: Yeah. But then you, like I saw her on a back. Yeah, it’s true. Well, and then I just, I saw a post of her, she was like on a boat with like miles teller and like Zach Efron and someone else, and I was like, okay, she’s good, she’s fine.
Cora Lakey: You know what I find more interesting than the breakups is like the friend breakups, and I don’t know if there’s any substance there, but speaking of the tellers, and we have Taylor Swift’s album coming out on Friday. What’s going on there? What happened to Kelly Tellers? I don’t know. They’re just like, maybe they are.
But I’ve been thinking about that because Taylor’s obviously engaged.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Which was
Cora Lakey: another shock. I feel like we could just do like a top five wedding stories on this episode. Yeah. I swear so much is happening. But I’ve been thinking about who Taylor Swift bridesmaids would be, and they were super close at one point and now never see them together.
And like Yeah. I feel like Kelly would always post music in her tiktoks.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Cora Lakey: Now, no, he was even
Christa Innis: in one of her music videos.
Cora Lakey: Yes. Yes, she was. Yeah. Miles was too. So I’m like, what? What’s the T there? That’s what I wanna know.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I find that interesting too. well, and then the whole, like her and Blake Lively aren’t friends anymore, which is wild.
But also like, I feel like, I don’t know, it’s like once they get so big, it’s. They all have to have these really big egos probably. And it’s just like, don’t cross me. Don’t do, I don’t know, like, and then the lawyers get involved and it’s like messy and I’m sure there’s a lot of like secret friendships too that we don’t know about because like they just know the paparazzi’s gonna talk or media’s gonna talk and maybe there’s some that they wanna preserve to themselves.
Cora Lakey: Yeah. Protect your peace. Yeah, I completely understand that. Yeah. I feel like the tellers in particular are really good at like from what we see publicly, having those really good, substantial relationships. And they seem like they’re good friends, so love that they’re protecting Nina during this time. But yeah, that was a crazy one too.
Yeah. I mean, better, I don’t know your opinion on this, but I feel like it’s better to cut it off before the engagement if something’s going wrong than too late. And I think when you are. Yeah, just for, not even celebrity wise, but normal person wise, it’s so hard when financially you have so much involved in a wedding and you’re like, oh my gosh, I have to see this through, even though I don’t think it’s gonna work.
And yeah, it’s kind of sad.
Red Flags, Boundaries, and Toxic Wedding Tales
Christa Innis: Yeah. I’ve heard so many stories, like some have been sent to me that are like, they saw all the red flags during the engagement and the wedding planning, but then they felt like they had to keep going. Not necessarily just to like prove a point. But they were like, we put money in already, so like we just have to do it.
But like the one skit, which again, like by the time this comes out, I might be done with this skit, but this one skit I’m doing right now, it’s so long because of like the story that was sent to me and it’s like super toxic in-laws. Like I’m talking like the dad bought wedding dresses for the bride to try on from Amazon, and she was like, already said no, like, I’m going with my mom.
And he’s like, but these are cheaper, they’re more affordable. she’s like, I never said I need your help with a wedding dress. And then the mom like, bought, paid for the venue without talking to them first. Oh. So all this stuff, and I’m just thinking, I’m like, how do you like deal with something like that?
Like, I can’t even imagine you, I’m like, at least people like keep commenting. Like, they’ve gotta cancel the wedding, they’ve gotta cancel the wedding, but in the actual story, they get married. So I can only imagine what happens after. You know, it’s like, I don’t know, we hear all these like stories like growing up, it’s like Disney and all these, you know.
Things like that, where it’s the happily ever after. So we think you get to the marriage and that’s the finish line, but it’s like, no, that’s when your life continues or starts, or there’s so much more after it, and I feel like we’re just, yeah. Oh, like zoned.
Cora Lakey: Yeah. Oh my gosh. I mean, that is scary.
I feel like it just gets worse too when you have kids. I’m sure it’s like if they’re already poking the bear and kind of trying to assert what their boundaries are. Like once those people become grandparents, oh my gosh, you’re kind of locked in and Yeah, man, I don’t know. I feel like you marry your in-laws and that’s something that’s not talked about enough.
And yeah, if your spouse is not setting those boundaries with them, like, I mean, everyone has different boundaries, but you kind of have to gauge your comfortability with that. And I feel like I hear a lot of stories of men that don’t protect their wives with their in-laws. I mean mm-hmm. We all know some of my lore, but it’s crazy like what people think is appropriate and what isn’t.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And it’s like if you don’t put boundaries in place ahead of time, then they keep like sneaking in or it’s, what’s that phrase where it’s like if you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. Right. So it’s like if you are just like you say yes to things here and there, we see it time and time again.
But yeah. You bring up a good point too. It’s like once babies come, if they choose to have kids, then that’s a whole, like if they were badgering wedding planning, just imagine when you create a life that has their DNA Yeah. They think they have a right to that child. It’s wild.
Cora Lakey: Yeah. I feel like something I’ve really learned just through this last year and through my own, I guessI’m in like my, not to sound woowoo, but like my healing journey, just actively going through a divorce and I think it’s really opened my eyes to the fact that a lot of people wanna be married, but they’re not necessarily ready for what marriage is.
And I think generationally as well, that can apply to your in-laws, right? Like how things were done 20, 30, 40 years ago isn’t acceptable now. Right. And it’s about setting the foundation well because the person that you marry is going to see your parents die. They’re gonna see the worst days of your life.
there’s like just so many things that happen, like so many seasons of life that they’re supposed to be. They’re with you for, and it’s kind of crazy that I think a lot of people just wanna check the box of saying they’re married, so they’re like, oh my God, I don’t have to do this anymore, rather than really committing to what a marriage is and
Christa Innis: mm-hmm.
Cora Lakey: I mean, yeah, I just, the confessions I get too, it’s like I really don’t wanna tell people what to do ’cause I only see a limited view of what’s happening, but Right. I don’t, I would be comfortable with certain situations that I hear about.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And you bring up a good point about like what was okay or maybe like people allowed more and our parents generation is not okay now I think a lot more of us are looking for more equal partnership and if they come from a more traditional background where it’s like, maybe it was the mom stayed home and the dad went to work and, she’s expected to clean, you know, do his laundry and do all the dishes and do all that and cook and maybe.
That’s not what their life looks like. And I’m like, I see that all the time where it’s like, you see like people post about well, I work a full-time job and my husband does, so like we should split the home stuff. And it’s like, that is like a whole thing that the older generation doesn’t get.
’cause they’re like, well no, that’s not her job. Her job is this. You know? and that’s hard for people to come to terms with,
Cora Lakey: and especially with like a situation with maybe in-laws that don’t respect your boundaries, it’s like, oh my gosh, it makes everything amplified when they’re making things 10 times worse by asserting those opinions if there are those fractures in your relationship.
So yeah,I can’t even imagine. Glad I’m not dealing with that right now, but Thinking about that for the next phase of life? For sure.
Christa Innis: Yes, definitely things you can like, look out for. It’s like, I will say, and again, people change like, you know, sometimes unluckily, like once you get married or like as you date people and stuff. I will say my in-laws have always been amazing. Like, I met them within a, I wanna say like the first five days of meeting my husband.
Cora Lakey: What?
Christa Innis: yeah. he was like so excited and they were like having like people over for a barbecue anyway. And he like brought me there and, I don’t know, I was never used to like parents like his, like, they were just like, so like, interested in like, getting to know me and they were like so welcoming and they were like, right off the bat were just like, really cool.
I got really lucky. So when I read these stories, I’m just like, how? I don’t know. that’s why I can’t comprehend how people like. Stay with someone with terrible, like in-laws. ‘ cause I just, I’m not confrontational. Like I can feel tension when it’s like bad. I just don’t like it. And so if every time I had to go like see my in-laws and I was like, oh, they hate me.
Like, I couldn’t imagine that would be Yeah. So uncomfortable. I feel for his brides and
Cora Lakey: Right. It’s always the guys that like bring nothing to the table that have the worst parents. You’re like, what? Like you’ll hear these stories Andre, their whole life. Yeah. what did they bring to the relationship?
It sounds like you’re doing everything.
Christa Innis: Yes. They did their laundry till he was 28 or whatever.
Gardener or the Rose: Redefining Love After Divorce
Cora Lakey: Exactly. Exactly. Oh my gosh. I feel like I heard a really good saying on TikTok where it was like every relationship, there’s a season where there you have to be like the gardener or the rose and the roles can change.
And I feel like that’s a really big thing in relationships that I’m definitely looking forward to. It’s like in some seasons of life, you’re fully the gardener and maybe someone else needs more support, but it’s the ability to shift those roles and have the flexibility to shift those roles that I think is so important.
So, I Yeah. Like, I think it’s possible. And I, I just wanna encourage anyone listening that maybe you’ve been through a broken engagement or a divorce. There’s resilience and positivity and so much growth that happens through that. And I feel like this has been like the hardest six months of my life, and like the loneliest, but it’s also been the most growth, right?
Like, I think when I was married, I almost felt like I, it was like six months or six years of just like, wanting change and wanting, my life to change should be different and just feeling stuck. Mm-hmm. And in the six months, I feel like I’ve grown more than I have in the last six years, which is insane.
So, can develop and grow and change and maybe things don’t work out, but there’s still lessons out of that and there’s love on the other side of that. It’s great, and I’m surprised, like I feel like I was really scared to start dating again. I’m definitely very lightly looking like, not like actively seeing anyone, but I thought people would judge me so much for being divorced.
And it’s literally like doesn’t even phase guys, they’re just like, oh, okay. Like, which I was really surprised by. So if anyone’s like thinking about it or they’re like, oh my God, I don’t know, like I kind of want a divorce, but I’m too scared. It’s like, it’s actually not as bad as I thought it would be. On the other side, it’s like hard.
But dating wise, I’ve been very pleasantly surprise
Christa Innis: Good. I’m sure you’re like learning a lot about yourself too, especially like first time living alone, and I feel like a lot of times we like move from one thing to the next without really like absorbing like, is this making me happy or do I wanna do something different?
And like, we just kinda like, like you said earlier, like check the boxes. And so I’m sure you’re like really able to like, ask yourself those questions and be like, I’m just in your era of learning about myself and what actually is important to me?
Cora Lakey: Yeah. Yeah.have a crystal clear definition of what I want in a partner and I’m just not gonna settle for anything less than that.
And I think as women we naturally talk ourselves out of things or we’ve, been coached to kind of like settle for things and it’s like we really don’t need to, we’re so multifaceted, we’re so successful on our own. A man should only add value to your life and should add to your life, period. He shouldn’t detract from be sucking your life force out.
Right. And mm-hmm. Especially when they’re the father of your children. That’s gonna be especially critical because it’s those make or break moments in life that like you’re really gonna see who they are. And so yeah, I feel like I’m really crystal clear on what I want in a partner and I feel like before I was like, maybe I want this, maybe I want that, maybe I’ll be flexible.
And I’m like, no, I can provide that for myself and
Christa Innis: mm-hmm.
Cora Lakey: I want a man to be welcome addition to my life, not to provide something for me, for my life, Yeah. That alone is such a big lesson that made it all worth it, I guess.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I feel like all along we were taught, like growing up to look for the wrong things.
And not, maybe that’s a little general, but you know what I mean? Like the movies where it’s like the Prince Charming, they’re just like talking about like they look this way, they, I don’t know, whatever it is. Like they have all this money or they have this certain job or they have this, you know, and it’s like, but what beneath the surface, can they actually offer us?
Are they gonna be there when we need them for something? Are they going to support us in our own dreams and goals? Are they gonna be a good father and actually want to like be hands on? Or are they just gonna expect you to, you know, like those kind of things are the things we have to like think about, I think ahead of time.
definitely. I just had to think like 12 times.
Cora Lakey: And I think all of those lessons, which is interesting, like all those stories that are presented to little girls is all about how they react. Mm-hmm to these guys, they’re just put in your lap and it’s like, okay, well that’s look a Quasimodo. Like, Esmeralda was so vain for not being attracted to him.
And it’s like, well, okay, but like why is it on her to react that way? Or like, I don’t know. There’s just so many stories like Beauty and the Beast, right? It’s like all about why are we molding ourselves and pivoting to what society’s expectations are? It’s so strange to me and why it’s always, okay, let’s see how she reacts let’s see if she’s vain.
Let’s see if she’s, gonna put up with this. And it’s like, no, Why is Bell being, put in a situation where she’s being verbally abused and kidnapped and now she has to be okay with spending her life with this person. It’s insane. She’s been pleaser. It’s prelim mess.
Christa Innis: Exactly. Just be the caretaker. Exactly. Take care of the guy that like kidnapped you and fall in love with him because he had told me. Nice for you. Yeah. Wow. Oh my God. Give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s fine.
Cora Lakey: Yeah. You’re expected to be perfect and beautiful and smart, poised and the whole package, but it’s okay if he is literally an abuser.
Christa Innis: Right.
Cora Lakey: Okay. You know? Yeah. Yeah. I think those,stories do get into psyche of little girls and you grow up and you are like, oh my gosh, I’m so behind ’cause I’m not, married at 30 and I don’t have a kid. And it’s like, oh my gosh. those things do get to you later in life, so Yeah. Silly as it might sound, it does add up.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yes. Everyone’s got their own timeline. okay, I added a couple, a new segment this time, but I know we also wanna talk really quickly before we get to that. Let’s talk about the new Bachelorette from Mom talk.
Cora Lakey: I’m so excited I’ll actually be watching.
The Bachelorette Twist We Didn’t See Coming
Christa Innis: Yeah. So what are your thoughts? Are you a big mom talk, secret Life?
Secret Lives? Yes. Secret Lives and Mormon wives a watcher. I’m huge.
Cora Lakey: Like I’m their biggest fan. I will move to Utah and join Mom Talk. I love that. Like that is the only thing that could get me to watch The Bachelor Bachelorette again. It was getting so stale and I feel like a, B, C just never listens when the audience gives them feedback, so finally they do something interesting.
What I thought was interesting, a couple points that people have brought up is like, there’s almost a double standard with Taylor where she wouldn’t have passed the background check to go on the show. Right? Mm-hmm. And that is a big thing. Even though the case was dismissed against her. And if anyone doesn’t know what we’re talking about, like you can look it up.
But that is an interesting point. Like are they gonna be more flexible with the contestants because of that? Another point people brought up is like, why not one of the other girls? What about Layla or Miranda? I feel like they’d be great.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Cora Lakey: So I don’t know, did they pick the right person? Is Miranda, did they not?
Christa Innis: Is Miranda the blonde that just joined season two? Okay. So I was like die hard, love season one. I just have not gotten around to watching season two, which I feel like has been out. I’m so behind. Oh, to my God. I think I watched the first like two episodes and I was like, okay. I just like have, I need to find the time.
But I. Loved Taylor season one. And then some of my friends say it kinda like changes. And now I like love Whitney, but I don’t really like see her. I just see her on social media and I see her on Dancing With the Stars when I catch her. And I just love her like vibe. I don’t know what it is. I love her vibe now.
I did not season one, so yeah, that is really interesting. It’s,
Cora Lakey: you
Christa Innis: know what,
Cora Lakey: it’s interesting how interchangeable the characters are, right, of like, who’s the villain, who’s not. that was the biggest takeaway I had from season two. Not to spoil for you, but like, yeah, it’s like you would think Whitney Clear cut villain and all of a sudden it’s like, oh nevermind.
She’s fine. And yeah, so it’s crazy. We just, I guess we’ll have to see what happens, but yeah, it’s gonna be a good,
Christa Innis: you know what I mean? It’s funny because when I first, to be all honest, when I first saw them announced Taylor as The Bachelorette because I saw Alex Cooper’s like teaser. And I saw it and I was like, what?
That’s kind of disappointing. ’cause I was like, all these women that aren’t in reality TV yet, that are like, want the chance, you know? But then I thought about it and what you said. I’m like, I don’t watch Bachelorette anymore. I have not watched in years because I was just so like bored of it and it just didn’t make sense for me.
Oh, did we freeze?
Okay. I’m trying to think of where I was talking about. we’re having internet issues for those of you listening. but yeah, I just feel like, like saying like you were potentially a little Yeah, so I was saying like, when I first saw it, I was like kind of shocked ’cause I was like, oh, there’s so many women that wanna go on that have not been in the reality TV world.
So I feel like when they like, carry people over from one show to the other, I’m just like, ah, come on. Like, there’s so many people out there that want a chance. But then when I thought about it, I’m like, I haven’t watched Bachelorette in years, Bachelor or Bachelorette, I don’t even know who season I watched last, honestly.
And I’m like, it was kind of boring and it needed a little excitement. So for TV entertainment purposes only, not for like morality or for like, whoever it should be. I was like, I can see Taylor being a good choice. ’cause I was like, people are gonna watch.
Cora Lakey: Mm-hmm. My problem is I am so cynical that I just assume anyone who wants to be a contestant on either of those shows wants social media fame. Mm-hmm. Which, nothing wrong with that, right? Like it’s a grind out here. But that’s what I’m really worried about with Taylor because that’s a big storyline on season two of Secret Lives of Mormon wives is she is.
When you get down to the nitty gritty, like she’s very pure of heart and she really doesn’t care about the monetary side of it. She just enjoys her life. She enjoys the opportunities that mom talk has provided, but she’s not, I guess, fame hungry, which is really refreshing and I worry that her announcement is going to attract.
The wrong type of guy that just wants fame. Mm-hmm. Because it’s already been a huge issue on the Bachelor franchise. And I feel like they know there is a built in huge following. And I mean, I’ve had negative experiences with Bachelor Bachelorette contestants, like on social media just being fame hungry, like people citing in my dms about collabs and just being super weird and I have like no following.
So I’m like, as someone with 4 million followers, like you do need to think of that stuff. It’s like, are these people just trying to be famous or do they genuinely want to be with her?
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Cora Lakey: It’s a little bit scary to think about.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I was just talking to someone a couple weeks ago on the podcast about like reality TV and what it’s turned into, and I feel like a lot of people do go on just to get that platform and be famous now.
Cora Lakey: But yeah, I’m sure even more so with someone that already has a big following, they’re gonna be these guys that are gonna be desperate for the limelight. Yeah, I agree. I agree. And it’s almost ruined reality TV because people are just going on reality tv, it seems like, to amplify their brands, but then they’re so scared of getting canceled.
They don’t act organic on tv. And I think that’s what’s been so refreshing about Taylor and the secret lives of Mormon wives girls, is they don’t care. So I really hope that doesn’t happen this season. I know, I feel like Taylor’s no BS and she’s going to see it right away, but I don’t know. I’m kind of scared for her.
The Bachelorette Confessions We Can’t Believe Happened
Christa Innis: Yeah, it’ll be interesting for sure. Okay. I wanna get into the next segment before we get too far. ’cause I know we’re already like far in, so you can let me know if you have a cutoff, there’s just a little like this or that section and then we’ll get to this week’s story if that’s cool.
Yeah. okay, so this next one is red flag versus green flag, and this is groomsman bridal party edition. So just say red flag or green flag based on the scenario. Okay. A bridesmaid gets drunk at the bachelorette and admits she hooked up with the groom right before he started dating the bride.
Cora Lakey: Oh my God. Definitely not a green flag. I don’t know. I mean, keeping that secret.
Christa Innis: Shitty and
Cora Lakey: then neither of them bringing it up again.
Christa Innis: Yeah,
Cora Lakey: oof. Want orange,
Christa Innis: that’s for sure. Yeah, I know. I’m like, I’m that person. I have so many questions because I’m like, why are you waiting until the bachelorette party and you never like told your friend like, Hey, by the way this happened, but I don’t know when the night, right.
Like right time would be like if they start dating and you’re like, Hey, just so you know. But then things are always would be weird, I feel like.
Mm-hmm.
Cora Lakey: Yeah. I guess it’s so dependent on the friend group and their comfortability, their situation. I mean, we were literally just talking about secret lives of Mormon wives, and that’s something actively happening on secret lives of Mormon wives.
Christa Innis: Really.
Cora Lakey: Layla dated one brother and dating another brother, and they’re both totally cool with it.
So. I guess it depends on what they dated. The same
Christa Innis: brother, they stated the same brother, or they just dated brothers?
Cora Lakey: No, Layla is dating. She’s dated the brothers now she’s dating the other brother. Yeah. So it’s like, that’s a weird situation, but that’s weird. Fine with it. Yeah, I, I wouldn’t be comfortable with that.
So, I mean, I guess it depends, but yeah, I feel like your husband or fiance keeping that from you and your friend, it’s like, why?
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Very
Cora Lakey: curious.
Christa Innis: Yeah. That’d be a little, maybe red. Yeah. And the timing would make me not happy. Okay. Next one. The maid of honor disappears mid bachelorette with a random guy taking the itinerary decorations and matching outfits with her.
Cora Lakey: Are these real?
Christa Innis: No, I just make ’em up. Like
Cora Lakey: these things have happened. Okay. I was like, oh my God, I need more background. psychotic. Why? Like, why red? That’s super strange.
Christa Innis: I should say. Like, why did she steal all this stuff? So I should say all of these are like inspired by story sent to us, but like we, like, obviously people don’t send me like, oh, here, this or that, but like, they’re inspired.
Like, someone sent me a story once where the maid of honor wanted to go meet up with a guy when they were at their bachelorette. So they are inspired, but like very loosely. Yeah.
Cora Lakey: Okay. Only a red flag. Like is he having a bachelorette party? Why do you need all that stuff right now?
Christa Innis: photos from the groom’s bachelor party leaked.
He ended up at a strip club. He swore he didn’t want to go to
Cora Lakey: red. Red. No. Unless it’s the hangover. And he literally is unconscious in the photos. No excuse. Yes.
Christa Innis: Bridesmaid’s phone lights up at 2:00 AM during the bachelorette and it’s the groom texting her just to vent a bridesmaid.
Christa Innis: What, what?
Cora Lakey: I guess if it’s his sister. Sure. Right. Or his cousin. But what, what’s wrong with these men? No,
Christa Innis: red. I’m like, these are so red. The groom secretly invited his ex to the bachelor party and the groomsmen let it slide.
Cora Lakey: Red reds of the mall. No. Ew. The thing is, I can so see something like this happening and no. No,
Christa Innis: I know. I’m sure a lot. Yeah. It’s funny too, ’cause like anytime I read like outlandish things like this, someone will comment like, yeah, that happened to me. That happened at a wedding I was at happened. so it’s like no matter how outlandish it is, like these things happen.
It’s just wild. like I had one where the mother-in-law invited the son’s ex to the wedding as her plus one. She’s like, I get a plus one. I can invite whoever I want i’s wild.
Cora Lakey: but anyone who would willingly do that on either side, the mother-in-law or the ex willing to go to the wedding, it’s just like, how bored are you in your life that you have to cause that?
Christa Innis: Yes.
Cora Lakey: Insane fear.
Christa Innis: Like everyone, anyone that does that knows that’s not okay. So you are asking for, you want attention, you want to make someone feel bad or you wanna be a bully or something. Like, there’s no, you can’t be like, oh, I didn’t know that was not acceptable. Like, come on. You know, that’s not okay.
It’s insane. Okay. I’ll do one more and then we’ll get into the story. Okay. the groom sister, who’s a bridesmaid complains nonstop about the cost and threatens to drop out every other week.
Cora Lakey: I almost turned like passive aggressive suite in those situations. Like a kill ’em with kindness type thing because you wanna turn it on them to offer them the out that you wanna give them. Like you don’t want them to be a bridesmaid. So you say, you know, I understand weddings are a huge financial burden.
If it doesn’t work for you, no worries. I can take that off your plate. Mm-hmm. Turn it on them. You voiced how uncomfortable you are. Like, I wanna be there for you. You should just enjoy it as a guest. Don’t worry about a gift. We just wanna have you there. But I get it.
Christa Innis: Yeah. That’s like the perfect way to respond to someone like that.
’cause again, it’s like they’re probably just doing it for attention or they’re unhappy about something. So that’s the best way to do it. Be like, hey, totally understand. If you don’t wanna be a part of it, that’s fine. You’ll still be there and all the wedding photos, whatever. Yeah.
Cora Lakey: Yeah. Perfect. That’s all you can do.
It’s hard in those situations ’cause you also wanna be fair and equitable to your other bridesmaid too. Mm-hmm.
Christa Innis: So it’s
Cora Lakey: like, okay, if I’m paying for this one person’s way, it’s like. Then I really have to pay for everyone else’s way too to make it fair. So it’s kind of hard. You can’t really cherry pick situations like that.
So you kind of do have to lay down the hammer, I feel like. Yeah, definitely. Even if it’s mean, sorry.
Take a Shot, Take a Seat… and Then Everything Went Off the Rails
Christa Innis: Yeah. Boundaries aren’t mean. They’re just being firm. Yeah. I love it. all right. Let’s blind react to this week’s wedding story submission. This is a true story that someone sent to me, so here we go.
Feel free to stop me at any point, or we’ll just kind of react along the way. Okay. “We knew right away this wedding wasn’t going to be boring. At the top of the aisle, there was a big sign that read, take a shot and take a seat. About seven years ago, my husband and I had just moved into our new house. On weekends, we picked up part-time jobs at a local wedding venue, easy money and something for me to do while my husband worked shifts at his full-time job. At that point, I had already been in the wedding industry for a while, teaching couples their first dances and coordinating a few weddings for friends. So working at a venue felt pretty natural at this wedding. This one is always the story I tell because you just can’t make this stuff up. The day started out like any other staff arrived. We set up and everything was on schedule. The ceremony was supposed to be outside, but because of rain we had to move it under the covered reception area. The guest list was about 120 people, pretty standard for that venue. As we were setting up, we noticed a big bag of Fireball shots next to the sign that said, take a shot and take a seat. The bride and groom wanted every guest to grab one before the ceremony began.” So this is a party. They wanna start the party off early. Wow. I also love that this is a wedding vendor story because we don’t get a ton of them.
It’s normally like the bride or a bridesmaid. So this is like a cool different perspective. Okay, it says, “as we worked, one guest caught our attention. He wore bright coral pants and a loud floral shirt. For the sake of the story, let’s call him Derek. Derek showed up nearly two hours early and went straight to the bar asking for a drink.
Now the venue policy was no drinks until cocktail hour, so we politely told him no. But Derek did not like that answer. He marched off to find the groom and somehow convinced the wedding party to give us permission to serve him early. Not exactly standard protocol, but when the couple says yes, you follow their wishes.”
I’m wondering if they’ve standard protocol because of people like this. So I’m like, how did that guy convince them to change that? It’s probably not a good idea.
Cora Lakey: as a former wedding vendor, I question that honestly. ’cause you know those insurance contracts, like there’s no way if that guy fell down the stairs or something, they wouldn’t be like, well, protocol, it changes.
Like, no.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I know. I’m like, those are in place for a reason.
Cora Lakey: Mm-hmm.
Christa Innis: I’m just questioning this venue at this point. ’cause Yeah, with the insurance stuff, they’re very regimented legally. I’ve certainly never heard of that, but
yeah.
Cora Lakey: What up with this venue? Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. All right. It says “by picture time we noticed the groom was already intoxicated, so now the groom is already drunk.
So this Derrick guy’s drunk. The groom is drunk because they have shots everywhere. The ceremony was at 4:00 PM and when guests arrived, sure enough, they each grabbed a fireball shot before taking their seats. The ceremony went on, but the bride looked clearly irritated that our groom was already drunk.”
Well, yeah. I wanna know whose idea it was to have the shots at the wedding. You know, like, is water What?
Cora Lakey: You know what? Like what did you expect? Like a, a, a. Oh my gosh. That’s insane. Yeah. What a nightmare for a venue. Oh my
Christa Innis: gosh. Right. Afterward, “we flipped the space for the reception. At this point, the bar officially opened. Derek made a big deal about how he could finally drink now that we weren’t holding out on him. Dinner was served, dances were danced, speeches were made. And you could already tell the group was sloppy, getting sloppy fast.” See, that’s just a problem like when you, I get wanting to have a party and have fun, but when you already know people have drinking problems or can’t control their liquor, and then you hand out shots before the wedding, before pictures, it’s like people are not gonna make it to the end of the night. Like not gonna be good.
Cora Lakey: I feel like a lot of venues have no hard liquor policies because of this, right? Because accidents happen and people get super drunk and there’s drama. Or at least like the venue has to serve it. I think. So again, questioning this venue a little bit, like why are they allowing this?
Christa Innis: Yeah. Why are they allowing this? And then breaking the rules. And again, I really wanna know whose idea it was to the shots, because it sounds to me like the groom maybe has some kind of drinking problem, but like why would the bride agree to having shots? Or maybe he’s like, oh, I’ll be fine. Like don’t worry.
It’s like, mm. Will you, will you be okay? Yeah. I mean, even my venue,
Cora Lakey: I was shocked because we had a no heart liquor policy, I think. ’cause it’s like Napa Sonoma. I’m not sure if that’s the whole area, but our venue did and people snuck in canteens and they snuck in vodka and stuff. And I was like, how much are these people drinking?
My God. Like why do they need this? Know what I mean? And it’s something I hear at every wedding and it’s true. It’s like you can’t rely on the fact that people are going to be a hundred percent sober. Cra. It’s a huge issue in this country, obviously, but it’s crazy how even on your wedding day you do have to think of stuff like that.
Like all the logistics.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I know. So you can’t control what everyone drinks before the wedding. You would just hope people that are in the wedding, especially your groom, is like, okay, I am not, I’m gonna wait to drink until after to like dancing. But yeah, okay. Oh my God, I just, okay. It says, “then came cake cutting. The groom was so intoxicated that he couldn’t stand on his own.” Oh my gosh. He can’t even stand, stand up. I would be really actually marrying this person right now.
Cora Lakey: And isn’t the cake cutting? I mean, I guess it depends on the wedding, but before or after the first dance. Because was he able to do his first dance?
Christa Innis: I know. I feel like it’s typically when you first walk out, sometimes it’s right before dances, but either way. Yeah. How is he going to, he’s not gonna be doing that. What a
Cora Lakey: nightmare.
Christa Innis: My gosh. “The venue owner had to literally hold him upright just to get one decent photo and a slice of cake.” The venue owner is holding him up.
Oh my God. ” The bride she broke down crying and ran off.” Oh my gosh. I feel so bad for her. That is like, it makes me wonder too, like what signs were there ahead of time? Did she know he had some kind of drinking problem or like were his groomsmen, like the culprits and they were, I mean obviously no one can like make you, but were they like bringing shots in and just like pouring, like doubles?
Like it makes me really wonder.
Cora Lakey: Oh, that’s awful. I still like, for anyone who listening who hasn’t worked in the wedding industry, like the venue is liable if anything happens to the couple on site, and especially if people are driving drunk, there’s investigations that go into that stuff. And if they can track that happens at the venue, the venue can be in huge trouble.
Right. So that is really concerning me. Again, third time I’m questioning this venue. ’cause What do you mean the venue holder is like owner’s holding him upright. Like, why are we not calling paramedics so we don’t get sued? Like this is crazy.
Christa Innis: Yeah. There is a lot of liability that to think about.
I feel like as a venue. Yeah, I don’t know. It says, “not long after a little boy maybe six or seven, walked up to the bar and asked for a beer. For who? We asked. For my dad. He’s the groom.” So now he’s sending his child to the bar to get alcohol for him. Oh my God. Why are they still serving? Why is the wedding still going on?
I, he just like passed out somewhere. This is wild. Where is this? We need more details. We told him we couldn’t serve minors. “The boy walked away, went back to his dad, and then the groom stormed over yelling that we wouldn’t give his son a beer.” In what world do you live in where you can just have your son walk to the bar and get a beer for you?
“We explained we can’t serve anyone underage, no matter the situation. And he said, well, he gets beers from me at home all the time. Then grabbed his own drink and walked away. All of the staff just looked at each other like, did that just really happen?” This guy sounds a real piece of work.
Cora Lakey: This poor staff. Hopefully this gives people some grace for wedding vendors and what they go through, because this is unfortunately not uncommon.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Yikes. Oh no. Okay. Then she goes, “and then there was Derek at one point we saw him crawling around on the dance floor, why his glass eye had popped out.” So, where do you live? Where is this? What the hell? it says why, why does he,
Cora Lakey: I hope this man’s okay.
Christa Innis: He’s just drunk, crawling around on the floor, looking for his eye. God, it says he picked it up, rinsed it off, and popped it right back in. Um, thank you. You’re done with a fireball.
Cora Lakey: I love it.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Cora Lakey: Priorities are straightforward, man. Clearly.
Christa Innis: Later he climbed onto a chair, stroking the linens hanging from the ceiling. Lantern in one hand, swaying like he was in his own private concert. Why is no one stopping him?
Cora Lakey: Where is his wife? She has stormed off. Why are we not looking for her?
Christa Innis: This is the Derek guy, the guest.
Oh. Oh my God. Wait, I thought
Cora Lakey: that,
Christa Innis: okay, that makes sense.
Cora Lakey: Who are these people need to be studied? Oh my God.
Christa Innis: by the end of the night as he staggered out to his car, why are people just watching him drive to his car? Someone noticed he had lost the glass eye again. This time in the horse pasture next to the venue.
That sentence is very troubling to me because it sounds like he drove himself home and presumably with one eye drunk in with one eye, with one
Cora Lakey: eye drunk. You know what? this venue needs to be shut down immediately. Immediately. Yeah. You guys are, our wedding venue is watching this go down, not calling the police.
Christa Innis: Yeah. What’s
Cora Lakey: going on?
Christa Innis: Well, these drunk people getting into their cars, like, come on, what are we doing here? she said, the next day, I have no idea what happened. I never saw Derrick again and never saw the couple again either. But let’s just say when you work weddings, you really do see it. All the good, the bad, and the downright unbelievable.
And this wedding was definitely one for the books. I big, big problem at weddings. But this just sounds like, people like this ruin it for everybody else. This poor bride ran away crying. We don’t know what happened to her. are her And the groom still together beats me. I couldn’t be with someone after that.
Cora Lakey: No. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I have no words. I would like an update on this one if you can find one. Maybe if you’re a vendor, try to access the records,
Christa Innis: Okay. This will be my hope. We’re gonna read this story. The story’s gonna come out, the bride is gonna hear the story, and she’s gonna be like, that’s about me.
I need to write my perspective. Or maybe a bridesmaid so it’s not like directly. And then we can get a full update. So I need a glass. Hi. Talk to your thing.
Cora Lakey: Who could forget the glass eye and the horse pasture? Wow. Yeah, I know.
Christa Innis: I feel like those are some good clues. so people that are listening, I mean, people find everyone on TikTok, right?
Cora Lakey: I mean, they find the Coldplay couple, they find, you know. People can find the glass eye guy. Maybe he will write. Reach out to John. Yes. Let us know that, that you’re alive and well. and maybe stop drinking and driving.
Christa Innis: Yeah. With
Cora Lakey: a glass eye. You know, I’m gonna hope maybe look out for others, if not.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I’m gonna hope he was just walking to his car to get like an overnight bag and then get in the Uber or something. I’m just gonna hope that was me too. Yeah. You say positive.
The Wedding Confession Session
Yes. Okay. I know we’re a little over time. I’m just gonna end with some confessions. People always send me some wild confessions, so here we go.
This one says,I just wanted one of my sisters as my maid of honor. “My mom said all five of my siblings had to be in the wedding.” I mean, I guess it depends on how close you are but if it’s like, but boys and girls and your grooms not close to your brothers, how you can’t really make him have them.
Right?
Cora Lakey: It depends on if mom’s paying, right? I guess unfortunately, if mom’s paying mom gets a say, but oof. Yeah, that’s tough. I have a bunch of siblings and yeah, I think I had two sisters is bridesmaids. But yeah, we all vary in ages and closeness, so there was no way. So yeah, I think something I’ve really learned as I’ve gotten older is our parents’ decisions aren’t necessarily our decisions and that’s okay.
And like if you aren’t as close to some siblings, It’s not your fault, Yeah. Especially if there’s like huge age gaps if you have five siblings. I’m assuming so. yeah. Yeah. But don’t accept money if you aren’t comfortable with something like that. For sure.
Christa Innis: Yes. But I also agreed too, or also think too, that like money’s not an indicator of them being able to control has to be given as a gift.
But, to your point too, is like if they are making it clear, because I’m giving you money, I make these decisions, then yeah, we’re gonna like, no, we don’t need your help then, and we’re gonna just do a small wedding.
This one says, “I found my dream dress on Etsy, and my mom said I couldn’t get it because my back fat would hang out.” Oh, what?
Oh, oh my God. I’m, I’m so
Cora Lakey: sorry. Yeah.
Christa Innis: That would be an uninvite for me. Like, yeah. Someone that’s supposed to make you feel good and beautiful, and then make a comment about your body.
Cora Lakey: That’s awful. Oh my God. And you’re gonna be thinking about that your whole wedding day now too. Which is so sad. No matter what dress you end up wearing.
Christa Innis: Ugh. Yeah. What a terrible mom. I know. Like, why would you make that comment? Like, Ugh, I hate that. this one says “my wedding was rushed. My dad was dying. Mother-in-law told me, wait for him to die and plan a proper event.” That is terrible. What. Why does the mother, oh my God, that’s okay to say
Cora Lakey: Evil family members. What is this? Oh, that’s awful. Of course you want your dad at your wedding.
Christa Innis: Yeah, that’s awful.
Christa Innis: Like the fact that she’ll have those memories and like pictures with him, like, oh my gosh, that’s terrible. Okay. let’s do one more. “My stepmom tried to guilt me into having my abusive alcoholic bio Dad, walk me down the aisle.”
Oh my God. I mean I feel like that just goes back to like, don’t do anything that you don’t wanna do for your wedding. anything especially that makes you uncomfortable or not happy on your wedding day.
Cora Lakey: I walked myself down the aisle ’cause my dad passed away. And yeah, I feel like I had a, similar situation where people were just giving me.
Crap about it. And I was just like, this is my wedding. Why does anyone have to give me away? It’s such an old fashioned tradition, and if you wanna do that, that’s fine, but it should be representative of what you want. Whether that’s giving yourself away or someone you’re equally close to even a friend, even sisters.
Mm-hmm. People walk their dogs down the aisle like that doesn’t have to be the tradition. Like no.
Christa Innis: Right. Yeah. I know I took that sentence out of our wedding about like, do your parents give you away? ’cause I was like, I’ve been out on my own, like for years at that point. My now husband, but like, we’d already been living together for like four or five years at that point.
So I’m like, they’re not giving me away. I’m my own person out in the world already. You know? So that just felt like a weird dated phrase for me. Yes.
Cora Lakey: Yeah. There’s a lot of data traditions in weddings that I think we need to analyze, and if your family’s giving you crap about it, it’s like, why do they need to be there?
You know what I mean? Like your family should be making you feel good on your wedding day, and if they’re not and they’re causing drama, it just seems like a lot. I mean, it’s just the tale is old as time with families causing drama at weddings. It’s just like analyze your closeness with these people and it’s good to know for the next phases of life of like, okay, check.
I don’t need Aunt Susie at this or that event because she’s gonna cause drama. So it’s good to know, but it still sucks.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no, for sure. That is wild. I feel for all these brides and grooms and whoever else I have to deal with, that kind of stuff because it’s just, learning boundaries I think is like a really big thing.
And When you realize that having a boundary is not mean, it’s just making yourself more, I don’t know, maybe at peace or something. I don’t know the right term, but like it’s just taking care of yourself. Having boundaries and they’re not mean because as they’re recovering people, pleaser, I feel like for the longest time I was like, oh, boundaries are so mean.
I can’t have boundaries. But like it’s healthy. Like you need to have boundaries.
Cora Lakey: I think the people who push your boundaries always have the strongest boundaries, which I find very ironic and something that I’ve learned in the last several months. It’s like, why can these people have the strongest boundaries in the world? Or just walk all over me, but then when I push back, they act like it’s the biggest deal in the world.
It’s very interesting. That’s a’s very interesting. So start to analyze that, those relationships.
Christa Innis: Yeah, it’s almost like the opposite where they like weaponize the boundary, right? Like they are able to have the strong boundary, but they don’t respect the same for other people. So that’s,
Cora Lakey: yeah. I’m a big proponent of, you need to give the equal energy that you’re capable of taking.
And I definitely had some situations with my last relationship and like in-law stuff where things were, said to me that I would never, if I said that back, like it would be World War iii. Right? And it’s like, why do you think that’s acceptable to speak to me that way? And it’s always so interesting you see.
Adults emotional maturity. When you do give it back to them where you do question their behavior, you start to see a lot of waterworks and a lot of triangulation and things like that. And I think it’s hard with these family situations, but they do make you stronger on the other side of them, and they do force you to have those boundaries, even though it sucks to have to have them, they’re there for a reason.
That’s a buzzword for a reason. So
Christa Innis: yeah, boundaries are like everywhere now, I feel like. And it’s just about like using them in the right way to, you know, ah, bridge a gap, I think.
Cora Lakey: And your wedding day is the right way and the right day. So a big proponent, do what you want at your wedding. Yeah. Who cares what anyone says online in real life, your family.
Otherwise it’s for you. And think about why you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Christa Innis: Yes, absolutely. I love that. Well, thank you so much for coming back on Cora. It was so great hanging out with you. Sorry for all the internet issues. I don’t know what’s going on over here. I gotta figure that out.
Thanks for having me
Cora Lakey: again. Let’s do it a third time.
Christa Innis: Yes, you are always welcome back on. I’ve got like so many stories that are sent to me. So like me, we’re just constantly rolling them out. So anytime you wanna come back on. Love it. Well again for anybody I would love to. Awesome. Well, again, for anybody that’s listening, where can they follow you?
and what kind of content and all that good stuff do they see?
Cora Lakey: Yeah, you can follow me on TikTok at Cora Lakey or my Instagram, Cora Lakey. I think different handles since the last time I was here. And yeah, I talk about my life kind of healing from, starting over. I’m started over at 30 and kind of talking about all the challenges, all the changes that I wasn’t expecting.
So it’s been a wild ride and would love to have you along. Awesome. Well
Christa Innis: thank you again for coming on, Cora.
Makeup Artist Drama, Reality TV, and Toxic Bridesmaid Who Ruins the Wedding with Antoinette
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
What kind of bridesmaid shows up in white to your bridal shower… with her mom in a matching “bride” sash?
Christa and Antoinette start off with some fun chatter about Antoinette’s heroic job before jumping into the wild tale of Erica, the bridesmaid who just couldn’t stand not being the center of attention. From sulking on a pontoon boat to hijacking the bridal shower, her jealousy turned every moment into a spectacle.
This episode is full of outrageous behavior, red flags in friendships, and lessons on boundaries, jealousy, and protecting your peace while planning your big day.
Join me on Patreon and get bonus content every month!
Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
01:59 Discovering Antoinette on TikTok
02:25 Balancing Nursing and TikTok
03:27 First Viral Content: Love Island
05:03 Reality TV and Pop Culture Commentary
06:14 The Rise of Love Is Blind
10:42 TikTok Drama and Content Creation
25:22 Nursing Career and Personal Insights
28:30 Wedding Stories and Hot Takes
41:55 Unexpected Skit Request
42:22 Reality TV and Bridal Parties
43:00 Wedding Expectations and Realities
45:44 Rapid Fire Wedding Questions
49:52 Wild Wedding Story: Erica’s Drama
01:09:58 Reflecting on Toxic Friendships
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Jealous Bridesmaid – Erica sulks during a boat ride after hearing about her friend’s engagement, igniting a downward spiral of jealousy.
- Disrespectful Comments – The moment Erica’s jealousy flares when she makes a rude comment about the bride’s proposal ring.
- Bridal Shower Drama – Erica shows up in white at the bride’s bridal shower, making the event all about herself.
- Bachelorette Trip Tantrum – Erica and her boyfriend’s constant complaints and early departure from the bachelorette weekend.
- Bridal Shower Exit – Erica leaves the shower early with an excuse, hinting at deeper unresolved issues.
- Blocked & Uninvited – After a final confrontation, Erica blocks the bride and bridesmaids, effectively ending the friendship.
- Red Flags & Final Decisions – The bride reflects on the red flags in Erica’s behavior and why she should have cut ties earlier.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “Some friendships are just meant to be a chapter, not the whole book.” – Christa Innis
- “When a bridesmaid makes it all about herself, that’s a red flag bigger than your wedding dress.” – Christa Innis
- “Jealousy isn’t the problem, how you act on it is what matters.” – Christa Innis
- “Your wedding is for celebration, not for managing other people’s insecurities.” – Christa Innis
- “If a friend’s making your big day miserable, it might be time to reconsider the friendship.” – Christa Innis
- “Jealousy is just information. How you handle it is the real test.” – Antoinette
- “If you’re not happy for your friend, maybe it’s time for some self-reflection.” – Antoinette
- “A true friend would never make your moment about their own issues.” – Antoinette
- “There’s no timeline for happiness. Every couple moves at their own pace.” – Antoinette
- “At the end of the day, it’s your wedding. Not a competition.” – Antoinette
*This conversation is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek a licensed professional for your specific situation.
About Antoinette:
Meet Antoinette (@msrazzledazzle), your reality TV and pop culture bestie. With over 37K followers and 3.2 million likes on TikTok, she’s built a vibrant community around her sharp takes, playful commentary, and unapologetic love for all things drama. From Love Island to Black Mirror, Antoinette dives into the juiciest corners of reality TV with wit, warmth, and a dash of razzle-dazzle. Whether she’s spilling tea or breaking down the latest season of Summer House, she brings a voice that’s both relatable and razor-sharp.
Follow Antoinette:
Join the Drama with Christa Innis:
- Website
- Tiktok
- Youtube
- Get Christa’s Book, Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story
Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!
Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form
Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!
A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi Antoinette. Thank you for coming on.
Antoinette: Hi. Excited to have, thank you for having me. I was gonna say, excited to have you.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh.
Antoinette: Thank you.
Christa Innis: I have been so, I’ve, I’ve been so guilty of saying stuff like that. Like I remember years ago going to like the movie theater and asking them like, or no, you order like food or something, and they’re like, enjoy your movie.
And you’re like, thanks, you too.
Antoinette: Yeah, right.
It’s just like you’re on autopilot a lot of times. You’re like, oh, you too. Oh, you too.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my gosh. It literally happens all the time. I’m just like, yeah. And it’s funny now, like my daughter’s too, but there’s times where I’m like, oh, um. Like, what was, how, I don’t even, I’ll ask a question. She just goes, good. And I’m like, well, that’s like if someone says, how are you? But it’s just like, it’s funny.
Anyways, thank you for coming on. I’m excited to have you here. Um, I know we were talking before that I just, I, I found you on TikTok. I love your content, your banter, if you will. Um, and I think that’s just like perfect for this, um, for this podcast.
Um, so you are a labor and delivery nurse by day and you banter about pop culture at night. I mean, I don’t know if it’s necessarily at night. Tell us a little more about yourself. You, and, um, I’d love to hear more.
Antoinette: I am a day nurse. ’cause you know, there are some people who only do night shifts. I am, I’m a day girly.
Okay. I can’t, I can’t do the night shift stuff. So I am a labor and delivery nurse by day, but we do like 12 hour shifts, so I’m not working every day, but I do. Um, so it’s basically like three to four days a week that I am a labor and delivery nurse. And then basically at night or the days I have off, I do, um.
Or if I have a break or more of my breaks if I try to fit it in there, you know?
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Um, but yeah, that’s, um, then I’ll do my TikTok stuff, which, um, I actually only started a year ago. Um, my fiance was like, I loved watching reality tv, and then I was always searching for other people’s takes and stuff, and then also like calling my friends and being like, oh my God, da da da dah.
And then also telling him like, um, because he also watches with me now, so like, then I’m like, oh my God, blah, blah, blah. And he’s like, well, I mean, you’re always searching for it. You’re always watching people’s takes. Like, why don’t you like, do your own? And I was like, mm-hmm. Okay. Like, yeah, why not? So.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Antoinette: Yeah. And then it, the really fun.
The Reality TV Chaos Behind the Scenes
Christa Innis: What was, what was the first like, show or thing in pop culture that like either really took off or the first like content you made about, do you remember?
Antoinette: So the first content I made about was actually Love Island season six.
Christa Innis: Oh, okay.
Antoinette: Yeah. And uh, it honestly like, really, ’cause I was getting really revved up because I felt like people were like really misunderstanding Serena and being like, oh, she doesn’t like Cordell.
And I was like, I think she does, I think she’s just like really protecting herself. Um, and so then I I, I was like feeling fired up about it and I was like, okay, fine, I’m gonna do it on this one. Um, but I feel like something that, like, I feel the season it wasn’t Love Island that like, I think really spearheaded things.
Like, for me, like, I think I got a lot of exposure during The Love Is Blind DC um,
Christa Innis: Ooh, I’m trying, yeah. I, I watched Love Is Blind. Trying to remember who, who was on that one.
Antoinette: Um, uh, Lier. Uh, we call him. I, um, Tyler, is it Tyler? I feel like I’m not, I only call him Lier, but like, because he lied. Oh my God. He like had those three children and it was like, there was all this drama about like, um, how he had these two children, but he called them sper donors and then his fiance like, believed him and like there was all like, and then his baby mama came out to be like, no.
Like, the first one was a sperm donor situation, but the other two were not. Like, we made those ourselves.
Christa Innis: Wow.
Antoinette: Yeah.
Christa Innis: I must have stopped right before that season ’cause they don’t look familiar to me. I just.
Antoinette: Okay.
Christa Innis: I like religiously watched it in the beginning and then like, I think I watched the first three seasons and then I just like shot. There’s like, oh my God, there’s a new season. Wait, there’s a new season. It was wild.
Antoinette: There’s so many, like it’s so, honestly I feel like there’s like almost three feels like, but I think there’s like two seasons a year. That’s what. I think there’s like two seasons a year, but it feels like there’s three. Like I feel like there’s always one coming out.
Christa Innis: There’s always, yeah. Because I think if you like sleep on it for a little bit, all of a sudden there’s another one.
Antoinette: Yeah. Yeah. Netflix is really on their zoom with it, honestly. Yeah.
Christa Innis: And the first one came out in like 2020. Right. Because I feel like I remember being locked down.
Antoinette: Yes.
Christa Innis: And I was like, I’m about to binge watch this show. I care what it is. It was that in Tiger King that I was like, what’s going my.
Antoinette: Oh my God. Yes. Oh my God. I forgot about that. That was so good.
Christa Innis: That was wild. My husband and I were just like, what is this?
Antoinette: That was insane. Oh, that was good tea. That was good tv. And we weren’t doing anything like we were locked in.
Christa Innis: We were living for, yeah, we were living for like, like.
Antoinette: You said, like any morsel.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Antoinette: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. The, the pods. ’cause they must have started. Because I feel like the pods were because of COVID. I don’t know, maybe it was written before that. I don’t know.
But those, I dunno, man. I feel like it really took off because of like, everyone was at home just watching TV and then they’re like, what’s this show? Okay, I guess we’ll watch it. And then it just blew you up on so.
Antoinette: And then blew up. And then Lauren and Cameron, I mean they’re still like the the, what’s it called?
Christa Innis: Yes. I love them.
Antoinette: You know, they’re just so, and now you know, Lauren’s pregnant, so that’s just so beautiful.
Christa Innis: Honestly, they’re just so that I love them. Yeah, from the beginning. ’cause they were just so like, and I always feel like the first season, they’re the most like real because they’re not in it all for the tv. ‘Cause they don’t know how big the show’s gonna be. They’re like, well let’s try it out. But seasons after, I feel like people just sign up. ’cause they’re like, oh, I’m gonna get social media famous.
Antoinette: A hundred percent. And we’re like really seeing that now, especially like. I, I think it was Love is blind. You really want them to be genuine because like, you’re gonna get married.
Like, you know, and I think some of these other ones, dating ones, it’s like, it doesn’t necessarily fully have to be genuine, but like, I do think a lot of them, like love is love island. I do think people, you know, people wanna be influencers, like, you know, but at the same time they’re pretty young and you’re not thinking of marriage or just thinking of dating.
So they could actually end up liking each other and dating. And it doesn’t have to be like, but like with Love is Blind. I do think people are like, they wanna be influencers, but then it’s like you end up having to think about like, are you willing to get engaged and married to somebody just to be an influencer?
That’s pretty big.
Christa Innis: That’s wild.
Antoinette: Yeah. The concept is wild to me. Like when they were like moving them into these apartments together, I was like, you don’t this, you don’t know this guy. Like
what are you doing? Nothing about them. You don’t just what they told you on the other side. Just like what we found about life.
Like, you know, nothing. Mm-hmm. Like whatever they decide to tell you. And I do think there’s a lot of people who like. In these later seasons into finding out some really messed up stuff. Really? And like, like one of the girls, I think on UK like Sabrina, she was like, he didn’t even have his own place. Like he was living with like roommates and then he like wasn’t even willing to go, like they were living in different parts of the uk.
He wasn’t even willing to go, go see her. But like, he couldn’t even afford to, so she didn’t even know that like, oh wait, like you actually really like aren’t in a place. I mean, it’s one thing if you like start dating someone and you know, they’re like financial status, but like, I really do think they should check.
I was like, are you even in, even in a place to be married, you know, to like, to put somebody first to even financially support yourself. Like in a good well, or like, not, there’s anything wrong with having roommates, but you know what I mean? Like, yeah. Like this guy I think was like 37 and like she, I think he didn’t really give all those details, which I think a lot of people would assume at three seven, like, okay, you might not have everything together, but you probably financially
are.
Christa Innis: A little more.
Antoinette: A little bit more
Christa Innis: established.
Antoinette: Established, yeah. Yeah.
Christa Innis: I think, or at least like con like. Communicate about like, Hey, I had some financial issues, or This is what’s going on here. Because there was that other guy, I don’t know what season this was, maybe two or three, where they got like towards the end and it came out. He had all this debt and there was something like he was lying about, I can’t remember their names, I can’t remember their names, but I know what you’re talking about.
We weren’t like parody a lot.
Antoinette: Social media. I know what you’re talking about. Wait, shoot. Uh, I don’t remember. Yeah, I dunno means there, but yeah, but there’s that too. And it’s like if you get married, your dad, your dad is their dad. Like so that can really mess somebody stuff up.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah. That was, oh, there wa one of the first couples, Barnett.
Antoinette: Yeah. Amber and Barnett. Amber, yeah.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. They, that was something like, she was like, Hey, I have a lot of debt, and they like moved in together. He had a, he had a house already, but I think he like sold it to help pay for the debt. I mean, as far as I know, they’re still together, so, I mean.
Antoinette: Yeah. And they have a kid like, and they were like.
Christa Innis: Oh, I didn’t know that.
Antoinette: Yeah. They were child and everything and she, yeah, she, but she was upfront about it. Yeah, they, she, she was upset about it, so like, or married. So it’s one of those things where it’s like, if you know all that stuff and you’re still willing, then that’s, that’s one thing. Like she was upfront about it. He was still willing.
So it’s like, okay, cool. That’s, that’s on you, you know?
Christa Innis: Yeah. Like reality TV is just like wild to me. I feel like Bachelor, I used to watch Bachelor pretty regularly too, and then I kind of just like, then Bachelor in Paradise was like fun ’cause they all come together.
Antoinette: Yeah.
Christa Innis: But I’ve kind of slowly stopped watching because I feel like they always just go on to be like, influencers and I’m just like, I don’t know.
I can’t really get into it anymore. It’s just.
Antoinette: Yeah. I honestly have never, I mean, I keep trying for mo mostly for content. Like, every time it comes out I’m like, okay, I’m gonna try and I just can’t get into it. So it’s like, you’ll, you’ll probably see every, you’ll probably see me, make me make one post and then just nothing else because I’m like, I just can’t get into it.
Like, I feel like it’s so overly produced too, and it just feels so fake. Like. You found 20 men or 20 women that are interested in this one person. Mm-hmm. Not saying that they couldn’t all necessarily, but like you didn’t, it’s not like they met this person. They were like, oh, the, you, they, the 20 people met this person, or you had them meet like a hundred people and these are the 20 that were like, oh, I’m actually interested in this person.
Like, you just found 20 people or whatever. Mm-hmm. I was like, it just doesn’t feel organic and then it’s just vying for one person. It just feels weird, honestly. Like.
Christa Innis: Totally.
Antoinette: I love dating shows, but that one, that’s just one I can’t get into.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no, and you make it such a good point because, and it, it brings me back, ’cause again, I haven’t watched probably in like five plus seasons.
Antoinette: Yeah.
Christa Innis: But it’s like, they’re like, oh, he’s my dream guy, she’s my dream girl. And I’m like, you would’ve said that about any person they brought on as a bachelor master. Right. And be no unbeknownst to you, like last season they were a nobody. You know what I’m saying? Like, they came on as like a random person too. It’s like exactly. I dunno.
Antoinette: I was like, you literally know nothing about these people. Uh, most of ’em don’t even get like, really a lot of screen time. So it’s like you just saw like a couple dates with whoever they were with on last season, and then now you’re like, that’s your dream person. Like. You don’t know anything about them, like Yeah, and I feel like we also saw that with Jen, like obviously like ev, all those men basically didn’t even know it was gonna be Jen.
They thought it was gonna be, what’s her name, that other, that other girl that was like really famous on Joey’s season. They all thought it was gonna be a. Somebody a different bachelorette, and that set her up for complete failure, honestly. Like, and then, ugh, that scammer Devin, like that was whole, I mean, like, I like tried to, but I was like, I mostly was like scrolling, watching things because, because I was like, I keep up with it, but I’m like, I can’t watch a whole episode.
And I, I literally can’t.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I know every once in I went.
Antoinette: You’re like two hours long too. I’m like, ah, Jesus.
Christa Innis: I know it’s, well, there’ll be like three hour season finale and I’m like, who’s got the time?
Antoinette: But why? And most of it’s not even needed. I was like, okay, this really could have been cut down.
Christa Innis: Literally.
Antoinette: Like, there’s just like a lot of different montages with like music. It’s just so gimmicky.
Christa Innis: Yeah. It’s literally them picking out rings, walking down the street through tears in their eyes, picking out their dress. And I’m like, Ugh, come on. She’s like, speed it up. Speed it up. Please. We can do this all in 10 minutes.
Let’s just tell us who picked who she picked. Yes, I know. It’s wild. Like I just, yeah. I. Props with anyone that goes on. I just, that’s just not, yeah. Not my cup of tea. That’s why I like Bachelor in Paradise better. So I have a confession. I’ve never watched Love Island. Oh, it’s everywhere. But this last season makes me wanna watch because the, the viral like sounds and stuff.
Antoinette: Yeah.
Christa Innis: But maybe I should try it. I’ve had people tell me to watch it.
Antoinette: I think you should. I think I would watch, like, watch season six of the U of USA. Okay. I think season five and season six of USA are really good. Um, the uk I also think season five of UK is really, really, really good. Okay. Um, UK It started in uk so there’s like a lot more seasons.
Um, even Love Island Australia, I can’t remember what season. It wasn’t the latest one I think, or it was the one before last was really, really good. So I do, I really love, love Island. I feel like it’s just. Like, you know, people are on there to be influencers, but it’s also just like a dating show. You know?
Like, I mean, they’re all dating shows, but you know what I mean? But it’s also just like, uh, people being there. They get to meet each other, they get to, and like, there are definitely, you’re gonna, like, a lot of them are good looking. You’re gonna like somebody, you know what I mean? They all, and then there’s just like more like organic drama as well as they don’t allow them to get drunk.
Like the, each day they get like maybe this amount of alcohol. That’s it. Okay. I like that. Um, so it also feels like not, so you’re not as worried about some of the, like, you know what I’m talking about? Like, uh, possible things that can happen if people are like inebriated, like, you know, that they’re making decisions sober.
Um, especially if there’s anything like sexual that goes on, right. Especially because with that, you know, you do end up in there, they do end up sleeping in the same bed as the guy, as a couple that they choose and all that stuff. So, um, and they do seem to have, like, even though I feel like this season in the USA, they did not do very good job of like really doing background checks. There’s a lot of racial stuff coming out. Um.
Christa Innis: I did think that about someone.
Antoinette: Yeah. So they really haven’t like, done good background checks on people, but like in general, I do think they have some pretty cool things in place, like consent wise, like there, there’s just a light that they have in the back of the bed.
Like, so if things start happening, both people have to press it to be like, I consent to what’s happening. And if it’s not pressed, then production gets involved in like no stuff.
Christa Innis: Oh, okay. That’s a good step. Because I remember hearing years ago, like bachelor, something like happened on one of the shows and they like limit them now to certain alcohol too, because people would be like getting inebriated and saying stuff or doing inappropriate things.
Um, that was a bachelor in Paradise thing too. I remember. They were like, oh, we’re only allowed to have like. Two drinks an hour or one drink an hour maybe. Oh, wow. Because yeah, you see, yeah.
Antoinette: With them it’s literally one glass and that’s it.
Christa Innis: Wow.
Antoinette: Like there’s, there’s a whole usually scenes at night where like there, or sometimes at night where you’ll see a scene where they like, are all going up to this table and it’s just like, there’s drinks sitting out already with like a little umbrella.
And that’s, that’s their serving of their alcohol, who they get.
Christa Innis: Okay.
Antoinette: Well that’s, I know. I was like, that’s, I, I just think it’s like, it makes you feel a little bit better, but not that like, there’s not any, some type of like, oh my God, these like crappy men on here, whatever. Right, right. But I was like, well, now you know that this person’s.
Crappy sober. Okay. Like they, they’re just.
Christa Innis: He got no excuse. No, no. I know. It’s crappy.
Antoinette: It’s not a drunk child. This is who this person is. Okay.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I think that sounds better too when there’s like multiple, like couple possibilities and not just like one guy and a million girls and vice versa.
Yeah.
Um, and I feel like it also gives like the bachelor, bachelorette or whatever type of show it is when there’s just one guy fending for all these women. It gives them like this like false sense of like, oh, I’m the hottest guy in the room at all times. And it’s like, you’re the only guy, like they would find a rock hot next to you.
Antoinette: You know what I’m saying? Honestly though, like the, the only reason this is working, working is ’cause a, a scarcity mindset that is literally fabricated for this show. Yeah. If you were in any other situation, there would be plenty of other options. Like you are literally the only option that they’ve given.
Yes. So they are, they have to fight for you to stay on the show. Like, remember that? Yes. Like this is like, remember that they’re fighting to stay on the show. Okay.
Christa Innis: Yeah. They’re deprived of any other men, so they’re like, well, this is my dream. Yeah. It’s so, this is my dream man because he’s only man. Oh my God, that’s so funny.
I, yeah, I feel like we would just think too, too logically about that to be on, on a show.
Sisterly Showdown at the Bouquet Toss: Wedding Drama You Won’t Believe!
Okay. So. A little more back about your content. Like what kind of, so I know you’re kind of, you were always talking about your own banter and couldn’t really find anyone that talked about it the way you did. So when did you kind of start seeing it, like take off and do you remember like the first video that really like blew up or, uh, and you said you talked about Love Island, but like, was there one type of content that you’re like, this is it, like people are really connecting or resonating with what I’m saying?
Antoinette: Um, I feel, I mean like Love Island, I started, I feel like I do really feel like it was like love is Blind that like that season that, um, and I think even for me Too, I was around then, like I started like last August. Mm-hmm.
Like around last august for season six and then I. We’re still posting and stuff, but it wasn’t really like, I think last October was when That Love Is Blind came out October, November.
Um, and that’s also when I felt like I was also taking it more like, okay, I’m gonna post every day. I’m gonna like, really, really cover this whole season, you know? ’cause I didn’t even fully cover the whole season of Love Island. Uh, love Island season six. So with the elevens blind season seven, I was like, okay, I’m really gonna, like, I’m gonna post every day.
I’m gonna like, you know, and so I was like also being more intentional about posting. And so I don’t remember what Post was like went, but it, I do remember all of a sudden, like my views started going up. And then also I went from like, I feel like a thousand to like 10,000, like within, within that like between like end of October and November.
Um, and that’s when like, I. Like, like blew, blew up. Like, and I felt like then people were really like also sending me things like, oh, I need to know your take. I need to, and so I got started getting more of that, being like, oh, we haven’t, like, did you see this? Did you see that? Like, and people writing those type of comments, um, or like getting tagged in other people’s videos, like, you know, for certain stuff.
So yeah, I, it was definitely that, that, um, that I felt like I, I started to get a little bit more known and a little bit more, um, like settled in like my like niche or my niche and like my persona, you know?
Christa Innis: Yeah. So do you have any shows that you, like currently watch that you kind of, that you wish more people knew about so you could like commentate on them more? Or are you mainly in the reality like love dating show type?
Antoinette: Um, I mean, I watch a lot of different tv honestly. So like, um, I mean, like, I mostly comment on reality tv. Yeah. Um, and mostly like the, yeah. The loved ones. I try to get into the gaming ones. Like I tried to get into Big, big Brother. Mm-hmm. I just like, it’s, I don’t really understand it, you know, like, and it is also like, there seems to be so much going on, like, so I, I tried this and, and it, it failed.
I don’t know, it didn’t work out for me, but I’m gonna try again. Another, because I really, everyone watches Big Brother. I’m like, I really wanna understand it. Um, okay. But let me answer your question.
Christa Innis: Special Forces.
Antoinette: Special Forces. I haven’t watched that.
Christa Innis: No. I feel like you would like it. It’s like reality, but it’s so like. It’s intense. Like, and there’s reality. Okay, so it’s reality stars put on a competition show, so they’re competing to win special forces. And like they’ve had people like, like Hannah Brown or Nick Vile, or, I’m trying to think of other people. They’re bachelors, but like other, like, there’s, um, celebrities.
Um, so the woman that dated like Travis Kelsey, um, like ca what’s her name? Casey, gosh not, I think of her name. Kayla, Kayla, Nicole. So like, she was on, so like, people like that are big, like celebrities, um, athletes, reality TV stars, and they compete and it’s like really tough competition. They work with actual people from special forces and it’s like intense.
It’s good though ’cause you get the drama, but you also get, like, you see them like. Trying their best to like win at this competition.
Antoinette: Yeah. Ooh, okay. I will have to check that out. I mean, like, I love anything with like drama, honestly. Yeah. I mean, also, like a lot of times on my content, I do like random TikTok drama.
Like, you know, like I, I think there’s also a lot stuff there that like randomly gets flown up for. Like, like I did the Louis Vuitton dress chocolate Louis Vuitton chocolate Yes. Drama. Um, and the girl with the, the dermatology thing that happened, that was like not washing her face, not doing anything. Her
Christa Innis: Yes. Whatever happened with that, was that out?
Antoinette: Um, she got a deal with Sarah V and started washing her face, basically.
Christa Innis: I could not tell if this was like a, um, what’s it called? Where they try to get people mad. What’s it called? Uh.
Antoinette: Rage bait.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I couldn’t tell if it was rage bait.
Antoinette: I couldn’t, I couldn’t either. Part of me feels like it was like, but then they also found like an old post, like a year ago of her having done the same thing, like, but from Reddit. So I don’t know. But Sarah v got involved and like got her to put moisturizer on, and then it started falling off, which I’m like, yeah, because you’re putting, it’s like, not like, uh, like yeah, it’s gonna fall off.
Like, but you have literally not touched your face and you’re building up dirt and old skin cells. Like, I mean, that’s, that’s what’s gonna happen. I mean, I also felt, you know what I mean? So it was like, so like I also do stuff like that where like, so my stuff is like, I have a DD, it’s a little bit a DD too, where I’m like, whatever I’m interested in.
Right. Whatever. I’m interested in that moment. Um, but it is definitely more like reality TV drama and then, um, like TikTok type of drama. Yeah. But I am interested in, like right now I’m watching Huntington Wives on Netflix, and I’m, I was thinking about like. Yes,
Christa Innis: I just heard about this. How is it?
Antoinette: It’s so good. Yeah. It’s so, so, so good. And like sometimes I will, like, I don’t always do, I don’t, for me it’s like not, it’s always, not always for views. So like, maybe I won’t get a lot of views on it. ’cause like, that’s not necessarily my main base. But like, um, like even severance, I did, I did a lot of posts on that because I love that show.
Okay. And I just wanted to talk, talk about it. I was like, somebody will, I was like, I just wanna talk about it.
Christa Innis: So people will come across it.
Antoinette: And yeah, some people will come across it, but like, yeah. So I do watch other things and so I, I guess, yeah, I guess sometimes I do wish that, like, I think it’s hard with the algorithm or from, or whatever, but like I could.
Like, find more people, it would be easier for people to find me that if I’m like doing stuff outside of the, like, reality tv, TikTok, drama, when I, when I am making those con those contents.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah. It’s hard to know like what’s gonna like, take off or what people are gonna like, resonate with. Yeah. But that like TikTok drama stuff, man, that like, it goes like fast.
It’s like you gotta like hop on it fast because before you know it, if I don’t, don’t scroll for a couple days. ’cause sometimes like there’s like weeks where I just post and I’m like, I, I don’t have time to scroll or whatever. Yeah. Scroll. I’m like, wait, what’s this drama with so-and-so, what does she do to her?
And I’m like, okay, I have to find out who these people are. It’s wild.
Antoinette: Yes, yes. And some people are really, really on it. And I, and I know for me there’s, at first like I try to like for, you know, I have my. You know, some people it’s a little bit easier to do. I know like there’s some people I follow where it’s like, this is their full-time job.
So like they, they can scroll most of the day. And then like, for me it’s like, it’s not so like, I can’t, so like I, it’s like some stuff, like I’ll have some people write and be like, I want your ticket. I was like, I missed it. Like I missed it. I’m sorry. I was like, I literally do not have time right now.
Like, whatever was my schedule at that time, I’m like, I don’t have time to even comment on this. Like, I’m so sorry. Like, I’m catching babies. Like .
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Christa Innis: You were out there quite literally saving lives being, I know when you first told me you’re a labor and delivery nurse to her, I was like, how do you do it all?
I was like, you were literally an angel on earth. Oh my gosh.
Antoinette: I’m not sleeping very much.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my gosh. Like, I, I always knew nurses were amazing people. My grandma was a, was an ER nurse. Oh. And so I’m like, I always like heard about like, you know, working in the ER and everything, but then it’s like once I had my baby and I was like.
These nurses are just incredible. Like, you guys are just like amazing. So how, this is totally side note and everything, but like how did you get into labor and delivery and like, I mean ?
Antoinette: Well, yeah. I mean, so at first, like, my first like nursing job was actually as a transplant nurse. So I worked, um, inpatient for people on, on a unit that just did, um, uh, what was it called?
Kidneys, livers, um, and pancreatic, some lung transplants, things like that. Mm-hmm. Um, but when I was in nursing school and I did my rounds, I like, I was like, when I, we did our labor rounds, I was like, I had like one. One shift where we like actually got to be in like the labor unit. We did a lot on Mother, baby.
Um, and I was like, oh, this is really fun. Like, I thought I would, like really enjoy it, but I was also a little bit scared because, you know, you can, some stats stuff can happen too, like losses and things. And I’m a very empathetic person. Like I’m one of those people, like, I will cry at movies, I’ll cry.
Like thinking about certain things will start to make me cry honestly. Like I, like I fox in the hound. Even just thinking about them talk will make me cry like you did. So I, I like really empathize very well with people. Like, so I, I was a little bit nervous, so like when I went to go get my first nursing job, I was like, I actually did apply for labor, but then I turned it down because I was like, I don’t know if I can handle it if something happened.
Like, but then I kept thinking about it and I kept thinking about it. Um, so then I was like, okay, I just need to do it. So then I stayed in the same hospital, but I just ended up applying and like, but it was basically ’cause I just kept thinking about it and I was like, I’m like just. I’m really interested.
Like, I was like, obviously I should like just do it then. Um, and so then, you know, it has been really good. Obviously when sad things happened, it says still really like, you know, touch me. Um, but I am able to deal with it. Uh, but like, you know, like everybody, there’s, it just is something that happens, but there’s just so many beautiful moments that happen.
There’s so, it’s so many, like being able to be there for women when they’re going through this, um, or be there for mothers, you know, not everyone identifies as women, but like, uh, being there for mothers when they, when they’re going through this, um. It just feels so beautiful and it, I really love being able to support that process, being able to support the baby and like just being there for that whole thing. So.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh, I love that. No, I love hearing like how people got into nursing and stuff and like their department because, um, yeah, like I said, I was just like, I used to work for a mom and baby burn, and so like, I would talk to like, um, nurses and doulas and, and oh, you know, just people in the field and stuff.
So I’m always just so curious about it. I love, I love that, that kind of stuff. Yeah. Just a little, little side note, but yeah, why not?
Antoinette: I love that.
Christa Innis: Okay. Let’s get into the wedding portion of.
Antoinette: Okay. I’m excited. I didn’t know. I love drama. I was let as.
Christa Innis: Yes, we, we live for the drama here. It’s a good, uh, um, mental break from, from the world and all that, but, okay.
So starting off, do you have any like wild wedding stories or wedding stories that come to mind when you, when you first think of weddings?
Antoinette: Okay. Like, it’s not necessarily wild, but I, when it’s about me, then when, and it was something I was like younger, so I don’t even know why I was doing this, but like I, it was during my sister’s. My oldest sister’s wedding, and when it was the throwing the bouquet part, like, you know, we’re all like vying for it. And then it ends up being, I look up and it’s actually me and I’m like pulling, like, pulling, like trying to get this. And I, I think I just locked in. I was like, I don’t even know why. I’m like, I, what, how old was I?
Even like, I feel like I was like 17. Like I was like, I’m next. What was I doing? Like mean? Like, but I was like, I was like, I’m fighting for this. And then I look up and it was actually my other sister, like, so, and everybody else was gone.
Christa Innis: Do you guys actually pull poll at this?
Antoinette: Yes, we were pulling at this. I just feel like we locked in. Like, I don’t even think, I don’t even know what I was thinking, like, but I was like, I’m getting this. I, I got very competitive at the, but we both did apparently. Um, my other sister were sometimes I actually dating somebody, you know, and she was a little bit older so like, you know, like made more sense.
It just made more sense. Um. But it’s so funny to like watch the video ’cause it’s just like everybody else has gone and just watching us like literally pull for this thing and then like we, I look up and I was like, oh. And I let it go. I was like, oh. I was like, so sorry.
Christa Innis: Something just came over me. I’m sorry.
Antoinette: Yeah. I was like, I dunno what’s going on.
Christa Innis: Like, like the sister thing. We’ll just let them
Antoinette: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Figure it out.
Antoinette: Yeah. Gosh.
Christa Innis: I’ve been to weddings where people get pretty like, vicious over like the, the bouquet toss or like push people out the way. And I’m like, yeah guys, so it’s gonna be okay.
Antoinette: It’s, it’s gonna be fine. It’s gonna be fine. I, but sometimes it’s just a competitive nature, you know? That takes over. I, I can’t tell you what I was thinking. I don’t think I was, I think, I think I just had it and I was like, it would.
Christa Innis: You’re like, okay, you can take it.
Antoinette: Yeah. I was like, oh, ooh. My bad dresser.
Christa Innis: It’s so funny ’cause I remember going like to weddings in like my early twenties, so I don’t even know if I was with my now husband yet, but like, I’d be at weddings and like I was in that mind frame where I was like, I don’t wanna get married for a while.
And the bouquet would come and I would just look at it and just step back. Yeah. I’m like, someone else take it. There’s been a few weddings like that where like no one grabs it and I’m like, oh man. We’re all just like.
Antoinette: Yeah. Like everyone’s like, oh, don’t, don’t jinx me. Yeah. Like we’re not
Christa Innis: Times have changed. Yeah, exactly. We’re waiting a little longer these days. No. Um, that’s so funny. Um, oh my gosh. I love that because, uh, it’s one of those things where like people are either like so into like the bouquet toss and garter toss and other people are like, no. Like, I always ask my audience like, what are your unpopular opinions?
And I would say like, I. Most of the time one of those come up as like, don’t do it. Like, people are like, don’t do the garter toss. It’s weird. Don’t do the bouquet toss. It’s starts fights. And I’m just like, it’s interesting how, how the dynamic has kind of changed on those.
Antoinette: Yeah. I do think, like, I think it’s one of those things where I think it can start, right?
But also I think it’s one of those things where like, it’s very easy to like get dangerous really quickly because like, yeah, people are like jumping and like, you know, there could be an elbow. Like, it’s not even like you’re trying to like do, but it’s like, I, I think for my own, I don’t think I probably would do it.
Like, just ’cause I don’t, I don’t know if anyone that’s coming would fight over it, but like, I also just like, don’t want any accident ac you know, any accidents to happen over, like just throwing this thing.
Christa Innis: I know I, I didn’t do them at my wedding and I was just telling someone a while back, but I was like, honestly, like I am not very um. Athletic. Yeah. So I could see myself throwing the bouquet, hitting someone in the face, separation, breaking something. So I’m like, not just not throwing anything.
Antoinette: But it might not even go where everybody is.
Christa Innis: How embarrassing would that be? I throw it. I don’t.
Antoinette: Exactly and I don’t want be embarrassed.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I’m like, let’s just take that away. Um, yeah. I love that.
From TikTok Stunts to Bridal Party Boundaries: Wedding Drama Gets Real
Christa Innis: Okay. Here are some hot takes that people have sent in and we can just kind of share our opinions on them. Okay. Um, this says. If you need a content day during your wedding week, you’re not planning a marriage, you’re planning a pro, you’re producing a mini series.
So they’re saying, like, I, I’ve heard of this more, more and more now with weddings. Like people are so concerned with the overall look that they’ll like, do, like, they’ll plan out content like during their video or during their day. Like they’ll film stuff or do like, tiktoks have a TikTok section. Um, I’ve never been a part of one that does that, but yeah, either this person must have seen it.
Antoinette: So they’re saying if you’re planning con, then you’re, what? What’s that last part they said?
Christa Innis: You’re not thinking about planning a marriage, you’re more about producing, like producing something like a mini series.
Antoinette: Hmm. You know what I can see, I feel like I have two ideas about it. I can see how like, yes, I feel like that could be true for a lot of people where it’s like, if you’re so focused on that and.
Also like doing different con, I mean, I think financially too, like how much money are you putting into this? Are you thinking about your life later? All that stuff. But then I also can think like, hey, but maybe somebody is like a, like they really like tiktoks. They really like, you know what I mean? Like that’s kinda like their thing.
They’re like, they’re always doing like content stuff. So then why wouldn’t they have that to be a part of their wedding too? Because it’s representing them.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Um, and if this is how you envisioned it, I don’t think that’s a big deal. As long as like, as long as it’s not like, oh my God, like this, this, okay, you guys don’t do this TikTok, right.
Blah, blah, blah. Like, right. But if it’s like, if it’s just for fun and you’re like, I want my day to be full of like different times that I can capture the day and I want. Then, I don’t know. Do you boo?
Christa Innis: Yeah. I think if the other parties are okay with it and it’s like your day and you like, tell people we’re gonna do this, it’s fine.
I’ve seen Have you seen, did you see the TikTok drama talking about TikTok drama? There was a photographer that No, she was, this is okay. She was a makeup artist that was hired for a wedding. But, um, and there were other photo, there were photographers there, but she had her own plans for tiktoks to be filmed during the day.
So like, literally they were done with makeup and she is going around doing, having the bridesmaids and bride do tiktoks while they have like another timeline.
Antoinette: Wait, wait, wait. This is the ma and she was like, involved. Yes, I know exactly what you’re talking about.
Christa Innis: And then she caught in her car saying they treated her horribly kicking.
Antoinette: Yeah. Honestly, this is one of, one of my things that also blew up for me. Really? Like in the way, in the really beginning for me. Yes. Um, I know exactly. Oh my God, I remember this just of it. She was unhinged. Yeah, she was unhinged. Like even in the first look, she was like, she was there and in the photos making it all about her.
Yes. And the brides were crying. She’s like, okay guys. Okay. Like, that’s too much crying. I was like, why aren’t you still here? Yeah. She stayed the whole day. She stayed and then yeah, she kept making them do tiktoks. Then when it was time for like the after party for the reception, she was still trying to get tiktoks.
Yes. I, and then they tried to kick her. Yeah. Then they tried to kick her out and then she was like, she left and then she came back. She was like, no, you know what? I’m not gonna let them like bully me. And she went back. I was like, yes. I was like, no. It was crazy. I was like, I don’t understand why you’re not getting it, but you, she was like, oh my God, we were having such a good time.
We were kiking. And I was like, not for you to stay the whole day. No’s not for you to stay the whole day.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I didn’t make any said, oh, the groomsmen? Or, she said someone invited her and they were probably just like being like friendly. Like, oh oh, like in, no.
Antoinette: Yeah. Basically like, the bride, like, I think was like, kept being like, oh, okay.
Oh, okay. Like, and I think she like, just was just very kind, you know, like, and like maybe just didn’t wanna like do any confrontation. But then I, it wasn’t until like the groom later at the reception. Was like, okay. No. ’cause he was tired. Like, ’cause he didn’t actually agree to any of the things that the bride Right.
You know what I mean? Um, had said yes to and then the bride was like, no, no. Like he’s just upset. It’s okay. But then she left and it’s like, why didn’t you take the hint from the groom? Like, she’s like, well you know what, my bride, that’s what she said. She’s like, my bride wants me there. It’s like, no, she doesn’t.
Okay. But also it’s the groom’s wedding too. And he asked you to leave?
Christa Innis: Yeah. And leave how awkward that is. Like she’s probably just like, the bride’s probably just trying to enjoy her day. Doesn’t wanna start. Yes. ’cause in our minds, you know, it’s like, oh, I don’t wanna start drama. But it’s like, no, she’s literally viol, not violating, but like crossing all the boundaries at the wedding.
Antoinette: All the boundaries.
Christa Innis: She’s the makeup artist. She’s hired, she did her job. And I feel like she was even like drinking or something during makeup. Yes. Showing her drinking. Yes. All these things. And then what kills me is then like. She makes this video bashing the bride and groom showing the, like all their video footage before their, like, before they even posted to make herself look like the victim.
And I’m like, no.
Antoinette: Oh my God. I knew it. So left for her. Like no one would have even known about it if she didn’t make that video. Like the bride and groom, because they aren’t even social media people. They would not have even, no one even known about it.
Mm-hmm. She could have just have ruined this wedding and nobody would’ve known.
Yeah. But then she went online. I know she made this whole series blasted them, put their videos, their faces. Oh my God. That was crazy. Even like the bridesmaids were getting in the comments and being like, oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Like this is not okay. And then somebody else, like there was another MUA that had worked with her in the past and she’s like, oh no, she’s unhinged.
She’s unhinged. Like, oh yeah. So much came out about that woman.
Christa Innis: Yeah, that’s, that’s wild when you’re putting your content in front of your client, like Yes. That’s the thing that like, like obviously like I love social media, I love like the connections and stuff, but you have to always put like your job first.
There’s so many people that are like, oh, I wanna create content. And it’s like, well this is not the place or the time. Like as a makeup artist Yeah. Do their before and after and be like, Hey, can I post this? You know? But you have to always check in with your client first. They might not wanna be posted and Yeah, they might not want you hanging out all day and.
Antoinette: Yeah. But she kept being like, well, they agreed to content, but they didn’t agree to like every single content that you like. I think she probably thought you were just doing the look content that a lot of like people do where it’s like, okay, they did the before and then they do the after. I didn’t think, she didn’t think you were gonna be following her around all day trying to get her.
It was like, I can’t remember. I can like hear the song in my head, but I can’t think of. I can’t say it all, but there was like, I can remember the TikTok thing that she was trying to make and she was just trying to go throughout the day. The groom, you were never even a part of the grooms party, but then you involved them. ‘Cause you’re like, well I need the grooms. And I was like, that’s when you know you’ve gone too far. Does it, does the content fit with the service that you’re doing? Right. I think you have to think about that. And does it fit within the timeframe of the service that you’re doing or are you going beyond that?
You know, also, like maybe you, if it’s something where like, I don’t, things are taking long, maybe you won’t get your content. Like, but exactly what you said, like the service should come first. Yeah. And then the content, like I, you know, like, but someone agreeing to make tiktoks with you doesn’t mean they’re agreeing to like literally every single thing that you came up under the sun.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no. 100%. Yeah. Oh my gosh. I can’t believe that. Just like came back like that. That was one of those where like, I think I took a few days off and I came back on and like I got a couple messages. Someone tagged me, they’re like, Christa, can you please make a skit about this? I didn’t. I think I just kind of talked about it.
’cause I was like, it’s so fresh. Like, I don’t know, like this is kind of wild. Like yeah, I watched all the videos and I was like, oh my gosh, this is an unhinged, like seriously insane. Yeah.
Um, okay. This last hot take says reality TV. Weddings have convinced people that bridal parties are unpaid extras. Oh.
Antoinette: Um, interesting reality. Tv. Bachelor parties, they said weddings. Oh, our unpaid extras. Is this more like, I think they were saying that like people are taking advantage of the bridal party basically.
But I feel like people have been doing that for like, even before reality TV stuff.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I don’t actually reality tv.
Antoinette: Yeah. I think it’s just some people do take advantage of the bridal party. Um, I think some people don’t realize that like, yeah, of course, like these people wanna be here for you. Um, but like, it’s not, and, and it’s like, it’s, it’s not like in, you can’t just like ask like endless amount of things. Um, you can’t also just ask people to like put all their money into your wedding or into like the bridesmaids dress or whatever, or, or whatever the makeup that they have to do or, you know, what have you.
Um, also like that whole year is not literally about you to. Everybody else in your life. Yeah. It’s like, it’s about you for you and your spouse, but like everybody else’s life is still going on. I mean, like, I have things to do. We got things to do, but I do know that I feel like there’s a lot of people who are like, you’re not really supporting me right now.
Like, I feel like you’re not doing enough for the way I was like, what are you talking about, dude? Like, I have a life. Like I will help you, but like, I’m not making a full-time job out of helping you for your wedding.
Christa Innis: Right. The world doesn’t stop because you’re getting married. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I’ve seen wild stories where bridesmaids get mad or brides get mad because their bridesmaids are pregnant or their bridesmaids get, uh, also get engaged and it’s like you don’t get claims to the whole there, there.
I mean like I had two, uh, pregnant bridesmaids and I was like, don’t feel like you have to come to anything. Your baby and your health comes first.
Antoinette: Like yeah, I mean life happens. Like, if it’s not, like, let’s say like you had like a destination wedding and one of the people got pregnant, like on like, if, if it’s that time for me, my life for me that I wanna get pregnant, I’m gonna, I’m not gonna like be like, oh no, we gotta hold off a year.
Yeah. ’cause so and so’s, you know, just in case, like, that’s not what’s gonna happen. And I think that’s absolutely crazy when people do that. I think that’s like, literally you need to get your head checked. That’s not cool. Yeah. Like that. Like you’re, you’re way too self-centered. But I think a lot of times it’s like there are probably signs about that person.
Before, yeah. You know, before the wedding there were probably signs about the person that they were pretty selfish. Mm-hmm. Um, and then it just went to like, kind of the nth degree when they felt like they had an excuse to be their most selfish shelf.
Christa Innis: Yes. Like they hear it like, oh, it’s your bride’s day.
Antoinette: So they’re like, yep. The court. Yes, exactly. They’re like, okay, well now I get to be exact you know.
Christa Innis: Here’s my notebook. Yes. Oh my God, that’s so true. Because yeah, you hear it time and time again. It’s like, oh, it’s a bride’s day. It’s your moment. So then they’re like, oh, I’ve, I’ve been waiting for this.
Antoinette: Yes.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: But it’s not, that’s the funny part. It’s your day. It’s your day. Not your year. Not your year, your day.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And we gotta have, we gotta have, respect people’s life and their boundaries too.
Antoinette: Yes. A hundred percent.
Wedding Drama Rapid Fire: From Jealous Bridesmaids to Reality TV Proposals!
Christa Innis: Okay. Before we get to this week’s wild wedding story that we’ll react to, um, we’ll do a little quick rapid fire.
How does that sound? Okay. In addition, okay. Would you rather deal with a jealous bridesmaid or an attention hogging groomsman?
Think hard, long, and hard about this one.
Antoinette: Yeah. Um, I guess an attention hogging groom has been, I guess, a little bit. ’cause I feel like I, for me personally, I feel like I would be a lot easier to talk to that person and be like, tone it down. Yeah. Like I, ’cause I would not have a problem be like, I love you so much, but you gotta tone it down. You’re doing too much.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Versus somebody who is jealous. I don’t know if I would know that they’re being jealous or if they’re like, you know, kind of being stink face or whatever. Or like, or like eat subconsciously or consciously sabotaging things. So I feel like I wouldn’t want that type of negativity.
Christa Innis: Yep.
Antoinette: On my day.
Christa Innis: That’s a great point. Yeah. Um, would you rather your wedding TikTok flop? So like if something bad happened at your wedding or, or your honeymoon get leaked?
Antoinette: Uh oh. Would I rather have a, so I either the TikTok I have be like a flop, like someone said, let, like my wedding was a flop.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Like if you had like a wedding TikTok, um, like maybe you like, posted about your wedding as a TikTok and it didn’t do well, is how I’m reading it.
Yeah.
Um, or your honeymoon, like videos from your honeymoon or photos from your honeymoon get leaked. I don’t know. Like Oh, like your,
Antoinette: I I was, I know. I was like, right. I was like, what? I was like, what type of leak? I was like, what we, I was like, I was like, what are we talking about? I’m nervous I didn’t write these.
Um, I guess like, I wouldn’t mind having a TikTok flop. I probably would think it was funny.
Christa Innis: Yeah, it’s ’cause it’d be more for me anyways if I.
Antoinette: Yeah. Just in case. There could be lots of different meanings for the leak. I’d rather have nothing leaked, just to be clear. Yeah. Just to, just to like, just in case nothing leaked.
Christa Innis: I know, I feel like the word leaked just sounds like celebrity leak. Like Yeah. Oh, there, this got leach. Um, okay. Would you rather have your wedding go viral for the wrong reasons? Or have no one shared at all?
Antoinette: No one shared at all.
Christa Innis: Yeah, same. Would you rather find out your fiance applied to a reality dating show after your engagement or that your proposal was filmed for a pilot episode you didn’t know? These are wild.
Antoinette: What the, is this, I guess, um, the film for, for, for a pilot? I didn’t know because like what the actual f*ck if you just, sorry. With the actual flip, if you just, I didn’t know if you could curse something. I was like, it’s all good. Okay. If you just, like, you got engaged to me and then you just applied to a dating show?
Christa Innis: Dude, there’s been people on Bachelor that has come out, like they have like girlfriends at home. This happens and you, the thing is why I’m sure, well, cheaters, I feel like, just don’t think about this, but they’re like, yeah, you don’t think it’s ever gonna come out. Exactly. You don’t thinking at home, like clicking and being like recognize.
Antoinette: Thank you. The internet with the, like, have you not? Are you new?
Are you new to the world now? Like the internet is like, especially with TikTok, things like information moves by fast. People are detectives. Okay. If you’re on there, they’re gonna find you and everything about you. So. Like, people always think like, oh, I can just hide it. No, you can’t. No. It’s no one else has been able to.
Christa Innis: Someone’s always watching, especially nowadays. Oh my gosh, Coldplay concert.
Antoinette: Yes, exactly. Exactly.
Christa Innis: Someone’s always watching. Yes.
Antoinette: And the funny, if they had just not ducked, if they had just not ducked, that wouldn’t have been a thing.
Christa Innis: Yes. Seriously. No one would’ve even thought twice about it. But the funny thing is, someone, do you see the behind the scenes, someone was behind them and realized later, like they had videos of them like kissing before that happened. Oh, they were like literally behind the couple.
Antoinette: Yeah. I didn’t see that. Ah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. So I’m like, oh my God. But like literally, they would’ve just been like, oh, it’s a cute couple. Yeah. Never would’ve thought anything about if they weren’t like, whoa. Yeah, exactly. And yeah, it wouldn’t, the smelling front. Oh my gosh.
Antoinette: No. Right. Yeah. It wouldn’t have been a thing.
Christa Innis: All right, last one. Would you rather have your wedding edited by Netflix or produced by Bravo?
Antoinette: Ooh. Edited by Netflix or produced by Bravo, um, I guess edited by Netflix, produced by Bravo. Ooh. I don’t know, dude, that, that’s kind of like, I, I like Netflix shows, so let’s just say edit it by Netflix.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I like it.
A Tale of Jealousy, Selfishness, and Boundaries!
All right, let’s get into this week’s wedding story submission. Are we, we still okay on time? I know we’re, yeah.
Antoinette: Yeah. No, I’m good. I love bantering.
Christa Innis: I feel like we’re doing a.
Antoinette: Yeah, no, I’m having fun. No, we’re good.
Christa Innis: Okay, cool.
Antoinette: Okay. I’m off today, so we’re.
Christa Innis: We got time. Alright, cool. Yeah.
Um, okay. So as always, I have not read this, this will be a blind reaction. Let’s just see how we go. Feel free to stop me if you want. Um, otherwise we’ll, just as you know,
Antoinette: I might have questions. I’ll let you know.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Um, all names have been changed, so here we go.
This story starts about two and a half years ago. Around six months before I got engaged. I was on a pontoon boat with my friends, their boyfriends, and my now fiance Ryan. One of my friends, Brooke, asked Ryan if he had any plans to propose in the future.
At that point, we’d been together for a little over a year, so it was still fairly early. But we had already talked about marriage, so it wasn’t a totally random question. Ryan told Brooke and my other friend Erica, that he actually planned on proposing in August, which was about two months from when they were having this conversation. I was on the other side of the pontoon boat and had no idea this was even happening. Next thing I know, I look over and see Erica sulking in the corner of the boat, glued to her phone and refusing to talk to anyone. We were only about an hour into a six hour rental, so things weren’t off to a great start.
I asked Brooke if she knew why Erica was upset, and she told me that when the topic of proposals came up, Erica made a comment to her boyfriend who was also on the boat, and they’d been together for three years at the time. Um. Asking when he was going to propose and he replied with something dismissive like, don’t hold your breath. Ooh. Which upset her. Yeah. Like then starts the comparison, right? Yeah. Uh, for the rest of the rental, Erica sulked and barely spoke.
After we got off the boat, she immediately returned to her hotel. Instead of joining the group for dinner the next day, she texted me asking why I didn’t make more of an effort to comfort her. I explained that it wasn’t fair for her to exec expect me to come spend my entire birthday consoling her over something I had no control over.
Okay. Fast forward six months, Ryan and I get engaged on a beach. Brooke was there because she helped Ryan plan and execute the proposal. Afterward, Ryan and I FaceTimed friends in film me to share the news. When I FaceTimed Erica to show her the ring, oh gosh. The first thing she said to me was, Ew. He let you have red nails for your proposal. Jealousy. Not a pretty.
Antoinette: What the, oh my God. That’s not a friend.
Christa Innis: This is kind of ironic. ’cause yesterday I did like a, like a different kind of video and I was like, pretending to be, I said, your best friend of me just found out you’re engaged.
Antoinette: Oh, I think I saw that. I saw that.
Christa Innis: I said something like that. I’m like, oh, I didn’t know you liked that. Kind of, you know? Yes. That’s literally like that kind of comment, like why would you say that to someone?
Antoinette: That is so rude. Like, and I feel like jealousy is a normal emotion. I do like, I don’t like, people are like, oh, we, I was like, I don’t think you should like down people for having feelings of jealousy. It just is like information for you. Like it’s not necessarily that you dislike the person or whatever. It’s like there’s something going on with you that you are that. You’re looking for. Do you what I mean? And that that person has, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s not something you can have. It’s just like, it’s some, it’s information. That’s how I think of it more. It’s information. And if you don’t actually take in that information, then I think jealousy can get out of hand. Obviously this person, jealousy got out of hand. Yes. ’cause for her to be outwardly so rude and dismissive to her friend during such a, a beautiful moment. And the fact that she also thinks of you, thinks of you so much that she calls you during that beautiful moment. And that’s the first thing you say is like, what the flip? Yeah. Like you need to get, you need to internally look.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah. Like you’re, yeah, you’re letting that jealousy like take over you when it’s like, yeah. You could have like feelings of being like, oh, I wish that was me first, or that yeah. Kind of sucks, but I wouldn’t be really happy for my friend because she’s my friend.
Antoinette: Yeah, a hundred percent.
Christa Innis: Um, it says I was in such a good mood that I brushed it off. Okay, good. At least Elisa didn’t ruin the moment.
Antoinette: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Um, she gave me a half-hearted congratulations. And we moved on later. Our families had planned a small celebration at our house. Erica and her boyfriend came out but barely said anything to me and left about an hour later.
I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, assuming she might be having an off day, despite everything. I still asked her to be one of my bridesmaids. There we go. That gut feeling like she’s already showing signs. Um, when I started organizing hangout so the bridesmaid could get to know each other, Erica always made excuses not to come.
Her reasons ranged from anticipating she’d be too tired or needing to attend a half birthday party for a six month old. What’s a half birthday? Oh, a six month old, like half birthday. I get it. Um, to simply not liking who does.
Antoinette: Six and a six and a half?
Christa Innis: No, I was like, wait, what? Um, to simply not liking the location.
Weird. Not going to your friend to hang out ’cause you don’t like the location.
Okay. While planning the bachelorette trip, I mentioned feeling sad that one of my bridesmaids Tessa wouldn’t be able to make it because she lives in Arizona. Erica responded, I’m so jealous of Tessa living in another state gets her out of so many of these events.
Okay. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
Antoinette: Okay. Yeah.
Christa Innis: I wanna be here.
Antoinette: Okay. Yeah. Honestly, I I, if it was me, I’d be like, girl girly. What’s going on?
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Like what is happening here? Like you’ve been saying, I’ve been letting it go, but you’ve been saying way too many things. We need to talk.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Like, ’cause that’s just rude. Like, that’s just rude. You don’t have to come, like, don’t do me any flipping favors. Okay. Okay. Like, don’t do me any, this what.
Christa Innis: You’re gonna ruin it being there. I’d rather.
Antoinette: Yeah. You are ruining it. Like you’re ruining everything. You’re making me feel bad. Like you’re, you’re putting in digs, like trying to make me feel bad about myself.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah. That’s, oh gosh. She’s like putting all the signs out there.
Antoinette: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Um, okay. She says I wish I had a solid excuse not to come to the bachelorette trip, so that that was her end. That’s it. Yeah. That’s your excuse. Like don’t come friend.
Antoinette: You don’t need, I’d be like, you don’t even need one. You’re uninvited. Yeah. It’s done. Done.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh.
Antoinette: That is, I would literally be like, don’t you? I would literally say that most likely I’d be like, you don’t even need one you’re uninvited.
Christa Innis: If someone’s gonna be that mopey and like.
Antoinette: Oh yeah, I wish I had a solid excuse. And you’re saying that to me.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Yeah. No.
Christa Innis: There you go. Bye.
Antoinette: Yeah. Yeah. That, that’s your excuse right? There you have it.
Christa Innis: Um, okay. She goes frustrated. I said, if you don’t wanna come, then you should stay home. Okay, good. She replied that would, that she would def look bad if she didn’t go.
Antoinette: So you look bad by not by saying this, you already, what do you mean You obviously don’t care about looking bad? ‘Cause you look bad right now.
Christa Innis: Yeah. How can you really care about looking bad if you say that? So it’s like, it’s more about everybody else, what everyone else thinks versus your best friend or one.
Antoinette: Yeah. You don’t care about me or what I think because you’re saying all this to my face. Yeah, to my face. Like, you’re being rude and mean to my face.
So it’s not, it’s not about me. It’s like, okay, what other people would it look bad for then?
Christa Innis: Yeah, exactly. Oh my gosh.
Um, while shopping for bridesmaid dresses, Erica told me she struggles when people get married before her. Really? Did they? Right. Not also, why are we telling her this at bridesmaid dress shopping again, like a wedding event for her. Don’t go if you’re gonna make it about you.
Antoinette: Like honestly, at this point, this is where the introspection we need to come in. And it’d be like, I’m in a weird place. I can literally, I don’t know why, but I can literally not be happy for you right now. Mm-hmm. I want to be, I know I should be, but I’m in a bad place.
Yeah. Like, honestly, I should just be like. I can’t do this and cut it out, like mm-hmm. But not, I feel like a lot, not a lot of people are like self-aware like that, where it’s like, I’m just not able to do this.
Christa Innis: Yeah. If it’s gonna bother you that much and every little thing you’re gonna bring up how you’re not married yet, or you’re not engaged yet, that’s a problem.
Antoinette: Yeah. You’re gonna be rude to your, to your friend. It’s, this is supposedly your friend.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Like, you’re gonna be rude to them, put them down, make them feel bad about all the events that are happening around this wedding. Like, then just, then just see yourself out, like, you know what I mean? Like, be a friend and don’t go.
Right. Like that would be the way you’re being a friend. If like I’m, if I’m, I’m literally not able to control myself at this point because I’m so jealous that I need to not be involved.
Christa Innis: Yeah. 100%.
Um, she goes, especially when they haven’t been with their partners as long as she has.
Antoinette: Oh my gosh.
Christa Innis: Doesn’t matter.
Antoinette: Erica. Get over it.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Okay. Dump your partner and get a new one. Then. I don’t know, like, if, if the issue is that, then maybe you should like not be with your partner. If they, obviously, obviously I don’t think she should be with her partner. If her partner said something along the lines of like, oh, what’s it called?
Christa Innis: Don’t hold your breath.
Antoinette: Don’t hold your breath. You shouldn’t be with that. You shouldn’t be with that person.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Like you’re more mad at him, I think. Yeah. You’re not mad at your friend and you’re letting him dictate how you feel about your friend, which you should be happy for her. I think you need to turn the anger maybe to him.
Antoinette: Yes.
Christa Innis: You guys are on different timelines.
Antoinette: Yes.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Yeah. I mean, but also like why even if you’re on different timelines, why would that be your answer to somebody asking about when we’re getting married? Yeah. Don’t hold your breath. Your breath. You obviously don’t like me. If that’s, if that’s like, if that’s your answer, that’s rude.
Yeah. It’s one thing to be like, I’m not ready. Gonna be like, don’t hold your breath. Okay. You, you don’t like me. Then like, you always like, you don’t care about me or my feelings, like.
Yeah. The fact that he was so quick to be like, don’t hold your breath. Not like, don’t worry, we’re gonna get married. I’ve got something planned. Or just like, I need another year. You know, whatever.
Antoinette: Or can we talk about it later? Like, can we talk like not on this boat when Yeah. Not on this boat. You, you might not be happy with my answer. Let’s talk about it in private.
Christa Innis: Might ruin your whole day.
Antoinette: Yeah, exactly right. Ruins everybody’s day and year, apparently.
Christa Innis: Yes. Oh my gosh.
Um, she said she felt she should be getting married before me. Oh, now it’s clear before me. Because of the length of her own relationship. Length does not dictate any of that. It does not ever. It really doesn’t ever. Oh my gosh. It really doesn’t.
I wanted to suggest that she stepped down as a bridesmaid, but I avoided the confrontation because I knew it would end our friendship.
Antoinette: Well, maybe, but this is not ending your friend. This should have ended your friendship.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: This should have ended your friendship. I think this girl’s being way too much of a pushover because like, this should have ended your friendship. Why are you worried about ending? Like how is this not ending it?
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Like all the signs are there from the outside. I’m like, these signs are so big and red that I’m like you. Yeah. As red. Those nails that you got proposed.
Antoinette: Yeah, exactly.
Christa Innis: They are, they’re they’re like flashing at me.
Antoinette: Yes.
Christa Innis: Um, for the bachelorette trip, a joint bachelor and bachelorette weekend. Erica texted me the week before saying her boyfriend couldn’t take time off work. So they probably would, would come late.
Okay. Despite multiple brides, I thought she was gonna say, so they probably wouldn’t come. And I was gonna be like, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. Despite multiple bridesmaids offering to drive her so she could come on time, she refused. That’s another, that’s weird. If it’s one of my best friends, I’d be like, sorry, you have to work a boyfriend.
I’m going without you like, yeah. What, what, I’m sorry. I’m not wasting, wasting my time. Um, she and her boyfriend finally arrived Friday night just as we were heading to karaoke the karaoke bar. At the bar they stood apart from everyone else repeatedly asked when we were leaving and complained about how much they disliked it.
Antoinette: Why did you come? They both did?
Christa Innis: Apparently. Like what?
Antoinette: What was the point of coming then? Like, you just, like, you just like ob you want to ruin people’s time.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. You’re just miserable, unhappy people.
Antoinette: Yeah. Like, you are, you’re being miserable and you’re trying to make everyone else miserable. Like, and I have like, I’m one of those people where like, I’m like, I feel like I give so much grace where I’m like, you know, if somebody’s like in a bad place, you know, or like, and you know what?
Maybe you are miserable. Okay. But like, are you spreading your misery? That’s what I’m really asking. Like, I mean like, are you spreading your misery? And that’s what’s happening here. And I feel like that’s so like, get it together. Get it together. There’s really no reason for you to go to event and just ruin somebody else’s time. Go home. Yeah, go home.
Christa Innis: Because, yeah, no one feels bad for you. Like, don’t go there to like ruin their day. Like they’re enjoying their time. So just like.
Antoinette: Yeah. This would also be a festivity and you would literally be like, Ugh. Can we go home? Yeah, go. No, yeah, you can. Yeah, please. You literally can, you drove here by yourself because you didn’t come with us. ‘Cause you’re waiting for your boyfriend so you can, you literally can’t go.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Literally. Please. Do you already want the excuse to not come?
Antoinette: This is not an escape room. You can escape. Okay. Yeah.
Christa Innis: You’re way out. Oh my gosh. This is wild.
Um, the next morning Erica claimed she had a panic attack and decided to leave saying she wasn’t having fun. Okay.
Antoinette: Yeah. Neither were we. We could tell.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: You could tell. It’s not a surprise.
Christa Innis: You made it very clear. Yeah.
Antoinette: Like it’s not a surprise, girly.
Christa Innis: A month after the trip, Erica got engaged. Hmm. Okay.
Antoinette: Good for maybe, I hope, you know what? I hope her attitude changes now. I hope she’s very happy now.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Now she’s gonna be, wait, I didn’t read the rest, but I’m just gonna guess it’s gonna be all about her and her wedding now and then maybe they kept married first.
Antoinette: Oh my God. I bet she’s gonna be like, oh, you know what? If this was my wedding, I wouldn’t have done that. Yes. A lot of that, like, oh, you know what? I would’ve never picked that color. Oh, you know what? I kind of feel like that’s a little techy, but like, you know, like, it’s good for you. Oh my God. I hate Erica. What? Yes. God. Erica, you’re the worse.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Um, a month after the trip, so Erica got engaged and started texting me questions about wedding planning. Oh, she’s so excited now.
Antoinette: Oh, look at her.
Christa Innis: Things most bridesmaids would already know, like what wedding website I use and where my venue was. On the day of my bridal shower, Erica showed up with her mom both wearing white. Because she’s engaged, so it’s now her wedding here.
Antoinette: I literally can’t, Erica is not the worse. Erica is the worst. She can’t help herself.
Christa Innis: Her mom like matching, matching outfits, like wearing a sash bride and mother with bride.
Antoinette: Oh my God. Did you? She’s like, well, I’m, I’m also, I’m also engaged.
Christa Innis: We’re all engaged together.
Antoinette: Yeah. Oh my God.
Christa Innis: Um, she asked the other bridesmaids how long the shower would last complained about having to stay for the opening of gifts and spent most of the time talking about her own wedding plans.
Antoinette: Oh, you called it, you called it.
Christa Innis: I feel like I’ve just like seen so many stories like this where I’m just like that type of person that’s so upset and jealous and has to be rude.
The second then they get engaged. It’s me, me, me, me, me. Oh, you had your, yes, that’s it. But it’s like she doesn’t have her time yet. She’s still like.
Antoinette: She never had her time. You were rude the whole time. Like you’ve been, and then after now you’re still being rude. See? Are you just a rude person? Like that. Just who? Yeah. I was like, were there signs? You know what, I’m sorry. I feel like I was like, were there signs already that Erica was not a good friend before all of this?
Christa Innis: Yeah. I wanna hear about. Yeah. You know, some pre-engagement stories about Erica. Tell me the truth.
Antoinette: Yeah. I was like, let’s get the truth. Have you, as his friend, needed to be gone for a long time? Probably.
Christa Innis: My, my guess is, yeah. Yeah. Like, and this just brought it all out even more.
Um, when I walked over to her table, her mom interrupted me to show Erica something so cute for her wedding. About 45 minutes into the shower, Erica’s mom came up to me and said Erica wasn’t feeling well.
I know I have to say that in that voice. Yeah. No, I love it. Come say goodbye. Oh. At your shower. You need to go outside and say goodbye to Erica.
Antoinette: No, Erica can come inside. Yeah. Or, or tell her I say bye.
Christa Innis: Yeah. She can just do the old Irish goodbye. See ya. Bye.
Um, I went outside and Erica apologized, later texted me that she’s always getting sick at events related to me.
Antoinette: Oh my God.
Christa Innis: You said it weird. There must be some jealousy in the air.
Antoinette: Yeah. Right, right. I right.
Christa Innis: Stick with jealousy.
Antoinette: You’re literally getting sick by your own jealousy. Your own jealousy is making you sick.
Christa Innis: Eating you up inside.
Antoinette: Alive. Like, like your body knows terrible therapy. Immediately, please. Like, yeah.
Christa Innis: Can you seek some inner peace?
Antoinette: Yes.
Christa Innis: Um, all right. The next day, my sister texted Erica and asked if she’d be getting sick on the wedding day too, and whether she saw,
Antoinette: I love the sister.
Christa Innis: The sister is awesome.
Antoinette: The sister was like, I’m done with this.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Like, I’ll be her backbone for a little bit. I got, yeah. Whether she felt capable of handling the pressure.
Erica got defensive and sent me a long series of messages about feeling disrespected before I could respond she blocked me.
Antoinette: The audacity!
Christa Innis: And all the other bridesmaids on social media. ’cause she was called out for her bs.
Antoinette: She felt disrespected? She, Erica felt disrespect? Wow. Wow.
Christa Innis: That is wild.
Antoinette: She did them a favor though. Yeah. Like somebody needed to like, thank you for excusing yourself out then.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Antoinette: And she, she literally went through, just blocked everybody. Okay. Nobody wanted you ready.
Christa Innis: That’s someone that like expects you just to like, go to their beck and call at all times. No one says no to me. And so I think because the sister came in and was like, yo, you’re not being a good person. Are you gonna be there or not? Tell me now because
Antoinette: Yeah, exactly.
Christa Innis: Not dealing with this.
Antoinette: I’m glad the sister said something. ’cause it was like someone had to be like, is this, we’ve already seen the pattern for a year. Are you gonna do this on the actual important day?
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Antoinette: If so, like, and I love that. Are you gonna be able to handle it? ’cause Yeah. Are, can you handle it? You’ve proven not to be able to. So yeah. Can you get yourself together before then? Mm-hmm. And she pretty much, she answered, no, she’s not. I mean by all of her actions were a No. That was the answer.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my gosh.
Antoinette: She blocked everybody off.
Christa Innis: That is wild.
Antoinette: Oh so childish.
Christa Innis: I kind of like. Very loosely relate to this.
Like years ago I had a very like shady kind of friend. The end of, yeah, shady is probably the wrong word, just a friend where like I was always like people pleasing, bending back my backward, bending over backwards for. And many times, like last minute cancellations, like if she was gonna help me with something, like feeling sick, that kind of stuff.
And my sister texted her one day when she was supposed to come to something and canceled like the morning of, or just stopped. She like stopped responding to me and my sister was like, Hey, like. Christa’s always bending over backwards for you, blah, blah, blah. And it was like the same thing. She was rude back to my sister and then texted me like a whole thing. And I was just like, I’m done. Like I’m done. Sorry.
Antoinette: Yeah. Yeah. Like you can’t take accountability. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Um, all right. Last paragraph here says, looking back, I should have never asked her to be a bridesmaid. She has always been selfish and viewed our friendship as a competition. There you go. Mm.
I was trying to hold on to a one-sided friendship, but in the end she took the first opportunity to bow out.
Antoinette: Wow.
Christa Innis: They hung on by a thread there for a while.
Antoinette: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, and everyone, but I mean, that’s what we’re wondering. We’re wondering, like, it seems like Erica probably has always been a problem, and, but she just confirmed that.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Antoinette: Like, and that happens. I mean, I’ve been, I’ve been in, in a friendship like that too, where like, it was definitely one sided.
I was definitely like doing everything. And they definitely were like selfish, but like, there were just, there’s always something, there’s like something, I don’t know what it is, but you were like, attached to that person. I felt attached to them. Um, and sometimes it can be hard to like let people go, even if they’re like, you know, they’re like not really bringing anything.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. A hundred percent.
Antoinette: Um, yeah. Yeah. So.
Christa Innis: And I feel like too, it’s like, you know, you, you think of like good times with that person. Yeah. And you’re like, oh, they’re good to me during that. Or like, this was a good time. I don’t wanna just like be the mean person and say like, I’m done with you, but also like, you, you matter too.
And it’s like, yeah. And their friendships just have a timeline and they’re just. Done at a certain point. And that’s.
Antoinette: Yeah. And this was the one, I mean, I secretly wish for this girl that like it had been earlier, so her whole, all the events weren’t like so tainted with Erica’s drama, you know? But at least her wedding wasn’t tainted with it.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah. She was long out by that point.
Antoinette: Yeah, right.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. Well that was a wild story.
Well, thank you so much for coming on and yeah, entering with me and reacting to this wild story. I had so much fun hanging out with you. I feel like we could talk for hours just because I do too, so much to chat about.
Um, can you again, just tell everyone where they can follow you and find your content and then anything fun you’re working on?
Antoinette: Yeah. Um, you can find me on TikTok at Miss Razzle Dazzle. I’ve been trying to change it, but it won’t change on TikTok, so Miss Razzle dazzle, and then on Instagram at bits of banter with Antoinette and then YouTube at bits of banter.
Christa Innis: I love it.
Antoinette: Um, and I am now my next thing is Perfect Match and Love is Blind uk so I’ll be reacting to those two shows.
Christa Innis: Okay. I gotta watch at least one of those. Yes, yes. I Dating Show World. Yes. Awesome. Well thank you so much.
Antoinette: Thank you.
Education Hot Seats, Reality Checks & a Red Flag Romance — with Colleen Borgert
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
Weddings can bring out the best and the worst in families but what happens when the drama takes center stage?
In this episode, Christa and Colleen Borgert dive deep into a story about a whirlwind engagement, a strained family dynamic, and a wedding that almost didn’t happen. Did the bride make the right choice when she called off the marriage after just one month?
Tune in as Christa and Colleen share candid thoughts on red flags, family loyalty, and how important it is to trust your instincts when the pressure’s on. A powerful reminder that it’s never too late to walk away from a bad relationship.
Join me on Patreon and get bonus content every month!
Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
07:22 Teaching Background and Career Path
12:14 Wedding Would You Rather Questions
18:41 Meeting Her Husband at a Wedding
24:36 Discussing Wedding Food and First Dances
30:12 No Ring No Bring Wedding Policy
36:20 Wedding Story Submission
42:26 Red Flags in the Relationship
48:42 The Divorce and Moving Forward
54:39 Wedding Confessions
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Engagement Red Flags – The couple’s whirlwind engagement raised questions about moving too fast and overlooking key signs.
- Family Drama Unfolds – The bride’s experience with her fiancé’s family dynamics and how it impacted her big day.
- The Sister’s Role – Colleen shares her thoughts on the fiancé’s younger sister and the implications of her behavior.
- Unspoken Expectations – How family members’ expectations can shape wedding plans, and the consequences of unmet expectations.
- The Pushback on No Kids Policy – Colleen’s wedding no-kids policy and the pushback it created from family members.
- Taking Control of Your Wedding – The importance of setting boundaries with family members and ensuring the wedding day feels right for the couple.
- Dealing with Toxic Family Members – The challenges of navigating toxic family relationships and prioritizing your own happiness.
- A Bold Divorce Decision – The courage it took for the bride to end the marriage and choose a life that was healthier for her.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “Sometimes the most dramatic moments are the ones that push us into the right decision.” – Christa Innis
- “There’s no rule that says you have to settle for a big wedding if it doesn’t feel right for you.”– Christa Innis
- “When we look back at those relationships, we realize: we were just rushing for the sake of rushing.”– Christa Innis
- “If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut, even if everyone else says you should push through.”– Christa Innis
- “Wedding day stress isn’t just about the day it’s about what it reveals about the people around you.”– Christa Innis
- It’s not about the number of guests, it’s about the intimacy and connection you want to share.” – Colleen Borgert
- “Some family dynamics are just too toxic to navigate around. You’ve got to know when to step away.” – Colleen Borgert
- “At that moment, I realized that the wedding I envisioned wasn’t the one that was actually happening.” – Colleen Borgert
- “It’s hard to face red flags when you’re too caught up in the idea of what should be.” – Colleen Borgert
- “A good family should never make you feel like you’re walking on eggshells, it should always feel like a safe place.” – Colleen Borgert
About Colleen:
Colleen Borgert is a Catholic ESL Director, wife, and mom with 15 years of experience in education. She is passionate about advocating for all students and dedicated to unlearning and growing into the best version of herself. Colleen’s journey into TikTok began as a way to raise awareness for a comfort closet in her school, providing essential items like toothbrushes, socks, and deodorant for at-risk students. Her efforts gained traction, and after the election, her content evolved to reflect the changing landscape of education. Now, Colleen shares insights on shifting educational laws and provides parents with important updates on what’s happening in their local schools.
Follow Colleen Borgert:
Join the Drama with Christa Innis:
- Website
- Tiktok
- Youtube
- Get Christa’s Book, Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story
Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!
Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form
Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!
A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi guys. Welcome back to another episode of, here Comes The Drama. It’s so funny, I put together these intros week after week and you know, I thought it would seem more and more natural, but like sometimes when I read off things, it just feels like I. Uh, not very natural to me. But anyways, thanks for being here, guys.
I’m excited to share another exciting episode. We are joined by Colleen Bogart this week. She’s also known as Leanie Borg on TikTok. She is a Midwest mom educator and all around advocate for her students who need it most. Colleen is known for her heart humor and the way she shows up unapologetically herself.
But don’t let the smile fool you. She’s not afraid to speak up. Stand strong and keep it real both in and out of the classroom. In this episode, we play around of would you rather dive into some wedding hot takes, of course. And then finally, we react to a wedding story submission with an ending you will not see coming.
And I just wanna say, I had so much fun hanging out with Colleen. She’s so real. She was so much fun, and I’m excited for you guys to hang out with us. So without further ado, here’s our episode. Enjoy.
Hi, Colleen. Thank you for being here. Thank you so much. I’m so excited. I’m so excited to have you here. I mean, I think I was telling you before we started recording, like I came across your stuff on, on TikTok and ology. Probably like, I don’t even know, time is, time is funny, but it was probably like over a year ago.
I just love the stuff you put out. So thank you for taking the time and being here today.
Colleen Borgert: Thank you. Yeah. Um, I’ve been on TikTok a little over three years now and have been following you and all of your wedding shenanigans that you put out there and amongst everything that’s happening, like you’re really good comedic relief for me, so I appreciate that.
Christa Innis: Oh, good. Oh, that’s, I love, I love hearing that. It’s kind of goofy just how the internet, I was just telling someone it feels like, it’s like talent show on like. Phone, you know, like you’re scrolling. And I just kind of like pic feel, feel like it’s like talent showing when you’re like in elementary school and everyone’s like, Hey, check out what I got.
And then it’s like the next person, they’re like, Hey, check out what I have to say. And it’s just like this funny world we live in
Colleen Borgert: it, it really is. You know, like I can envision myself doing like little somersaults on, on the stage in middle school being like, TA Yes. And now here we are.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. So true.
And just like the world, I mean, you cover a lot of it too. I feel like the world and everything that’s going on, it’s just like, there’s so many, there’s a lot of negative things going on in the world. Scary things. Mm-hmm. And so I just, I feel like maybe it’s my way of detaching. I don’t know. I don’t know what it’s, yeah.
But, um, but you know, and
Colleen Borgert: thing, things are really heavy right now and, and they’re really heavy for people of all ages, especially in education and that detachment piece, like that’s needed. So we can get up every day with a full bucket. And get to work and keep changing lives. So your detachment is my, is my healing.
So I appreciate you so much.
Teacher Turned Advocate
Christa Innis: Well, thank you. I know. I appreciate what you do too. Can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself, what you do, and kind of how that pivoted into what you share on social media?
Colleen Borgert: Yeah. So, um, this is gonna be my 15th year in education and I’ve kind of always had more of a social work type background.
And that’s originally what I got into TikTok for. Um, I was raising awareness to help build a comfort closet for, um, kiddos in my school that were from at-risk backgrounds. So, um, I would put out items that we needed, like toothbrush, socks, toothpaste, deodorant, um, just to get eyeballs on that Amazon wishlist link, and then it kind of blew up from there.
And then. After the election when everything kind of in my world pivoted and changed a little bit, so did my content. Um, because everything in the education world is shifting and changing and I wanted to let parents know, Hey, this is happening in your neck of the woods, so come on up to the front and hear about it.
So now I share more, um, educational laws that are changing, things that are adapting within the educational world.
Christa Innis: I love that. I feel like it’s so important because I, I’ve seen especially in your own content too, people will sign off on things or they’re like, agree with something until they really get to the nitty gritty and they’re like, wait, what’s happening?
Wait, department of Education’s going away. You know, and they’re like picking up these things. They’re like, wait, what does that actually mean? And they need people that are in it that know the ins and outs to explain it.
Colleen Borgert: Yeah. And, and it’s easy for every single person to kind of wear a school hat in the sense because they were a student at one point in their lives, but the lens that they see things through is that student lens and maybe not what’s behind the curtain.
So hopefully I can just pull that curtain back for people and let them see the nitty gritty of what things actually mean.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And so like what. Kind of going back, what inspired you to initially become an educator? You said you started with social. Did you start with social work and you were kind of in that field and then you kind of moved into be teaching?
Colleen Borgert: Yeah, so, um, I kind of was always in the school social work realm. And then just recently, a few years ago, I kind of navigated more into the classroom and now I work at a Catholic school. So I’m a Catholic, um, English, a second language director. And um, what I do is I ensure kiddos that do not have English as a first language, have equitable education.
Um, now more than ever. That’s extremely important. Um, I think that I feel. So I shouldn’t say think. Mm-hmm. I feel so passionate about this because I also grew up in an extremely, like poor environment, poor households. So I know what it took to like claw my way to get here. And I know that if it’s possible for me, it’s possible for other kids if I can just be that adult that I needed when I was younger.
So that’s definitely what fuels me every day that I get up and I go to school.
Christa Innis: I love that I’ve, I’ve heard that quote before about like, you like need to almost think about who you needed as a child because that’s gonna, that should be kind of like who we are as adults, because that’s gonna kind of put us back in that mind frame of like, okay, I really need an adult to hear me.
I really needed an adult to support me or understand me. Um,
Colleen Borgert: to make you feel seen and valid.
Christa Innis: Yeah, absolutely. I feel like that’s. I feel like that’s such a pivotal thing to remember because we get kind of lost in the day to day. And then especially as educators, you want someone to really care. Like, you know, my, my daughter’s too young for school yet, but when she’s in school, I’m like, you want a teacher like that that’s gonna really think like, okay, they’re gonna hear everything I say or they’re gonna see me as a person, like even if I’m quiet or, you know, those kind of things.
Colleen Borgert: Absolutely. And see the parent too, because the parent is an important part of all that.
Teacher Balancing Truth & Boundaries
Christa Innis: Yeah. Mm-hmm. So do you think, so I know you’ve kind of posted before about like, like your content changing, especially after the election, but I think even before the election you were kind of, you know, talking a little bit more about what could happen, these kind of things.
So with working at a Catholic school, is it hard to kind of. Do you have to stay in line with certain things or say certain things? I don’t wanna like get you in trouble either, so I wanna make sure you’re saying things that are okay. Mm-hmm. You know, like, are there guidelines like you, can you say certain things online or where does that fall in line with your teaching?
Colleen Borgert: Well, I think in general that is kind of just a teacher box that everyone has to stay in. Um, when it comes to my Catholic faith and, and where I align, at first I was really nervous to kind of like go out in those waters and let people know like, Hey, I’m a, I’m not a public school teacher. I’m a Catholic school teacher.
But once I showed people that. I am here for all kids regardless of religion, race, background, culture. People started to see my authentic, you know, views that I wanted to present and the information that I was giving people and it was well received. There are definite lanes that you have to stay in, um, as a teacher.
And then I think my lane is just a tad bit smaller being a Catholic school teacher, but the things that I am bringing are fact-based. Educational laws to people. So I’m really proud of that. And I think as long as I stay in my lane, you know, I’m good. And I’ve had a lot of wonderful support from my school community.
Um, they have backed me up 110%. Um, they believe that every child has the right to a free and equitable education as I do regardless of race and religion. So it’s been really good. Um, but at the end of the day, I’m an adult and I have to be able to control what I say to stay in that lane.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no, absolutely.
No, I love it. I love that they’re, they’re behind you. ’cause I mean, just in general with like content creators, like just different jobs, I’ve heard different stories where they’re like, you can’t say this, you can’t post this, you can’t do this. Um, so it’s really good to hear that there’s like supportive, um, uh, schools and communities out there.
Colleen Borgert: Oh wait, I totally butchered
A Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Christa Innis: that question, but chair, like a pivotal moment in your life that kind of shaped how you approach teaching.
Colleen Borgert: Um, I think one thing that changed my view on how I view all kids in the classroom is my son was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome when he was in kindergarten and. As a parent, just hearing that diagnosis, not knowing what that looks like, um, in our, in our lives, let alone in the classroom, surrounded by, by kids he does not know.
It, it really made me like peel back my eyelids and open my eyeballs to every single kid has something different that’s going on inside of them. Mm-hmm. Every single kid that is in front of me is going to feel one way or another on a certain day. And my son deserved to have a teacher that was like, okay, you are different and you’re unique and that’s wonderful.
And how are we going to ensure that you get the exact same care and attention as every single other kiddo. Mm-hmm. In here. And I think as we’re looking at things today that are happening, happening politically. We have to remember that we are all just one diagnosis away from having a unique child. We, you know, we are, we’re one car accident away from having a child that might need to be in a wheelchair that is going to need different accommodations and is going to need a teacher that is, is loving and caring and will do absolutely everything for your kid.
Like they would for Susie Hugh, who is always there 20 minutes early, raising our hand star reader. Mm-hmm. Like every single child is different. And I want my kid to have a teacher that loves on him. Like I love on every single baby that I see every single day of the school year. Mm-hmm. So, like his diagnosis, it, it was rough for us.
It was scary. We didn’t know what that would look like. So that, that was, that was hard.
Christa Innis: Yeah. No, I think that that’s, yeah. Such an important thing because like you said, anything can change in a minute. I think. A lot of times people just like look at like, what’s gonna affect me and me only? Mm-hmm. And if you look outside and say like, well, how is this affecting other people?
Or how is it affecting that family? Or how is it affecting this family that leads to more compassion and empathy and understanding. I think that’s really what the world lacks. Because, because, um, not to like generalize, but I just feel like those are the things I’ve observed is like there’s a certain group of people that let’s look at like, well, it doesn’t bother me, so I’m fine.
Right. It’s like what anything can change, anything could happen. Like you said, like mm-hmm. Um, emergencies happen all the time or you know, I don’t know. Things, things just can change quickly. Um, that’s, yeah. That’s such a good thing to think about. Um, okay.
I wanna switch into the wedding, wedding kind of topic.
And as I was kind saying to you before we started recording is like I’m adding, I’m kinda shifting these podcast episodes a little bit different to like more conversations in the beginning, but I still haven’t kind of figured it out a transition. Sometimes it just happens naturally and other times I’m like, all right, so onto the wedding stuff.
So sorry if it seems kind of abrupt. We’re working on it. No first timer here. I think it seems fabulous. Okay. I was just like talk my way through stuff. ’cause I’m like, or like, what is it called? Not talk my way through it. I don’t know, I just like when I dunno what I’m doing, I just keep talking and figuring it out.
Girl. Same. And you’re a hand talker. So, oh my gosh. The number of people, when I first started making content that would like, like hate comments about like me using my hands, I was like,
Colleen Borgert: I dunno, I don’t know. Yeah. It just happens. I get the same. And then my next video I come out 10 times harder just like.
Christa Innis: You thought it was bad before, just wait. I know, right? It’s like, I will make sure I do it now. Well, yeah. And so one comment I got last night was, um, like I, because you know, I do like the skits and stuff, but every once in a while I come on and I’ll like explain something or I’ll give like a little background.
Someone basically was like, no one likes when you do that. Like, don’t come on and explain things. We’re here for the skits and the skits only. Don’t talk and waste our time.
Colleen Borgert: People are so rude keyboard warriors nowadays. Like, it’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s, I know, it’s crazy. I just have to
Christa Innis: laugh at the ridiculous ones.
Weddings Would-You-Rather
Okay, so starting off, let’s do a little, um, wedding. Would you rather Ooh. Completely Just random. So, okay. Um, it’s a lit, some of them might be a little tied to being a teacher, but then we’re gonna do like other ones. So here we go. Okay. Would you rather have to teach a class of 30 kids in full bridesmaid attire or chaperone recess in high heels the day after a wedding?
Colleen Borgert: Oh my goodness gracious. Well, with the amount of dancing that I do and the way that I get into shout and put my hands up in the air, yeah, I’m definitely gonna go with the 30 kids in the classroom like, yeah. A bridesmaids dress. I love a good dress up any day of the week.
Christa Innis: Yes, I know. It’s a fun, fun excuse to have like a princess day or something.
Colleen Borgert: Right. Like since Wynn is dressing up bad at school, so I, I totally will take that. But my 41-year-old body nowadays after wedding dancing, I can’t like, oh my gosh. Beautiful day recovery and yeah.
Christa Innis: No
Colleen Borgert: fun.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I know. It’s funny how that like just changes all of a sudden, like I’d be like, when people have like the full wedding weekend, I’m like, I need like one big day and then I need like a couple days of recovery.
Thank you. Yes.
Colleen Borgert: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Mm. Yeah. After, after a good wedding, you know?
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. Okay. Uh, would you rather give a wedding toast with no preparation or do the Chacha slide solo in front of the whole reception?
Colleen Borgert: Oh my gosh. Chacha real smooth now. Mm. Um, I would much rather. I think just give a wedding toast.
Like, it, it, I’m a group dancer, but solo dancing, like my, my, my face drops. Like my, my face gets serious. It’s, it’s not very cool to look at. I don’t think anyone would want that, but hand me a mic and I, you know, cheers the bride and groom. That’s something I can get behind. Get behind. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. All right.
Um, would you rather attend a wedding where the ceremony lasts three hours? Or one where the DJ only plays kids? Bop.
Colleen Borgert: Oh, okay. Um, that’s a tough one. Oh man. This is, this is almost like, would you rather go to a three hour PD or do a kids bop after school hour? Oh my gosh. I, I, I think I know, I think I’m gonna still go with the three hour ceremony.
Christa Innis: Oh, I
Colleen Borgert: know. At least. At least it’s quiet.
At
Christa Innis: least it’s quiet. Oh my gosh. I think I would go kids b really? Every once in a while. I don’t know if it’s ’cause of my, my daughter’s too. And so every once in a while, like I get really into those kids bumps. I mean, we, I mean they, they are catchy. They’re, they’re catchy. Luckily she’s really into Wicked now.
So we listen to the Wicked soundtrack, but play, I love it. But, uh, I love a good, you know, Disney, so I don’t know about Kids. Bop we’ll see how that would go. But I
Colleen Borgert: think it’s because when I imagine kids bop, like I imagine like kindergartners. All up on me, you know, like jamming with me with their hands going down, you know, like yeah.
That’s just the vision that I have from the experiences. So yours and mine, maybe a little different.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Different vibe. Yeah. Um, would you rather sit at the all singles table with ex students? Oh, ex students’ parents, or be seated next to the couple’s ex.
Colleen Borgert: Oh my gosh. I, I actually would take the parent table for sure.
Yeah. Without a doubt. I have been really blessed with wonderful parents and that’s, you know, I did eight years in public school and I’m still connected to so many of my public school parents that I love and adore. And the last like five years in the Catholic school system, like I just, I’ve been really lucky, so.
Oh good. I bet that table’s really fun. Signed up. Yeah.
Christa Innis: And like all those parents, like letting loose. I bet it would be like a great table,
Colleen Borgert: right?
Christa Innis: Yes. Love that. A
Colleen Borgert: for everybody. Yes.
Bridesmaid Dress Drama
Christa Innis: Okay. Would you rather wear a neon bridesmaid dress that clashes with your skin tone or have the name, or have your name spelled wrong on every wedding program?
Colleen Borgert: Oh my goodness. So I am the worst speller in the world. I can totally see me misspelling something in my own wedding. I, I probably did to be honest. Um. I also wore the wrong colored bridesmaid’s dress in my cousin’s wedding two years ago. So I’ve done that as well. Um, but I’m still gonna have to go with if that bride wants me to wear, you know, the worst color in the world.
But she is like, this is my vision. I’ve I’ve got you.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Colleen Borgert: I’m, I’m ride or die for the bride. So you,
Christa Innis: you strike me as someone that would be like a really great bridesmaid. Like, you’re like hands on. You’re like, what do you need? I got you. Like, I just get that vibe from you.
Colleen Borgert: Well, until, until literally you see that I bought, I bought the wrong color, which is before we’re walking down the aisle.
So there when you’re
Christa Innis: walking down the aisle,
Colleen Borgert: oh my gosh. We walked into like the get ready room where all the dresses are hanging up. Yeah. And the maid of honor comes up to me and she’s like, oh, Pauline. Have you seen your dress? And I’m like, yeah, it’s hanging up. It’s so cute. She’s like, it’s the wrong color.
So everyone had gotten like a, a, a shade of sage. Okay. And mine was just a different shade of sage green. And
Christa Innis: you could tell So it from different like places or like, she told you like, oh, get it sage. And just sent like a picture of what she liked and then everyone just went and got thrown or, so I
Colleen Borgert: confirmed via text and I’ve always got receipts.
I pulled that out and before I bought it I was like, this is the color correct. And she said, correct. But the bride, my cousin, she was so relaxed. She’s like, I don’t care. You know, ’cause I’m crying at this point. Aw. She’s like, I don’t care. You’re walking down the aisle. You know, I’m like, I’ll stand in the back.
I don’t have to be in the wedding. Like, oh,
Christa Innis: was it that different?
Colleen Borgert: Um, it was like one shade lighter. You, you could,
Christa Innis: you could tell,
Colleen Borgert: you could tell I ruined the wedding pictures for sure. Oh. But you know, this is the family. She was a great, I mean, she’s just a great person, so I got really lucky. Um, but yeah, if the bride needs me, whatever the bride needs me to do, I’m gonna do it.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. I, you know, I feel like, especially now too, it’s like I’ve seen it more weddings where the bridesmaid dresses don’t exactly match. I know. I actually love that. Yeah, I know. I feel like it’s like adding a little more uniqueness. I think, like at my wedding it was like, um, from, from Birdie Gray, which is like, you can order them all online, they’re under a hundred dollars and you just, you can pick like a color scheme.
So like, mine was like mov, but there’s like three shades of mov and people are like, what color? I’m like, I don’t care. Any of the, any of them. Any of them,
Colleen Borgert: they’re gonna look so pretty.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I just feel like. It, I feel like gone are the days where people wear the exact same dress. Right. Maybe every, I’m sure it happens here and there, but
Colleen Borgert: Yeah.
And in my wedding, um, I just did black satin. All the girls just had to do a black satin and it needed to be like t length and didn’t care other than that, so yeah, it was really unique. Like I just, I, I love the non-uniform look. Yeah. And that’s probably the Catholic school teacher in me coming out being like, eh, we don’t need a uniform up in here.
We’re
Wedding Party Love Story
Christa Innis: done with the uniforms, please. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Okay. Let’s move into some wedding hot takes and stories. You said you have a story of how you met your husband at a wedding, so let’s get into that.
Colleen Borgert: Okay, so I met Mr. Borger. Uh, we were both in the same wedding party for my cousin almost 16 years ago.
And, um, he kind of clocked me right away and was like, that’s the girl I wanna marry. So we got to the reception, danced a little bit. Um, there was definite connection early on. We both went our own ways. Um, the next week he called my cousin, old school, got my number, called me on the telephone. I heard this man’s voice who does that anymore?
So un heard of these days. I know. And he asked me out on a date and we have been together ever since. But yeah, he went up to my cousin who was the bride, and said, I just want you to know I’m gonna marry that girl. And
Christa Innis: oh my gosh, that’s like a romantic story.
Colleen Borgert: I know I love, love.
Christa Innis: Oh my God. So how is he connected to the wedding?
Like was he like a groomsmen or He was the fiance’s or fiance, I guess your cousin’s husband.
Colleen Borgert: Yes, friend. He was, um, a longtime childhood friend of the groom. Okay. So now they get to be at family functions together and we’re like pretty our kids together. So it’s. It’s wonderful.
Christa Innis: I love that when like, they’re already kind of like connected, so there’s like no extra introduction.
It’s like he’s already kind of, you got an in, he’s got an in. Mm-hmm. Um, and then for you, it was a family wedding, so your family was probably already there. And so like did he like meet your parents then at the wedding and everything?
Colleen Borgert: Um, I don’t know if he necessarily like, met them, met them at the wedding.
Yeah. But he was invested in the fun that my family can have for sure. We are in good time, so I love that. Yeah, he, he was there for it.
Christa Innis: Oh, that’s awesome. I love that story. ’cause like, usually when I ask people like crazy stories, they’re like, I mean, I, I kind of put people, I try to not put people on the spot, but, um, I.
I love that it was like a positive good story. Yes. Because I always tell people, I’m like, people just remember these crazy moments. That’s why I share them. But like for the most part, like there are so many great wedding stories and like fun moments and just like, just like wild moments about, you know, yes.
Things hanging out. Um. Awesome. I love that.
The Great Wedding Dinner Debate
Okay, let’s get into some wedding hot takes. Okay. These are people send me on Instagram. We’ll just kind of react together and see uh, what our thoughts are. Okay. This one says buffets over plated dinners faster, more variety and fewer awkward chicken and steak texts.
I dunno what the text means, but,
oh, I just copied something. Yeah. Fewer awkward chicken and steak dinners.
Colleen Borgert: So are, are you asking which one do I prefer?
Christa Innis: It’s just a hot take that someone sent, so, yeah, I mean, you can say what you think about it. Um,
Colleen Borgert: so there, there was one summer, um, like my husband and I had been married for maybe like two years, and we legit had 10 weddings from like May until September.
Like mm-hmm. He’s five years older than me, so my friends were in like prime time wedding season. Mm-hmm. And it was almost every single wedding had the same chicken with that white gravy. I think it might. Oh yeah. Like on top with the mashed potatoes and everybody thinks that they’re doing something special when they’re not, you know, like it’s just boring.
But one of our friends catered in Qdoba at their wedding. And I have never forgotten it. Like, I have never forgotten the Qdoba wedding. And I hope that if this airs they hear this and they know how special their Qdoba wedding was to me. So, you know, I’m a, I’m a fan of a buffet, you know, poor girl from a poor neighborhood.
We loved our buffets growing up. Um, so I don’t mind a good buffet at a wedding.
Christa Innis: I know. I was just saying to someone, like when I was younger at weddings, I was like, like years from getting married, I was like, oh yeah, I wouldn’t, I don’t think I would do a buffet. I like the plated dinner. And then as I got older I was like, I love a buffet.
Like I just love it. And then of course when I got married I did a taco bar and I was like, this is where it’s at. Oh, you did the, you did
Colleen Borgert: the taco. There are people that came to your wedding that 20 years from now are gonna be like, I went to a taco of our wedding and it’s going to be you girl. Yeah. That is the wedding that they are referencing.
It’s yours.
Christa Innis: I was just like, I. Never really was a big fan of plated dinners unless they’re like, I don’t know, every once in a while. Yeah. Like surprised me. Really good. But I also worked at a hotel for, gosh, three years in college. So like I would saw all the banquet foods and I saw them and not like saying they were gross or anything, but like I saw how they would keep ’em warm and I just, I don’t know, just not my thing.
And so I was like, when there’s a buffet though, you take what you want. Maybe go for seconds, get a little guacamole in there. We’re good.
Colleen Borgert: Yes. I’m here for it. I’m here for it. And I love that you did. I can’t believe it. You did Taco. I know. You’re
Christa Innis: seko. Dopa. I was like, yes. It was pretty close. It was like a local place, but it was like, it was perfect.
Like perfect.
Colleen Borgert: Yes. Yeah. And people appreciate it.
Christa Innis: And pizza for a late night snack. Yes.
Colleen Borgert: The, the best weddings that bring out that 11:00 PM like fill your belly up snack. The best.
First Dance or Skip It?
Christa Innis: Yes. Oh, it’s the best. Um, okay. This next one says, not every wedding needs a first dance. Some couples just wanna party, so let them
Colleen Borgert: I agree.
Like if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it. This is your special day. Who am I to say that you have to do something to make me feel special or this whole thing makes sense. Yeah. That doesn’t make any sense to me.
Christa Innis: I know, and I’ve heard of like parents like fighting back on it and being like, no, you need this.
And it’s like they don’t wanna be the center of attention. They don’t want that big moment. It like, it’s okay. Like no one should be forced to do anything at their wedding that they aren’t comfortable with, or that just doesn’t interest them.
Colleen Borgert: Right. Did you do a first dance.
Christa Innis: I did. Yes, we did
Colleen Borgert: too. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love it.
I love, I love a first dance. Yeah.
Christa Innis: But if they
Colleen Borgert: don’t want it, they don’t want it.
Christa Innis: Yeah. A hundred percent. We did a choreo, I’m gonna mess up the word choreographed. We practiced ourself.
Colleen Borgert: Oh my gosh. We are not
Christa Innis: dancers either of us. I’m not. Okay. So when are you posting that to TikTok? I might have years ago.
I’m trying to think. I might have to repost it. I’m gonna get my scroll game
Colleen Borgert: on. I know. I
Christa Innis: gotta think about what I posted it. Um, probably not in a long time ’cause people were like asking about it once I, so we watched YouTube because I was like, okay, one lesson I always learn brides, if you’re listening was take some kind of dance course.
You don’t have to like pay for it. If you are doing a first dance, you don’t have to like pay for it. There’s free ones on YouTube, right. Um, and so we started doing that, like just to learn like the steps. So we, because I’ve gone to so many weddings where you can tell they’ve literally never danced together.
Right. They stand there and they just like look awkward. They just sway and they’re
Colleen Borgert: like leaving lots of room for Jesus. You know? It’s
Christa Innis: like, come on guys. Like let’s not have that first time you guys ever like, get in a room, dance together, be like in a, in front of a hundred people. Right? Right. So like I knew I didn’t want that awkward moment.
So like, we did like our step practicing and then as we were watching, or like YouTube, it was like suggestive videos and it was like Taylor Swift, uh, oh gosh, what song is it? Oh my gosh. I sounds, is her, this is her first dance. Yeah. Why am I drawing a blank? Ah, it’s Taylor. Um, oh, now I’m gonna like, have to like find it ’cause it’s gonna really bother me.
Um, but it’ll come to you in a few minutes
Colleen Borgert: and if not divorce will come. It’ll be
Christa Innis: fine. It’ll be fine.
Colleen Borgert: We’ll just pick your voice in. It’s
Christa Innis: can, I’m gonna sing it and I can’t sing. Can I go where we can? I can’t sing. Hold on, hold on. I’m a swifty. Give it to me. Be this clo forever and ever. And, and take me. Huh?
And with a, that called you’re my, my lover. Lover. Lover. I knew we’d get there eventually. Yeah. Okay. So it was to lover.
Colleen Borgert: Love that. Yeah. And there was a
Christa Innis: really cute dance on YouTube and they showed what to do. So we did like a little spin. He like picked me up in the end. Oh. And we didn’t tell anyone we were doing it.
So it was likes you
Colleen Borgert: had like your, um, baby moment from dirty dancing where he like Yeah.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Little less graceful than that, but Yeah.
Colleen Borgert: But I do love that you told brides that they could just get on YouTube, like they don’t have to spend their money. Yeah. Just hop on YouTube. Yeah. I, I love that you remind people of that it, it doesn’t have to break the bank to be special.
Christa Innis: Yeah, exactly. Like, we literally did it in our, in our apartment living room and we just practiced like every week. I think we was like, Monday nights we’re gonna practice our dance. Yay. Okay.
No Ring, No Bring and the Reality of Guest Lists
Um, next one is no bring, no ring, no bring is totally fair. Sorry to your new hinge date of two weeks. What are your thoughts on No ring, no bring.
Colleen Borgert: Oh my thought. Okay. So my husband, my husband did not get invited to a second cousin of mine’s wedding. We were not engaged. We got engaged the next month. Okay. And during the time I was like, I can’t believe they won’t let me bring him. Like, why would they not? Mm-hmm. And now that I have children of my own and I see the cost of things and I, I see more of like that behind the curtain.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. I
Colleen Borgert: can see that and I can respect it for what it is now. Yeah. I tell you. But when I was in the moment, it felt like, oh, my partner isn’t allowed to be here, but I, I can understand it now. I can respect it now.
Christa Innis: Yeah. No, I, I totally get that. I had a similar thing, it was my second cousin’s wedding. Gosh, I don’t even know how long ago it was.
My hu Now husband and I were just dating, but we were living together for years and they like invited, it was weird. It was like they invited all of us, but like they put like, I can’t remember, there was something weird about it, but like, we were like, oh, um, I don’t, I didn’t, I didn’t know if they like, didn’t know his name or something like, weird, but like I had been with him like longer than this couple had been.
So like they’d met him many times. Like, this is your person at this point box. Yeah. This is like very clearly my person. Yeah. Like he like plus one of the other weddings in the family, like, he’d been to their house and then this second cousin, it was like a fairly like quick like, which no hate or anything.
Of course. That’s, that’s awesome. Right. But it was fairly quick. So like, they had been together like a short time and like he wasn’t invited and I was like, oh, I’m just making sure. Yeah. And again, now looking back, I’m like, we were not that. I was not like super close with them. So I was like, I get it. And I ended up just going with my mom and my sister.
Colleen Borgert: Yeah. Which, you know, tho those can be fun times too. And it was fun, you know, like unexpected fun moments without, you know, the old ball and chain that, that’s fun too. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And I do think there’s a difference between, you know, you had been dating your now boyfriend for years and I was almost engaged versus like, oh, two weeks ago I met Jimmy, you know, down at the gas station.
Yeah. Can he come too? Yeah. Like that’s
Christa Innis: different to me. I know. I just read this crazy Reddit story this morning where it was like. This girl was demanding to be invited to her boyfriend of a few months wedding, like, or his friend’s wedding. And she, he was like, oh, I don’t get a plus one. And she’s like, well, I’m your girlfriend.
I should be able to go. And he’s like, well, they didn’t gimme one. I’m a groomsman. I don’t really wanna start anything. And she’s like, no, if you like really like me, you need to like bring me. And that’s where I’m like, it’s only three months. Mm-hmm. He’s probably only least friends for years. I don’t see like where, why you have to automatically give a plus one.
Right. I agree. I agree with that. It’s very, it’s very nuanced. I think in a lot of it, it’s not all black and white. It’s kind of like each individual thing is gonna have different. Rules. Right?
Colleen Borgert: Like we, we didn’t do kids at our wedding. We had a no kid wedding. Um, but our final total, even after we got all the nos for our RSVPs, we were up to like 370 people with no children.
Woo. Like, you know, and that is hard for people to grasp too, you know, like, what do you mean I can’t bring my kids?
Christa Innis: Yeah. But when
Colleen Borgert: you are from such a ginormous family like you. When you eliminate those kids, you’re able to say, okay, my second cousins can now come and, you know. Yeah. So I think we have to remember to pull back the curtain on everything and kind of say there, there’s always more back there than what we initially think.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. 375 people,
Colleen Borgert: too many.
Christa Innis: That is insane. It, it was like 360 people. Too many. Let me tell you, if you were to do it again, do you think you would do it a lot smaller?
Colleen Borgert: I would do it. I would do it so differently. I I would do it smaller. More intimate. Intimate. Is that inter intimate? Intimate. In intimate?
I kinda like intimate, but it’s intimate. Intimate, you know what I mean? I, yeah. I would make it, it would be much smaller, quaint, and just a few close people, and I would probably want to do a surprise. And just if you wanted to show up at this random thing I invited you to, you get to come to my way. Oh, I love that.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I love that. I know, I think it’s like with age, we’re kind of like, because I always tell people if I were to get married in my early twenties or something, I think I would’ve gone way too big. Invited way too many people. Mm-hmm. And you know, like I had just been outta college or something, so I’d probably had like all my college friends.
Yes. My bridesmaids. And it’s like now here I am, like 15 years or ish out of college and I’m like doing the quick math out of college and I’m like. Half those people I don’t even talk to anymore. So I’m like, I’m, I would not have wanted them at the wedding. ’cause then they’re gonna be all these pictures like, you know?
Right. And that’s exactly how it,
Colleen Borgert: you know, and, and I’m blessed and lucky and it’s easy for me to be, to say now, like, oh, I would do it differently. But that’s because I got that moment. Mm-hmm. You know, I got the big moment of, you know, all my friends, all my family. But yeah. I don’t talk to the majority of the people that were there at no fault of theirs or mine life.
Just, I’m just, yeah. You know, just happens. Mm-hmm.
Christa Innis: Did you get pushback with the no kids at your wedding?
Colleen Borgert: I did. There were a couple people that gave me pushback. Um, a couple family members and a couple friends. Uh, one of my bridesmaids had had her daughter like two weeks before the ceremony, so she brought her daughter to like, feed her parents came like, things like that didn’t bother me.
Yeah. But if I knew if I am, if I let. One family bring their two kids, then the next family had, and then before you know it, it’s 500 people. Right. And you know, so it’s not that the children, it was more so just I needed the number as low as possible to be able to invite all those people I no longer see anymore.
Christa Innis: Right. And then you wanted to be equal playing ground for everybody. Right. For everybody. Totally makes sense. Yeah. That’s one thing people don’t realize. And a lot of the stories I get, it’s like, they’re like, just make me the exception. Oh, my kids are fine. It’s like, well, you don’t understand if I let you bring your two kids and then yours.
And then I read a story the other day where an aunt was told it was just the aunt and uncle, and then she RSVP’d for. Her adult children who are four kids, their significant others and their kids. So, so she wrote in on the card 15 or something, extra people.
Colleen Borgert: I can’t
Christa Innis: like you’re not talking to one extra person.
You’re talking three extra tables. Two extra tables,
Colleen Borgert: yeah. Like in, in, in what world and in what mind does that aunt think that that is okay? Like I can’t wrap my mind around people that do things like that. But there’s people out there that do it. Mm-hmm. All the time. Yes. It’s crazy.
Christa Innis: It’s, it’s again that mind frame of me.
This, this is, this is gonna affect me if I can’t do it this way, or Oh, it’s fine. Right. I’m the exception. She loves me so much. Yeah. I’m her favorite aunt. Yeah. Yeah. And it’s so funny ’cause when I like do these skits, people are, I’m like, when I’m like acting them out, I’m like, oh gosh, this is so dramatic.
I’m making this 10 times worse than it probably is. And people will comment and they’ll be like, no, that exact thing happened to me. Or like, that is exactly what, yeah. Talk that way. Yeah. I’m just like, oh man, this is wild. Okay, speaking of before we get too over on our time, so are you still, are we still okay on time?
Yeah, I, I’m, I’m good. Okay. Let’s get into this week’s wedding story submission. So, as always, I’ve not read this yet, so feel free to stop me at any time and react or we’ll just kind of react together. Okay. Here we go. Okay. Let me see if I get my scroll. Okay, here we go. Here.
Bridesmaid Meets Her Groom’s Family
Hello Krista. I just wanna say I love your skits.
I have a story that still blows my mind years later. I’m not sure if it’s juicy enough to be considered drama, but it was wild for sure. Back in October of 2013, I started dating a man who was seven years older than me. I was 23 and he was 30. He had a younger sister who was exactly one month older than me.
She was the baby of the family and never did anything wrong in their eyes. She was also a teacher, which becomes important later because I’d always been, I’d always wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but had to pay for college on my own. Most of his family lived in New York or Florida, which also plays a role later.
Okay,
Colleen Borgert: hold on. So we’ve got a 30-year-old man. Mm-hmm. Dating a 23-year-old.
Christa Innis: 20. 23-year-old? Yes. Okay. And sister, who’s also 23 is my Okay. Teacher. Got it. Out of state relatives? Yes. Okay. By May, 2014, my then boyfriend had been in and out of the hospital several times for various issues, even having surgery to remove his appendix.
He thanked me for being by his side through everything and bought me a nice coach bag to show his appreciation. I had never owned a designer purse before. Then he asked my youngest sister for help, for help planning something my sister knew. I absolutely hated surprises and told me he wanted to propose and ask for suggestions.
So she’s just like, this is what he wants to do. Okay. I’m like, at what point? Okay, wait, so may They met in October, 2013 by May, 2014. So is it like a year and. No, not even, no, that’s just like six months. Oh, that’s like six months later.
Colleen Borgert: November, December, January, February. Yeah, that’s like five, six months. Oh, wow.
Okay. Okay. We are going, went
Christa Innis: along. Okay. Uh, then he asked. Okay. She gave him several ideas, so I wouldn’t know which one he’d pick or when it would happen. He also asked my biological dad for permission, which was odd because I’d always been closer with my mom. Okay. Mm-hmm. You would think he would know that, but maybe not in five months.
I mean only six months. Who knows? Who knows? Yeah. In 24, in June, 2014, he proposed and I said, yes, his youngest sister. Okay, so now his youngest sister planned a visit to our town in July, 2014 to see one of her guy friends. Okay. He messaged her brother. Okay. I’m like drawing my head. Yeah. Oh yeah. Duh. Oh my gosh.
Saying she wanted to see him and meet me. Okay. So they hadn’t met.
Colleen Borgert: And she’s getting ma. Okay. So she has yet to meet even his family at this point?
Christa Innis: Yeah, and they’re engaged. So she’s just kind of, okay. So she was just giving us background on the sister, but at this point they hadn’t even met. So he meets this girl and proposes in six months.
She hasn’t met the family. Maybe they don’t live, comes in town. Right. So she comes in town when she wants to meet. We planned everything around her visit, but when she arrived, she met up with her friend and blew us off.
Colleen Borgert: Oh, okay. To this.
Christa Innis: Oh, it gets better. I have never met her
Colleen Borgert: to this day. Hold on. Pause.
Pause one. They’re still together. I don’t, well, I don’t know if she
Christa Innis: just wrote to this day. I’ve never met her. Oh, oh. So I’m like really confused, like, is this, we’re talking 11 years later. And that 2014, unless I’m reading, is
Colleen Borgert: weird, flabbergasted. Like, so there’s nothing to indicate if the, if they are still together, except the phrase.
To this day, I still have not met her.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I’m gonna see. Let’s see. Okay. Let’s see what happens next. But I’m pretty sure she means like she just blew her off that time and then that was it. I don’t know. Okay. She says we set our wedding date for Saturday, October 25th, 2014. So about a year after they met, no one from his family was able to attend.
Oh.
Colleen Borgert: Red. Is that a red, is that a flag for you? I think it’s
Christa Innis: a red flag. Yeah. That’s a why. Okay. So Sister blew, blew them off, doesn’t go to meet her. And then no one from his family can just make it right. That, that seems red. That’s red flag. Red flags are everywhere for me. They’re, they’re popping. I’m sorry to this.
I mean, I don’t know what happens next. So, I’m sorry to this person that, that sent this in, but I’m just like, this is all very fast. Yeah. And weird that his family can’t show up.
Colleen Borgert: Right. And I think the, the, the age is like, the red flags are like popping and I’m like, hold on a second. So I’m excited to hear what comes next.
Yes. ’cause I’m trying to put it all together in my mind.
Christa Innis: Yeah, same. I know I’ve got like the family tree going on right here. Yeah, drawing here. Um, okay. Um, so no one from his family was able to attend, but they planned to watch the ceremony live on his sister and like, oh,
Colleen Borgert: 2014, is that like what on, like, how do you watch it live in 2014?
Yeah,
Christa Innis: because Facebook Did you like Zoom? Like I don’t even remember Facebook Live in 2014 because was I in 2014? Oh, I was having a baby. Okay, you’re like where? Yeah, I was having a baby. You were. But yeah. How do you I don’t know because I remember, okay, I was working at trade show. I honestly think it was 2014 at my fir, one of my first jobs outta college.
And they, my manager, I worked in marketing and she was like, look at this new app where you can live stream. And I remember her showing me, and that was before like Facebook Lives and stuff, because then I think it was bought by Facebook. So that may some, she had something, she had something, something maybe even like FaceTime and can you, you could FaceTime then, right?
I don’t even know. I
Colleen Borgert: feel like I still had a flip phone back then. Like with the A, B, C texting, you know, like, dun, dun dun. Oh my gosh. You had to hit it like three. I mean, you’re so young. Did you ever have a phone like that? I’m not that much younger than you, honestly. Oh, you look amazing Ellie. How you tell me you’re younger than me?
I’m turning 35 this year. Okay. Yes. You are a baby. You are a baby.
Christa Innis: Is that what, five years? That’s not seven. Seven. I, it’s funny though. I see seven. Oh, okay. Well, I don’t know. Yeah, it’s all, it’s alright. It’s all I feel like you’re at, I’m at the age where like. I, I was gonna say I have friends in their twenties, but I’m like, I don’t, I guess I have some friends in their twenties, but I have friends in their four, you know, like it’s Right.
You’re
Colleen Borgert: now to the point where you can go both sides.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I mean, I had an hour long conversation with my like 85-year-old neighbor last night and it was the best, like, I love chatting with her and so I’m like, I just, age doesn’t matter to me. Yeah. But, um, it’s funny, I like see 2014 and it also feels like yesterday and then I’m like, wait a second.
I have to remind myself, we’re like in the 20. That was a long time ago. Yeah, it was a while ago. Oh my gosh. Um, okay, she says, um, then on his sister’s birthday, September 26th, we’re giving some personal details though, so hopefully they don’t listen to this. Um, he was in the hospital again. I had no cell service and was too focused on my fiance.
The next day I reached out to her, to which, her belated happy birthday. So I’m confused. So. She says they never met. Maybe they just mean in person. So she talked to her. I think she has to meet in person. I,
Colleen Borgert: yeah, because she came in town in July, the sister blew her off.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Colleen Borgert: And then I’m thinking September he gets sick.
And then the wedding is in October.
Christa Innis: Yeah. That’s what it sounds like.
Colleen Borgert: Yeah. So, so they just haven’t met in person. They’re a, B, C, texting each other, right?
Christa Innis: Yeah. On their flip list. Texting. Yeah. So, okay. So she reached out to Wisher, um, a belated happy birthday and apologized for missing it the day before. She completely lost it on me, calling me a horrible person for ignoring her on her birthday.
Colleen Borgert: No hard pass.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Like, we’re not like five or six years old where we like, you know, you are at this point, if she was praying like 24, like you can survive one
Colleen Borgert: day.
Christa Innis: Right. And your brother’s in the hospital. Mm-hmm.
Colleen Borgert: Yeah. Like, yeah. That’s, that’s another flag flags.
Christa Innis: Huge red flag. Yes. Where, where are his parents in all of this?
Like, right, like she hasn’t really mentioned them except that they’re just not coming. They’re not coming. Which is weird ’cause it says family’s in New York and Florida. They’re in, um, Kansas City. It says. Okay. Then she insulted me saying she was a teacher and I was too dumb to finish college and get my teaching license.
Oh no. Just missing a birthday by one day and being with your brother in the hospital.
Colleen Borgert: Oh no. College. If you go to college, it does not make you any smarter than anybody else. I don’t get that many Gives, gives you a set of tools to be able to do a job. It doesn’t equate to being smarter than anybody.
Right?
Christa Innis: Yeah. And don’t, I just don’t get that mentality of like mm-hmm. Oh, I went to college and you didn’t, it’s like you probably went to college ’cause you had either a privilege to go to college, right? You had funds to go to college. You had, you don’t, you don’t know the full story of, and you’ll just choose not to.
And that it’s ally. Okay. And there’s no one’s smarter if we’re going or not going. Right? Oh
Colleen Borgert: yeah. That, that would, that would be like a, like I would feel that as a knife. Mm-hmm. Like that, that comment to me that that would stay with me. I feel like I’d carry that for a while.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh, for sure. Um, it says, after that she blocked me on everything.
My fiance was upset for a moment and then defended her saying That’s just who she is, and she’ll come around soon. Soon enough. No, someone that says that they’re not coming around Uhuh. And that’s also like, that is your
Colleen Borgert: fiance.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Colleen Borgert: This is the person that you’re getting ready to say I do too. And you’re just, he’s just gonna be okay with people being mean to you.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And see, this is where, again, I don’t know the rest of the story, so I’m sorry if it works out a different way, but like, I hope, I don’t know, maybe it doesn’t work out, but like someone that like jumped the gun really quickly to someone that was much younger than him and was like, let’s move fast. Six months from now we’re getting engaged.
My family’s not gonna be there. I don’t know. I’m getting some bad vibes and I don’t, yes. So
Colleen Borgert: I live by the rule that whoever you date, if you can subtract that amount of years and you wind up under the age of 18, it, it shouldn’t happen
Christa Innis: yet. You know? So, so if you subtract her age by their distance Yes.
Yeah. Of seven years.
Colleen Borgert: Yeah. Then I’m like, Hmm, that’s, that’s icky to me a little bit. Mm-hmm. You know, not to say that it, it, it won’t work out, and I hope that it did, and I hope that they’re happy. But that age gap, the, the life experiences that people have are so vastly different. Yeah. You know, a 30-year-old to a 37-year-old, they’ve had a lot of similar life experiences.
You know, you minus that number and it’s like, okay, they’ve been a, a grown adult for a long time, so it’s not necessarily the number that I get. Tripped up on. Yeah, it is. How much life experience is attached
Christa Innis: to those numbers? No, that’s a really, that’s a really good point. ’cause people are always like, well, my parents are this or that.
And it’s like, it’s a good point of like, well, when did they meet? How did they meet? What, what were they at in their life? Right. Um, ’cause yeah, I’m thinking like 23. Like, I was like freshly. I mean, I graduated at 23, so I was like, freshly outta college 30. Like, you’ve been in the, you know, job field for a while.
Colleen Borgert: Yes. And you know what you want in life, you know, and you know this man, he may be like, yeah, that, that’s the woman that I want. I’m going after her. You know, I’m, I’m gonna, I’m gonna get her. But was she ready for that? Could she see the red flag of hey, your fiance. He is not supporting you right now. And I think that that comes with life experience, you know, just growing into your own as a woman and, and the value that you bring to the table, you know?
Yeah. So, I don’t
Christa Innis: know. It’s a little, Hmm. Yeah, it’s a little, um, interesting. Okay. She says she never watched our wedding. Okay. So they got married and to this day, I haven’t spoken to her since September 27th, 2014. So we’re talking about 11 years. So they
Colleen Borgert: got married still. I’m so happy that they are happy.
I wanna put that out into the universe, but I’m still so confused.
Christa Innis: Well, there is still more. Oh, okay. Let’s go something. We can see what, what’s so, but she, so she said she hasn’t spoken to her. I even visited their mother’s house Oh, oh. In New York in February of 2015 where she lived. I still never saw or heard from her.
Interesting. She lived there and then didn’t show up.
Colleen Borgert: You refused to come by
Christa Innis: in November. Here we go. In November, 2014, I asked for a divorce and thanked his dad and stepmom for trying to help us through our marriage troubles. I I, can I give a I knew it. I was like, can I applaud it? Like, yes girl. I just,
Colleen Borgert: you know, and maybe it was the sister, maybe she was looking at it all being like, I can’t support this.
Like, I can’t, but No, no. Nope. I can’t validate that sister’s comment in my mind. The comment I
Christa Innis: tried. Yeah, I know. We were trying to be like, I know. And it’s like, where does that come from though? Either like where I’ve, I have a lot of questions still too. Um, it says his stepmom threatened to have his dad, my now ex father-in-law.
End my life if I ever contacted her son again. What? Because she asked for a divorce that just a whole family sounds very toxic. And red flag. She
Colleen Borgert: dodged a bullet. Like literally it sounds like she dodged a bullet. Yeah. Because the mom is like, I’m gonna enter your life. So she
Christa Innis: also very threatening, like Right.
Trolling maybe?
Colleen Borgert: Yeah. No, that, that whole 30 to 23, my flag went up immediately. I knew it. Mm-hmm.
Christa Innis: You, I, I saw your face too. And you’re like, wait, so she’s 23? He’s 30 there. Oh, six months later they went. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Um, so they were married for, wait, they weren’t even married a month because it says their wedding date was set for October 25th.
She filed for divorce in November, so it wasn’t even a full month.
Colleen Borgert: Oh my like, okay. Does she include like, where am I now? Like, do we get to heal? Hear like the healing part of all of this because, um,
Christa Innis: no, but there’s a little bit more. Okay. Because like a little more of a paragraph. Let’s see. Um, it says we got back together for a little while, but never spoke to his dad, stepmom or sister again.
I later found out his older siblings were annoyed at how much their younger sibling, younger sister got away with. I mean, at 24 she threw a fit because her brother was in the hospital and I wished her happy birthday a day late. It wasn’t like I’d forgotten entirely. Side note, I graduated a few years later after divorcing her abusive brother.
Okay, now we’re getting a little more of the context. Yes. And I’m working on my master’s degree. I also ended up teaching for a few years.
Colleen Borgert: Yay. Yes, queen. I love that. That was
Christa Innis: a happy ending because you know what? You saw your worth and you saw like, I went out of this situation and I’m glad. It was not even a month that you were just like, you know what?
I’m out. And I hope this is a lesson too for people listening that like, ’cause I’ve had, I’ve had friends before that are like, well, everything’s already paid for. We have to go through the wedding. It’s like, it’s never too late. Like just if you are in a bad relationship, it’s okay. Like it’s Right. Or Yeah.
Colleen Borgert: And, and that goes like both ways too. Like as a boy mom, having only boys, like I want them to know that as well. Like they bring worth to the table too. And they need to be love and respected. And if they need me to fake a heart attack as I’m lighting that wedding candle so that they can run out of the back door, I, ugh, I will do it.
I will do it for them. It’s never too late for happiness.
Christa Innis: Yes. No, I totally agree. I feel like we, obviously, we don’t know the full situation here, but the fact that she threw in that he was abusive, abusive. Which I kind of got the vibe he was controlling or something because of, you know, the moving so quickly and, um, him being a lot older.
But, um, yeah, that, I mean, that’s, that’s a scary situation. So always knowing in your gut or like listening to your gut about it. I hope she had someone on her side that was like, Hey, this doesn’t seem right. Right. ’cause it sounds like they went to his, his dad and stepmom for like, helping through marital issues.
So I don’t know if she had anyone on her side that was like, Hey, this guy is not right for you. Like this Also having Yeah. Also having that like third party, like, I know like, as like, you know, you, it’s nice that his parents were willing to help, but I feel like they should probably have had like a th like a therapist or something come in and Right.
Really sit them down Yeah. And be like,
Colleen Borgert: this is what we’re looking at here.
Christa Innis: Yeah. But I’m glad she got out of that because that could be very bad.
Colleen Borgert: Oh my gosh, yes. Like I, and again, it’s that life experience. Like you just don’t know. At such a young age, sometimes you do, but most part, like, you just, you don’t know what you don’t know.
Yeah. And it’s hard to see those things until that frontal lobe is developed, which is like 25, you know? So wild.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah. It’s wild how like, at least like my grandparents’ age, it’s like they were like married, having kids like 19, 20, and that was like what they were expected to do. And they went to college to get their MRS and they, you know, that was their job.
Mm-hmm. And it’s just Wow. ’cause they were still children in my eyes. I’m like, you’re at 19, 20, 21. Like, you’re still a kid, right.
Colleen Borgert: You’re just a baby. Like you are still a, I’m still folding clothes for my college kid. I’m like, there’s no way you can get married right now. Like. I am folding your t-shirts for you.
Like the, it’s, you’re not ready. You’re not ready.
Christa Innis: Yeah. It’s, it’s wild. Um, well that was a wild story. Thank you to this person for sending that in because I think, um, it was a different kind of story that we’ve got, you know, and I think it’s good to kind of get all the angles of these kind of stories, and I’m really proud of you.
So, yeah.
Maid of Honor Regrets & MIL Drama
Colleen Borgert: Good job writer in person. What do you call the, what do you call, like submitter?
Christa Innis: Um, yeah, story submitter or like, I usually like online, I’ll say like op, like original or original poster, but I guess they’re not really posting it. They’re just sending it to me, so, yeah. Writer in.
Colleen Borgert: Good job. Writer in.
We’re proud of you. Yeah,
Christa Innis: we got, we’ve got great grammar over here. Oh my gosh. The number. It’s really in intimate, intimate over here. Intimate. Which honestly intimate. I think you could do something with that. Like I see, I, I worked in marketing the past like 13 years, so I always think of things you could do a mint at wedding.
It’s called an intimate, intimate listening. Oh, it’s so
Colleen Borgert: intimate here. I love it. If you’re listening, do it and then tag me in it so I can see all of your love.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my gosh, I love it. Okay. I always end these on, um, a couple of confessions that people send in. So let’s read these and then we’ll get on with our days.
Okay. Okay. Um, let’s see.
Okay. This says, I kind of regret who I picked to be my maid of honor. I would’ve still had her as a bridesmaid, but yeah.
Colleen Borgert: Oh, I, I think that’s normal. You know, we kind of touched on that earlier. Just your life just changes and unfolds in different ways that you just don’t know how you’re going to need different people, and it’s okay that she was that person in your life, in that moment and that it might be someone different right now.
Like, it’s okay that both of those happened, and both of those can be true.
Christa Innis: Yeah, and I’m, I’m kind of reading it as she hasn’t gotten married yet, and she like asked them, that’s how I’m reading, but maybe I’m reading it wrong. Like, she has, she asked them to be in the wedding and so like the wedding’s coming up, but they’re like, and she wants to take it back and like, maybe it’s like the maid of honor’s not really stepping up, but I think that’s too, it’s like.
Expectations and communication too. Or maybe that maid of honor just doesn’t really know what to do or, you know. Right. Or you’re just not as close with that person. It’s hard.
Colleen Borgert: It, yeah. It’s hard and you don’t wanna hurt anybody’s feelings.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Um, this says I plan to cut my mother-in-law out of my life, regardless of what my fiance wants to do.
Colleen Borgert: Oh, Ooh. That’s gonna, that’s, that’s a, a therapy for sure. I feel like. Right. Like,
Christa Innis: yeah. I mean, I feel like if, if the, if it’s valid where like the mother-in-law’s done something like terrible turn, just treats her poorly, then I feel like the fiance should be backing her up and like Right. Being that buffer.
I feel like it should never be between the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law because this is about the son or something. Right. Right. There’s
Colleen Borgert: something
Christa Innis: going on
Colleen Borgert: and it shouldn’t just be about her.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And so it’s gonna be almost impossible. To just cut out the mother-in-law if the fiance is still talking to her.
Right. So then I need like, figured out of like, who is he gonna fully support? What’s the issue here? Right. Unless you guys just don’t get along, then I don’t know how that would work. But
Colleen Borgert: then you have to figure out like you’re, you’re gonna form a family together. Mm-hmm. Like, you’ve gotta figure it out.
Christa Innis: Gotta figure it out. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Uh, okay. This last one says, my grandma’s being, my, my grandma being my biggest supporter for eloping helped me elope and deal with all of the backlash.
Colleen Borgert: I love a good grandma. Like, is there anything better than a good grandma? There’s, there’s not, the, the, there hands down top five things a good grandma.
Like, you can’t, you can’t beat it. Yeah. And one that helps you elope and then says, not only am I gonna help you do it and I’ll help you plan it, but a grandma that says, you go and then I’ll tell everyone I did it and I’ll take the heat. Like, go live your life. That’s an amazing,
Christa Innis: you need that. I remember, it’s kind of funny, like, um, so I grew up, like I grew up Ca Catholic and I, um, you know, so like with Catholic parents, like, it’s like you don’t move in before you get married, like, right.
Mm-hmm. Like you child, my grandma’s Catholic, my parents, you know, like that. So this is nothing against that. It was just like how like I was raised, you know? And um, I remember though being like, I’m so close with my grandma that when my husband and I now husband, we were gonna move in together. I told her first and she was like, that’s great honey.
I’m so proud of you and my parents were fine with it. I’m the youngest. So they were like, by that point, they were like
Colleen Borgert: right by that point they’re just like, get out of here. Yeah.
Christa Innis: But I was like, it was just funny. Like, I told my friends, I was like, yeah, I told my, my, now she’s 90. But at the time, you know, she was.
Gosh, how long have I been with my husband? It was, she was like probably 80, but I like told her first and she was like, that’s great. I’m so proud, so excited.
Colleen Borgert: See top five. You’ve got one. She’s great. Yeah, you’ve got one. I’ve got one too. My grandma, um, for her 80th birthday five years ago, she’s still here.
Um, she jumped out of an airplane. She went skydiving on her way and
Christa Innis: we all went and
Colleen Borgert: yeah, she even, you know, got a second set of dentures so that if they fell out, she would have her. She was ready. She visited all of her doctors to get like the, okay, but there’s nothing better than a good grandma.
Christa Innis: That is amazing.
Oh my gosh, I love that. Well, thank you so much for coming on. Thank you.
Colleen Borgert: This was so much fun. I truly enjoyed it.
Christa Innis: Good. Oh, I’m so glad. Like it was so much fun hanging out with you. And can you tell everyone again where they can follow you, find your content, and then anything fun you’re kind of working on?
Colleen Borgert: Yeah, so again, my name is Colleen Boer. You can find me on Instagram at at Miss Colleen b or at Leany Borg on TikTok. And if you are looking for educational news that is happening in this political climate, I am the teacher you want to follow. ’cause I’m gonna give it to you like it is. I love it. Awesome.
Well thank you so much. This was awesome. Thank you. Have a wonderful night.
Christa Innis: You too.
The Mental Load, Modern Motherhood & Drama That Sent Someone Packing — with Paige Connell
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
Ever wonder what happens when a mother-in-law goes full wedding meltdown mode?
This episode dives into an unforgettable wedding story where chaos, drama, and unexpected twists steal the spotlight. From limo mix-ups and cross necklace demands to elopements and courthouse ceremonies, these real-life tales prove weddings rarely go as planned.
Listen as Christa and Paige navigate fiery family dynamics, outrageous demands, and the art of keeping your day stress-free despite unpredictable relatives.
Whether it’s dodging drama or finding joy in the unexpected, these stories remind us that love, and a little patience, always wins.
Join me on Patreon and get bonus content every month!
Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
01:39 Viral TikTok and Childcare Costs
04:10 Mission and Content Focus
06:09 Gender Equity and Mental Load
19:09 Wedding Hot Takes and Rapid Fire
24:59 Reading the Wedding Story
25:13 Mother-in-Law’s Wedding Day Meltdown
30:05 Deciding to Elope
31:47 Courthouse Wedding Drama
38:01 Reflections on Weddings and Relationships
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- The Guest List War – How a simple seating decision spiraled into a full family fight.
- Bridesmaid Betrayal – The shocking move the bridesmaid made behind her back.
- Mother-in-Law Overreach – The bold demands that crossed every line.
- Setting Boundaries Under Fire – The moment the bride decided to stand her ground.
- Choosing Peace Over People-Pleasing – Why walking away from tradition saved her sanity.
- The Fallout After the Wedding – The lasting impact of these choices on family relationships.
- What Paige Would Do Differently – Her biggest takeaway for anyone planning a wedding.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “Sometimes the ‘happiest day of your life’ is just the most expensive therapy session.” – Christa Innis
- “Weddings don’t make people crazy, they just turn up the volume on who they already are.” – Christa Innis
- “Know your audience and know what you and your partner want ultimately.” – Christa Innis
- “Family drama doesn’t magically RSVP ‘no’ to your wedding.” – Christa Innis
- “If someone’s love for you hinges on an invite, it’s not love, it’s leverage.” – Christa Innis
- “If you haven’t been a parent to young children in a very long time, you don’t know the realities of the cost.” – Paige Connell
- “My goal with that conversation is to help women articulate what’s happening in their lives so they can better process that with their partner, find equity at home, and hopefully in the workplace as well.” – Paige Connell
- “We have this narrative of the work that men do outside of the home being really important, if not more important than the work their partner does at home.” – Paige Connell
- “Whenever women do something that remotely prioritizes themselves, we position it as selfish.” – Paige Connell
- “Peace was my real wedding gift to myself.” – Paige Connell
About Paige:
Paige is a working mother of four who shares relatable content on TikTok and Instagram, highlighting the everyday experiences of women balancing motherhood, careers, and relationships. Known for her candid insights on the mental load of motherhood and the challenges of creating equity at home and work, Paige’s content resonates with millions. She also advocates for affordable childcare, paid leave, and reproductive rights, sparking important conversations about what families need to thrive. Her impactful voice and relatable storytelling have led to features in Scary Mommy, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and more.
Follow Paige Connell:
Join the Drama with Christa Innis:
- Website
- Tiktok
- Youtube
- Get Christa’s Book, Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story
Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!
Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form
Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!
A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi Paige. Thank you so much for coming on. Thanks for having me. I’m so excited to talk to you. I was just saying before we started recording that I think I first saw you on, I wanna say it was probably TikTok or something and you stitched Dave Ramsey and I love like this like feminist movement where we were just calling out people that maybe say things that are a little harmful to, especially when we talk about moms and the mother load. And I always tend to like just jump right in.
Paige Connell on the Childcare Crisis and Gender Equity
But can we talk a little bit about what that was? I kinda wanna talk about your platform and how that’s kind of like grown over the years and what you kind of focus on?
Paige Connell: Yeah, sure. So that video in particular was right up my alley because I talk a lot about childcare and he was talking about the cost of childcare.
And so for context, I create content and I started out talking about just being a working mother and. part of that conversation is logistics. How do I make it work? How much do I pay for daycare? What does our schedule look like? Just all of those things. And I was just sharing my lived experience of motherhood, and the very first time I went viral on TikTok was talking about how much I pay for daycare, because people were just astonished at how expensive it is, and, didn’t even believe me transparently. A lot of people were like, that’s not real. And so I spend a lot of time bringing awareness to the childcare crisis because this is something that is happening to most people in our country, like most people and parents are experiencing the high cost of childcare and the impacts of that.
And so. When I saw the video of Dave Ramsey saying $25,000 a year for childcare, like, that’s not real. I felt like I had to respond because it is very real. It is the lived experience of many, many families, and for me, he’s a financial expert. He should understand the finances of the people he’s speaking to and the fact that this is the reality for most people in our country.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Yeah, and I think when. You get to a certain, I don’t know, I would say platform of his, He can’t really relate to the common person, the common family. and so I feel like, I feel like your content is so necessary because so many moms might go in and see something like this, and it’s like, oh wait, I shouldn’t be paying this. Or like, this isn’t normal, but like we can’t relate to someone like that, that actually is not in it. Right.
Paige Connell: Totally. Yeah. I think first and foremost, I think he’s of a different generation, and so childcare looks different today than it did even 10 years ago. And so if you haven’t been a parent to young children in a very long time, you don’t know the realities of the cost, right?
So I think in that way he’s out of touch. But it is his job to be in touch with what the average experience is of parents in our country, especially if he’s giving out financial advice, but I also think just in general, Dave has a very specific idea of what it should look like, right? He had a stay at home partner. He personally likes that, right? Like that idea of women providing that childcare, or at least he insinuates that in some of his content. And, yeah. You know, I just think it’s, he has a very specific platform and form of advice that he gives, and I just felt like in that instance, you know, I’m not a financial expert. I don’t pretend to be, but in that instance, he was saying something that I felt like was so outlandish and out of touch that it had to be addressed in some way.
Christa Innis: So I know I kinda jumped the gun right into like that conversation that I saw. But can you tell everyone a little bit more about what you post about on your page, your content, and what you feel your mission has become, with your posting?
Paige Connell: Sure. So yeah, I talk a lot about being a working mother and the realities of what modern marriage and motherhood look like specifically for women. I will say my following on all platforms is 99% women, sometimes 98. You know, it fluctuates. But it’s mostly women because my content for them is relatable and it’s something that they understand and see themselves in.
I would say the thing that most people know me for is speaking about the mental load specifically as it relates to motherhood, but I speak about it in general as well. And my goal with that conversation is to help women articulate what’s happening in their lives so they can better process that with their partner, find equity at home, and hopefully in the workplace as well.
And as part of that mission, I also talk about systemic things like lack of pay, parental leave, lack of affordable childcare, the motherhood penalty in the workplace. So my overarching goal is to help women advocate for gender equity in all facets of life. So not, being the default parent by default, right?
All of these things that I think as a society have been very normal for very long, but are leading women to feel burnt out and exhausted, and I do that through. Sharing my own experience, but also just thought leadership on these topics in general.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I love that. It’s so powerful and it’s funny, I mention it every time and time again, but like before doing all of this, I worked for a mommy brand and ironically it was before I had my daughter and so but with that, it was, I heard firsthand stories from moms, like struggling to go back to work, having to go back to work after six weeks or unpaid leave. And when I started kinda like digging into it, I was like, this is outrageous. Like it’s, we’re in a country where they want us to have more kids, but then there’s no support when you do have those kids.
Why Paid Parental Leave and Shared Care Matter
So what do you think are the biggest like things like work. I mean, workplaces is one thing. What can workplaces do? What can we do as a society to kind of like raise awareness to all this stuff?
Paige Connell: I think talking about it first and foremost is really important, bringing these topics up. You know, the things I’ve mentioned, childcare, paid parental leave. We often view these as women’s issues, when in reality they’re a family issue. They should be impacting anyone who is a parent, not just women, but women are the ones that disproportionately take on this work, right? So if there’s no childcare, who stays home?
Christa Innis: Typically, mom.
Paige Connell: Who adjust their career? Typically, mom.
Right. And so that’s just a societal expectation. And then sometimes people will point to the fact that, well, oh, the husband makes more money. And that just points the wage gap, right? It’s just like, it’s this kinda like chicken and egg thing, right? We’re struggling at home, we’re struggling in the workplace, and they’re really tied together.
And so I think on an individual level. I like to tell people this is not a failure. Like if you’ve ended up in a position where you’re burnt out and exhausted and you’re struggling with the mental load and your career has taken a hit due to childcare or whatever it might be. You’re not alone in that.
That’s not a personal failure, that’s a systemic failure across the board. But also there’s certain things that are within our control that we can do. And so we can’t fix all the systems at one time, but we can do some things, which is, for example, if your husband has access to paid parental leave, he should be taking it.
So many men don’t. So many men have access and they don’t take it, and they don’t take it because they’re afraid it’s gonna hurt their career, which ultimately just hurts women’s careers more and hurts their partners and their baby and all of the things. And so, we need men to be doing that. We need, policies that support parents in the workplace.
So adequate sick time, adequate paid leave, flexible work schedules. We need to stop these return to office mandates that disproportionately impact women, right? Like there’s all these things, but also within our homes. One of the reasons I suggest paid parental leave not suggest I strongly encourage, is because when men take it, they’re more likely to carry that mental load with their partner from the beginning and.
The mental load disparity happens very, very early on, typically even before you have kids. I think about, when my husband and I were in our twenties and we were going to a million weddings, I always bought the gift and the card and booked the hotel and coordinated all the things, and he was there, but I was coordinating it, right?
Like I carried that mental load. It wasn’t super heavy until we had kids, and so being aware of these dynamics in advance and talking about them with your partner, putting systems in place to avoid one person carrying too much, that’s something we can do, and there’s tools to do that.
Christa Innis: I love that. Yeah. I feel like it’s such an important conversation that a lot of families don’t, either don’t have or don’t know they should or can have them because it’s just, that’s the way it was when I grew up.
Or my dad went to work, my mom was home. So I just thought that’s how it went. And I think, like I said, with working at the mom brand, I was able to see like. I don’t want that when I go through postpartum, I need my part. It was like, have your partner support you, get your partner involved in the process.
Because so many women would like tell me like, oh, my husband wasn’t even in the room when I gave birth. Or he went right back to work the next day. Yeah. And even if they had a choice to stay home, they’re like, oh, well I gotta work. And it’s just like, you don’t realize if you are setting your family up for failure if you don’t take that time as a partner, to the one that gave birth, right? And so I feel like it’s such an interesting conversation because that push and pull between work and sticking up for your family essentially.
Paige Connell: Yeah. And I think, you know, it’s the narrative, right?
We’ve put a real premium in our country on men being providers and doing the paid work and women doing the unpaid care work at home. And so even like the overnight feedings I’ve said on social media, like, dad should be doing some of those, even if they’re partners breastfeeding, like they can change the diaper, they can soothe the baby. And men are like, well, I have work tomorrow. It’s like, she’s gonna be up tomorrow too. Okay. Like, and doing something incredibly important, which is caring for your newborn. And we have this narrative of this work that men do outside of the home being really important, if not more important than the work their partner does at home.
And so I really think we should push back on that. And I do think most men wanna be good dads. They wanna be good partners. But to your point, like as a society and, kind of what’s been modeled for us just doesn’t show us what that looks like.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. I was talking to someone the other day and they were asking like, oh, how was your, postpartum?
And I realized, I’m like. Obviously I had a lot of challenges and stuff, but I think because like my husband at the time, like where he was working at the time, he got like two weeks off. I was like, this is what it’s gonna be like when I’m, postpartum. Like, I’m gonna need you to help with this. And like, I remember just being responsible for like breastfeeding.
I was like, other than that, he did everything else or we were able to split other things. I would hear of all these moms like having like postpartum depression and obviously that’s so nuanced. There’s so many reasons why women go through that. Right? Totally. But I feel like a lot of it could be helped with a supportive partner or supportive workplaces because a lot of times these women are stressed about going back to work in a few weeks and they’re not getting paid and they have to get their child in daycare and, that’s a lot.
Paige Connell:There’s a lot. you even mentioned daycare. Women are typically the ones finding childcare, and that’s really hard to do. And so yeah, it’s not as simple as just being home, taking care of a sleeping baby. You know, it, it’s pretty complex what’s going on. I’m glad to hear that you had the support that you need.
I mean, similar to my husband had. Not a lot of time with our first three kids. He had no time. and then with our fourth, he had four weeks and it was night and day experience for us. Right. It was a vastly different experience for me. and I think that’s so important. I wish everyone had that.
Christa Innis: I know.
It’s like, imagine how it would be if men were like forced, like, you have to be home during these 2, 3, 4 weeks, whatever that looks like. And just support women.
Paige Connell: Yeah. I mean, some countries do that. They mandate it, that men have to take it, and there’s like specific rules around how that looks. And so yeah, I think unfortunately in order to get men to do it, oftentimes it has to be mandated.
But I do think, more and more men are doing it, but we still need to see that improve across the board and. There’s data to show that, the work that women are doing and the mental, they’re caring it leads to real impact, mental, emotional, physical tolls on women, and that has a long-term impact on their lives and their well-being.
And so if we care about that, if we care about mothers as much as we say we do, then we should prioritize their care.
The Double Standards That Keep Women Carrying the Load
Christa Innis: Yeah. So I bet with like posting this kind of content, I mean, I see it ’cause I follow a lot of content about like talking about, inequality with women or, women empowerment.
There’s always the haters in the comments. What do you think the most, like, not necessarily like hate, comment, or like argument against what you have to say, or, you know, negative comments that people will comment and how do you kind of handle that?
Paige Connell: Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of people say couple things, that I hate men, which I don’t, I don’t hate men.
I just want men to show up in a more meaningful way and I think most of them want to do that, which I know not everybody believes that like I actually am a person on the internet who says, like, I actually think most dads wanna be good people and good parents. they’re not doing it necessarily, but I think they want to.
And so it’s worth trying to get them there. But most people say, I hate men, or, that my husband must hate me. Those are two top comments, because I’ve talked about my own experience in marriage and motherhood with my partner and what that journey’s been like. And so, this mostly comes from men.
Obviously it’s not coming from women. I would say the vast majority of women. Feel understood or at least relate to something that I’m saying, even if not everything. But those tend to be the top comments, which is because I’m pushing for gender equity that yeah I don’t like men and then men in my life don’t like me.
Mm.
Christa Innis: I feel like too, it’s like people that say that kind of thing, in their family. It’s like, if it’s not, broke, don’t fix it kind of thing. Yeah. It works for them, but does it actually work for them? Maybe it works for them as the male partner, but have they actually sat down with their partner and asked, does this work for you?
But I think they are probably afraid to ask that question because they don’t wanna get the push back or have to carry more of that mental load.
Paige Connell: Yeah, I think it’s, layered. I think it depends on the person, obviously. And. one I hear from women in their sixties, seventies, all the time who are like, I wish I’d had this when I was younger.
’cause I just suffered through it. And I spent 40 years of my life catering to somebody who never helped me at all. And I hear that constantly. And then I’m lucky enough to hear from young women who are learning about what they do and don’t want in a relationship. But I think for men, some of it’s, you know, what did I see growing up? What did my dad do? What did my mom do? I think to your point of happiness, one of the comments that I see often, which is always so surprising to me, and I think comes from a very specific subset of men, is that men will sacrifice their happiness for their family, and women will sacrifice their family for their happiness.
So insinuating that women who expect more from their partner or choose divorce because they’re unhappy, are choosing their own happiness above their families, and men are willing to suffer for their families. and it’s this very specific talking point that I find so interesting. But I think it’s, again, trying to position women in this bad light the same way we do as single moms.
Single moms are bad. Where are the dads? Right? Like the moms are there. Like we talk about that. Like the impact that being raised by a single mother has. And we never say like, okay, the impact of a father being absent has, right? Like, we never talk about that. So I think it’s a branding thing, but essentially like.
Whenever women do something that remotely prioritizes themselves, we position it as selfish. When women have a career, they’re selfish, right? They’re, looking to make a ton of money. They’re letting somebody else raise their kid. When men do it, they’re providers, they’re family men, right? They’re putting food in the table.
We vary different narratives for men and women in our society. So much so that. We would never call a mom a hands-on mom or a present mom. Mm-hmm. But like so many women will be like, I have the best husband. He’s such a present dad. He is so hands-on. It’s like, yeah, you, kind of have to be hands-on with the toddler.
Like there’s no other version of parenthood. Right. For women. And so it’s just so interesting. I think some of it is just, yeah, the status quo, what we’re used to, and then other parts of it are kind of like, yeah, what we think about men and women at their time and whose time we truly value.
Christa Innis: That’s such a good point.
Yeah. It’s like I’ve seen videos about where it’s like a mom could be juggling like a few kids at the store and they just, they’re like, that’s a mom. The kid might be like throwing a tantrum or something and they’re just like, okay, whatever. She’s doing her mom thing. But if a dad does it, he’s such a good dad.
Paige Connell: The best dad.
Christa Innis: She’s such a good dad. And I remember like people will say like stuff about my husband, they’ll be like, oh, he changes the diapers. Oh, he takes her places by her himself. I’m like. Well, he’s her father. Like why wouldn’t he? Yeah. But I feel like it’s also generational, like, at least my parents’ generation, I feel like a lot of times it was Stay at home mom, so she was with the kids a lot, the dad was at work and you know, you saw them for dinner time the older generations are like, what’s happening here? Like, something’s shifting.
Paige Connell: Totally. I think things are shifting. I think in the millennial generation you’re seeing more egalitarian relationships, which is amazing. you’re seeing a little bit more polarization in the younger generations between men and women and what they expect from one another.
And I think. There’s many reasons for that, but it is interesting how different millennial men are compared to their fathers. And I think that’s a good thing. I think it’s a good thing, but it doesn’t come without push back. obviously, when you’re talking about these, deeply ingrained expectations of men and women, when you push back on those people, it gets uncomfortable.
Christa Innis: Yeah, definitely. it’s for the better good of, everyone. For sure. I agree. what’s your message for anyone listening that. Maybe is, struggling with the mental load right now and doesn’t kind of know the first steps to take either with their partner or their family or their work.
Paige Connell: So with the mental load in particular, I often say the first thing you have to do is just start to understand what it is. I think oftentimes women feel incredibly burnt out and exhausted and they feel like they’re kind of on this hamster wheel they can never get off of. They have this ongoing running to do list that’s always there and never shorter. And they can’t articulate that, right? Like when their partner says What’s wrong, they’re just like, I don’t even know. There’s a million things I could tell you. A million things that I’m stressed out about right now. Right? And so first and foremost, I suggest people familiarize themselves with the terms and what’s actually playing into the mental load.
And so one way to do that is to, we say, make the invisible visible, write things down every thought that pops into your brain, which is like, I have to pay, the school for a raffle basket. My kids need cash ’cause they’re going to the beach tomorrow with camp. I have all these reminders on my phone and I think a really important way to do this is just write everything down.
For a week, two weeks, just write it all down and look at it and you’ll see, you’ll start to see what that mental load looks like. What are the things that are weighing you down? What’s stressing you out the most? What’s causing the most tension? Where do you think your partner can support you?
Where do you feel like you’re strong? being able to look at it in a really concrete way. I use a spreadsheet, I offer this to people, whoever wants it, it’s part of my free guide, but I have a spreadsheet and it just lists a bunch of tasks that most families do. It’s from the book Fair Play. E Rodsky created this game, which is a really great way to make that invisible labor visible.
Doing that is so helpful just for you as a person to be able to see it and say like, okay, this is why I’m tired, like this is why I’m stressed out. and then from there. You can think about having a conversation with your partner, but I often tell women like, sometimes you’re not ready for a conversation with your partner and you just need to be able to say it to your therapist or say it to your best friend and start to articulate what you’re feeling.
And then once you’ve been able to do that, then you can start to have the hard conversations of, okay, well what does it look like for us to change this?
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. I love that. Saying it out loud. ’cause I feel like a lot of times, like as women, we like keep things in until like, yeah. Kind of builds up a little bit and then it’s like you can’t take it anymore.
So, I love that, getting it outside, saying it to a therapist, a friend, and kind of piggybacking off of that. Okay, let’s get into, because I know everyone loves the crazy stories Wedding Hot takes. Let’s get into some different hot takes for weddings. if as we’re kind of talking, you have like any wild wedding stories or wanna share anything, you know, don’t, no pressure to share anything personal if you don’t want to. But, okay. These are hot takes that people sent to me. Here’s what they said. It’s okay to skip traditions that don’t resonate with you, including the white dress.
Paige Connell: Yeah. Why not? My daughter’s daycare teacher just got married and she wore a pink dress, and my daughters are all about it. They’re like, that was beautiful. It was like a baby, like very light, light pink. But they, like a four and 3-year-old are obsessed.
Christa Innis: Yeah. So I love that like old princess dress. I know. I feel like there’s so many things that we do with weddings or whatever it else It is, and we don’t like ask why.
We’re just like, let’s just do it. Yeah. Yeah. It says you don’t owe anyone a plus one, especially if they’ve never met the one. Mm, yeah.
Paige Connell: Yeah. There’s a weird expectation that you have to give people a plus one. And I think, going back to the finances talk from the beginning, it’s like, it’s expensive to have a wedding and I’m paying for your plus one to be here.
And I think depending on what, who’s funding it, right? Like having that understanding, be able to understand, especially if they’re your close friends, like. I can’t give everybody a plus one, and I think that should be okay. I think context matters if you’re inviting. A coworker who knows no one and you give them no plus one.
I actually think that’s probably pretty uncomfortable for them. If you’re inviting your cousin who has 20 other cousins at the wedding, they don’t need a plus one.
Christa Innis: Right? Yeah. Like your 16-year-old cousin that just started dating someone. I think they can come with their parents like that. That’s fine.
Yeah. I find this interesting thing when I post about either, like if I do a skit about plus ones or kids being invited or something like that. People have this, they either are like, yes, I agree. Like no one needs, you don’t owe anyone an invite. Right? The other side of people are like, just say you’re broke if you’re poor, don’t have a wedding.
I’ve had some people say that and I’m like, just because they’re not inviting the whole world and then some, doesn’t mean they don’t have money or they’re broke. There’s just everything’s nuanced. Right? And it’s just like, I don’t know.
Paige Connell: Yeah. It also reminds me of, like, when I talk about childcare, people will say, well, don’t have kids if you can’t afford ’em.
And it’s like, okay, but I am having kids that I can afford. It doesn’t mean that it’s not expensive. people are having weddings that they can afford. It just means they can’t invite your plus one. So it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s very, to me, it’s very like classicist to be, like, to say, you’re broke. It’s like everybody’s having the wedding that they can afford.
That they, they can afford or that’s within their budget. And if you don’t like it, then don’t attend. Right. Then don’t go. But I don’t think we should judge anybody for the scale of their wedding or how many people they can invite or how expensive it is, because at the end of the day, you know, we’re all living in this world and this economy together.
Right. We all have different means. I think it’s a very strange take to have,
find that so.
Christa Innis: Honestly. Yeah. It’s so interesting. Yeah. That’s such a good point too about the kids comment, because you hear that all the time and it’s like. One, it’s like if just because someone has a budget or they’re like, oh, this is expensive, or we can’t afford to do this because blank, it doesn’t mean like they made a poor choice and why are we why are we putting someone down because of their life? And I don’t know.
Paige Connell: Yeah, it’s also a very privileged take, right? Like we’re all like one bad medical disaster or layoff away from struggling financially like most people in this country. And so if you have that perspective, you can understand that some people maybe aren’t prioritizing plus ones at their wedding because they’re saving for a down payment on a house.
And so they’re not broke. They just have different priorities to you, and that’s okay. But I do think it’s a pretty privilege take to have that. Like, just, just say you’re broke side of it.
Christa Innis: It’s so people are, people are funny in the comments about honeymoon stuff or paying like, um, gifting at a wedding.
All these kind of things that are just like, just do what you can afford. People are more happy to have you be there. It’s like, yeah. Very interesting.
Rapid-Fire Wedding Chaos: The “Would You Rather” Edition
Okay. To kind of kick off a little bit more, and before we get to the wedding story, this is rapid fire. This is kinda like just a new little wedding chaos, rapid, rapid fire thing. Okay. Um, would you rather have your childhood nemesis in your bridal party or your partner’s ex sitting front row?
Paige Connell: Partner’s ex.
Christa Innis: Okay. Would you rather have the fire alarms go off during your vows or your mic cut out mid speech?
Paige Connell: Mic.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I feel like that happens at like a lot of the weddings, anyway.
Paige Connell: I was gonna say, I, and I’ve been at a wedding where the fire alarm went off. It wasn’t during the vows, but we had to evacuate for a while.
Christa Innis: Oh gosh. I just heard a story where the fire alarm went off. And they all had to go off into the parking lot and they ended up just like the DJ just played music out there and they like opened up a bar outside.
They’re like, we couldn’t afford wait for hours. And I was like, I love that. I love that turn of events where you just make the best of it.
Paige Connell: It’s memorable. Yeah, exactly.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Everyone will always talk about that wedding. Um, would you rather have your cake be made of styrofoam for display or taste like cardboard?
Paige Connell: Styrofoam.
Christa Innis: Would you rather your hairstylist ghost you or your makeup artist show up two hours late.
Paige Connell: Hairstylist ghost me.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Um, would you rather accidentally post your private vows on Instagram or text them to your ex? These are wild.
Paige Connell: Instagram. I’ve said worse on Instagram for sure.
Christa Innis: Right. It’s like at this point someone was asking like how I post content and I’m like, once you kind of start, you’re kind of like, we’re all on this floating rock together.
Like once you Yeah. It’s like once you get it out there, you’re like, I don’t care. Like these sting sometimes still, but for the most part, I’m just like, it feels kind of like, I dunno if you’re ever like scrolling, like TikTok, do you feel like we’re just like, all like on a talent show and we’re all just kinda like posting like different things and like it kinda just rolls past you after a while.
The Mother-in-Law Who Turned Two Weddings Into a Battlefield
Okay. Let’s get into this week’s wedding submission. As, as always, um, people just send me different stories to react, to give advice or. I guess it’s kind of, I was gonna say unsolicited, but they sent it so I guess it’s solicited. Um, so yeah, feel free to stop me at any time or we can add little side stories. So let’s see. I have not read it, so let’s see how it goes.
Okay. She says, or they say, so this is a long story. It started when my brother-in-law got married a few months before our wedding. My mother-in-law insisted on paying for the reception. The couple offered to chip in because they wanted to include the bride’s grandparents.
My mother-in-law said it was fine and that she would handle everything. Okay. On the day of the wedding, she was incredibly sweet, thanking everyone for coming. But as soon as the guests, including the couple left and the bill came, she completely flipped out. Mind you, this was a low key reception, a buffet at a buffet style restaurant.
My husband tried to calm her down and even covered, offered to cover the cost for the bride’s grandparents, but she refused and said they were all ungrateful. She had also insisted on paying for the limo the bride took to the church. It was chaotic getting ready that day. There were three limos outside and the drivers were directing us where to go.
We even got into one limo and were told it was the wrong one, so we had to switch. At the time, I had a year and a half old daughter. She wasn’t in the wedding, so my mother-in-law offered to watch her until the ceremony, after the ceremony. Anyway, I’m in the limo with the bridesmaids and the flower girl.
We arrive at the church and there’s my mother-in-law, absolutely fuming. Apparently the limo we rode in was meant for the bride to be fair. The only difference was the color. She had my daughter on her hip and was walking up the steps. When I saw the bride pulling up in the other limo, she practically threw my daughter at me and I tripped trying to catch her so she wouldn’t fall.
My gosh. Okay. Then she walked over to the bride’s limo. Tried to hand her a cross necklace to wear. The bride politely thanked her, but explained she was wearing her late grandmother’s necklace who passed just a few months before. That must have been the last straw. She reached into the window, window of the limo and tried to pull the bride out, screaming and cussing that she didn’t deserve her son.
Oh, wow. Okay. That’s wild. Um, and then like nothing had happened, she walked back to the steps and tried to take my daughter again. I told her absolutely not that I was going to walk down the aisle with her. I had already cleared it with the groom who was in the back of the church sobbing. The bride’s parents asked her to leave, but she said, “You’ll have to call the cops. I’m not leaving without seeing my son get married.”
Imagine saying that, and then demanding to be there for the wedding.
Paige Connell: No, that’s crazy. I mean, well, is that it or is there more?
Christa Innis: There’s more. Okay. It’s already pretty wild. There’s a, yeah, like another page. Okay. Oh gosh. Like it’s, it’s funny, like these stories, like sometimes they seem like out of left field, so I don’t, ’cause you know, you don’t really get like the before. As sometimes you get some of this stuff, but then all of a sudden it’s just like this crazy like day that just like goes wild. Um, okay sure enough, the cops came and escorted her out. That’s wild. Okay. The rest of the wedding was actually beautiful and went off without a hitch.
Paige Connell: Well, that’s good.
Christa Innis: I guess that’s good. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Okay.
Paige Connell: I’m confused though. Did she pay for the reception and the rehearsal? It must have been the rehearsal dinner. That she was talking about at the beginning. I can’t imagine she’s paying for a reception she’s not attending. But…
Christa Innis: I know, well it said she insisted on paying for the reception, but…
Paige Connell: Maybe that’s the rehearsal dinner. Myabe it’s at the restaurant. I don’t know.
Christa Innis: Yeah, because it sounds like the night before. Yeah, right. Said, oh yeah. So I’m wondering if she meant rehearsal, maybe. Yeah. Because yeah, it was the night before at a restaurant, and then they got a check. Mm-hmm. So, yeah. Yeah. I can’t imagine she’d offer to pay for it now, especially if everything.
Paige Connell: No, sure. She was escorted away by the police then she wasn’t there for the check. Right.
Christa Innis: Yeah, that is wild. Just because they took the wrong limo. I’m so confused of like, there must be another backstory or something that happened.
Paige Connell: I mean, it sounds like she doesn’t like the daughter-in-law and it also sounds like, I don’t know, there’s so many accounts out there that talk about these kind of mothers of son dynamics and mother-in-law dynamics and I think this sounds like someone who, obviously we do not have the context here, but like wanted this wedding day to be about her and what she wanted. Um, I also think the grandparent thing is so strange ’cause it’s like it’s two people. You agree to it. Um, and I think. You. Yes. Like if, if somebody paid for my rehearsal dinner, I would say thank you and be grateful and all the things, but, um, you shouldn’t do it because you wanna parade. Like if you’re offering to do it, and if you’re agreeing to do it, it’s, you know, I don’t, I don’t know what she wants from the bride and groom and they’re obviously preoccupied with everything else and that day’s about them. And so. Even if they are thankful, it doesn’t have to like, I don’t know. I don’t know what that person wanted.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. I feel like it’s that common trope of like, they offer to pay for it, but there’s this like invisible string or like, they’re dangling a carrot, you know, to be like, we paid for this, so we get to do this. Or, there’s all these like. If I do this, then I get this and it’s like, that’s not how it works. If it’s a gift, an actual gift, and you wanna help, then treat it as a gift.
Paige Connell: Yeah. There’s no strings attached or control, like you don’t get to control a situation because you financially provided for it.
Christa Innis: Right. Yeah. And I feel like they want like this, like red carpet then rolled out like, oh, that’s, that’s her. She paid for the event, you know? But it’s like, it’s still not gonna be about you. It’s about the bride and groom.
Paige Connell: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Now she says, now my wedding. After all of that, my husband and I decided we were going to elope to Vegas. We asked my parents it. You’re like-
Paige Connell: Get it. I get it. Yeah, I get that. I eloped as well. I get it.
Christa Innis: Okay. Okay. Um, I guess you can. If you wanna share stuff, but um, you can.
Paige Connell: Yeah. Oh no, my family just doesn’t get along and so I figured instead of that whatever is happening here, I don’t think that would’ve happened to me.
But I think, um, I decided instead to elope with my husband in Italy and we had the best time by ourselves. And so, I mean, I get the eloping I actually recommended to everyone. Even if your family is not complicated, because personally to your point earlier, like weddings are expensive. People are never gonna be fully happy with everything that you do.
And I’m a person who, if you are a person who knows that you’re gonna show up at your wedding and be more concerned with everybody else having a good time than having a good time yourself. Don’t have a wedding, and that’s who I am. Like I would be running around being, are you having fun? Are you having fun?
Are you having fun? The host and I wouldn’t be having any fun. And so eloping, I was able to do whatever I wanted, which was great.
Christa Innis: That’s such great advice because I know brides were like, I was a bridesmaid for them and the whole time they’re more concerned about everyone else. They’re doing everything for the other people.
And it’s like, yes, you wanna, you know, care obviously, and you want people to enjoy themselves, but it goes by so quickly. And if you’re there like stressed about everyone else and like, oh, did so and so like their food, or did so and so blah, blah, blah. Then it’s like it loses the whole purpose, I think.
Paige Connell: Yeah, I agree.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Um, okay, so she says they eloped to Vegas. Um, we asked my parents to watch our daughter and began saving for plane tickets in a hotel we had planned for a two month window. Um, wait, they were going for two months?
Paige Connell: I’m assuming in two months. Like two months from then. Maybe. Maybe. I dunno.
Christa Innis: No, that was, yeah. Sometimes I read as I’m reading these, I’m like not absorbing. I get it the right way. Um, okay. But as life often goes, something unexpected happened. I found out I was pregnant with our second child, no flying for me. So we decided to get married at the courthouse and plan to do a vow renewal in Vegas on our one year anniversary. We wanted to keep it simple and stress free.
So the mother-in-law from the previous story is, is that, that’s gotta be her husband or partner’s mom.
Paige Connell: It’s her husband’s, yeah. Mom. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Okay. So a mom of two sons it sounds like. Who?
Paige Connell: At at least two? Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah, at least two. Yeah. Who might not like the daughter-in-laws? Okay.
His mom insisted he stay at her house the night before, even though we had already been living together for two years. She also insisted I wear her cross necklace, so she’s going through these same like motions. Despite me not being religious, I had found a dress I love on sale just, just $260 for the dress, Petco and veil. I’m not into heels. I even wore flip flops to the previous wedding, but she took me shoe shopping and made me get these blinged out heels instead of the white slipper style shoes I liked that were only $10.
I, I don’t understand. Made me get like, she’s like, poles are up to the front and is like, you’re wearing these on your wedding day. So I’d be like. No.
Paige Connell: Yeah. Yeah. I think, yeah, I get it though. I think some people have a hard time. Like if you’re a, uh, which I sometimes say I’m like a natural people pleaser. I’d have a hard time finding a way to like tactfully say no. Uh, but, I think also like, yeah, sometimes, especially with your own wedding, it’s like, yeah, I’m not wearing those shoes. Thank you though.
Christa Innis: That’s so kind of you.
Paige Connell: It’s kind of you. Um, but I’m gonna politely decline.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah, I know. And I’m sure it’s like so complicated seeing how she reacted to the last wedding. So she’s like probably tiptoeing totally to this mother-in-law. Gosh, that’s gotta be a nightmare. Okay. What was supposed to be a short 25 minute ceremony started to feel like a full-blown production.
I was pregnant, emotional, and just wanted to marry my husband, eat a burger, and go home. My parents offered to take us to an Italian restaurant after the ceremony. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but my husband really wanted to go, so I agreed I figured I’d settle for ravioli instead of a burger. They invited his mom, my best friend, who was my witness, and his brother, who was his witness.
The whole time at the restaurant, his mom was making nasty comments to his brother about his wife. Oh my gosh. So she still doesn’t let this all go. I also wonder how between that wedding and this one, how the relationship was, if they were like, you know, we’re gonna keep our distance. Or if we’re like, oh, it didn’t happen to us, we’re just gonna brush it off. Because getting arrested and pulled outta your son’s wedding is a big deal.
Paige Connell: Yeah, totally. Yeah. I don’t know. Uh, there’s a lot of missing pieces here.
Christa Innis: Yeah. He eventually got up and left. Then she started on in on my husband saying he wasn’t sticking up for her. It got super awkward. I finally said, it’s our wedding day. We just wanna celebrate with the people we love. She looked me dead in the face and said, well, now I have no sons. Are you happy now?
Paige Connell: Yeah. I think, I think she’s just a classic example of the, like, boy moms we see on social media, the the ones who are a bit, um. Yeah. Are never gonna be pleased with whoever the other, uh, it’s weird to say the other woman, but the, the wife is, essentially. I think this is a lived experience that many women have and it feels like a no-win scenario. I mean, obviously we don’t know the intricacies here. We dunno what’s going on from this story. It sounds like she feels like she’s like losing quote, unquote losing her sons to their wives, which like. I think that’s what’s supposed to happen. They’re adults. Um, so yeah, that’s complicated for sure.
Christa Innis: Yeah. There’s a, there was a term for, I just had a therapist on last, a couple weeks ago, and there’s a term for it. It’s like. I can’t, no, I don’t wanna butcher it and like say the wrong thing, but Yeah. It’s like, or enmeshment. Enmeshment.
Paige Connell: Yes. Yes.
Christa Innis: And she was like, it’s when they like can’t see their kids as separate people. Mm-hmm. Even when they’re into, they’re adults, they feel like they always own, owe them, or they always are connected in some interesting way that’s not Yeah. Normal. Yeah, not normal, but I guess it’s not.
um, okay. I was shocked in complete disbelief. My husband calmly asked her to speak. To speak with her outside as they were heading out. He told my best friend to grab my coat and purse. We got married in December and bring them to him. She followed and handed them to his mom. Later he told me, he told her her behavior toward me, toward him, toward us was completely unacceptable that she wasn’t going to ruin another wedding day.
He told her we needed a break. There we go. And that she had to accept that her sons had found women they love. She jumped in her car and sped off. We went five months with no contact after that. The root of it all control. She constantly tries to compete with everyone financially, emotionally, and otherwise.
That was nearly 14 years ago and to this day, we still have to take breaks from her.
So they’re not no contact it sounds like, but-
Paige Connell: Maybe low contact. I think some people go like low contact with their parents, where they engage with them when it feels like they can and then otherwise. You know, take space from them. I mean, that’s really hard. I think you hear about these stories a lot of times, and I just dunno that there’s a healthy way to interact with a person who’s going to engage. Even if I felt incredibly wronged by somebody on their wedding day, I would say nothing. No, ma no matter what, my sister, I don’t care. Like, I would say nothing. I’d be like, that’s for another, that’s for my therapist for another day. You know? That’s not for now. I think, um, people who don’t have that capacity, obviously, um, that’s a very different situation and obviously I imagine for their, her sons like so hard to navigate.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I feel like that’s so, that’s gotta be so hard coming in as like a daughter-in-law really excited to like.
Marry this person and having your in-law like hate you just because you’re with her son. Yeah. No other reason. And you really can’t win. I feel like in a situation like that, unless the mom goes to therapy maybe, or like do some social searching or something, I don’t know. Um, that’s just gotta be really challenging.
Paige Connell: I can’t imagine. Yeah. Honestly.
Christa Innis: I’m proud of the, the fiance or the husband because a lot of these stories, you don’t hear them mention the fiance or partner or husband. A lot of times it’s just like their personal story with the mother-in-law or if it is a mother-in-law story or the situation, and we’re always.
Where are they in this story? So I’m really glad that he like put his foot down, was like, this is not okay. Because you don’t always hear that in these stories because-
Paige Connell: It sounds like both of them did, both, both brothers, um, stuck up for their partners and I think that’s really important. You hear that a lot, which is like, I have these awful in-laws and my partner doesn’t do anything about it.
And you know, I think that’s a really difficult situation to be in. So yeah, I think it’s great that both partners, you know, stepped in.
Christa Innis: Yeah, absolutely. Well, that was a wild, wild wedding story. Um, okay. Um, you know, talking, it’s funny that we were talking about eloping and stuff because I, when I share these kinds of stories, people are always like, oh, that’s it.
I’m gonna elope. And I think the important lesson here is like. Know your audience and know what you and your partner want ultimately. Because I think eloping is a great idea. I don’t think everyone should elope, but I think it just do whatever makes sense for you and block out all the noise because it’s so easy to think like, oh, my parents or my sister, or whoever it is, wants this big wedding for us.
And then you do it and you’re like, that’s not what I wanted. And then it’s, yeah. Disappointing.
Paige Connell: Yeah, I think weddings have become this like big, big, I mean, they’ve always been a big thing, but I think now too, in the age of social media, it’s like, what’s the hashtag? What’s this? What’s that? It doesn’t matter at the end of the day.
And I think having a strong partnership is ultimately. The thing that you’re gonna hold onto for the rest of your life is not gonna be that wedding day. I will say I have friends who’ve absolutely loved every single second of their wedding and loved having one and would do it a hundred times more. And I think if you are that person and you think that’s going to be you, you should absolutely do it.
Like do that. And if you’re not, that’s okay. And if it doesn’t end up being the best of your life, that’s okay. Um, and this is not meant to sound, um, flippant, I guess, or I don’t know if that’s the right word, but like, as a wedding guest. I couldn’t tell you what somebody’s bouquet looked like seven, seven days later, let alone seven years later.
I don’t remember, right? I’m here ’cause I love you and I wanna have a good time and I’m gonna dance and I’m probably gonna cry at your vows, but I, you know, I don’t, no one else is nearly as invested as you are. And I tell my friends all the time, like when I’m a bridesmaid, I’m like, don’t worry about my pictures.
You’re never gonna look at ’em again. You’re really not like, you’re never gonna look at this picture of you and I in my bridesmaids dress again, you’re only gonna look at pictures of you and your husband and maybe your family. Yeah. Um, and that’s just the truth. Like at the end of the day, we’re doing it for us and our partner and there’s so much that goes into it that we stress about, and it’s like, no one else is gonna remember this a week from now.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Paige Connell: You know? So don’t kill yourself. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. No, I know. It’s like you hear people getting stressed over like. I mean like the favor being, uh, oh my gosh. I was in a wedding once where they were stressed about the way the favor was on the, on the plate, and I was like, no one’s gonna notice. Let’s not stress about that.
It’s okay.
Paige Connell: And they never know. Like, I didn’t know what it was supposed to be, so I don’t know that it’s wrong. Exactly. You know, like you’re the only one who knows. And here’s the thing, if, if a vendor has royally messed up and you’re paying a lot of money for it, like you should care. Um, but in the sense that you should try and get your money back, not in the sense that like anybody else cares.
Christa Innis: No, absolutely. I would say it was kind of a blessing. Like my husband and I, all our, like good friends got married before us. We were like one of the last ones. And it’ll allow us to see over the years, like what we liked, what we didn’t like, and learn from brides too. Like being like, oh, like I didn’t, I wasted money on this, or I really wish I would’ve done this, or, um, I caved and did this when I really sh you know, whatever that was.
Yeah. And I feel like we chopped off a bunch of people too that like. They wouldn’t have cared to be there or not. And so I feel like you can, we can learn a lot from, from observing, I guess. Um, yeah. Okay. I like to just end these with, uh, some confessions. People send me their crazy confessions in Instagram.
Um, this one says, um, my fiance wants me to remember the good times with the in-laws, and I just don’t think I can. So that sounds like a. Yeah, maybe a bad relationship where-
Paige Connell: Maybe with the in-laws. Yeah. I mean, I think like you can’t, you can’t ask somebody to do something that they don’t have the capacity to do. So it is what it is.
Christa Innis: Yeah. That sounds like to me, without like assuming too much, it just sounds like the son’s probably put in the middle of like the in-laws. His wife not getting along and he doesn’t want to like, cause a barrier or say no, you know, and so he is just like, just think of the good times. So, that’s hard.
Um, my sisters were so much drama at my wedding then got mad when I didn’t want to be at theirs. Oh.
Paige Connell: That’s, that’s hard.
Christa Innis: That, yeah. That’s tough. Um, last one says I have to invite someone I hate because she’s the wife of my, of my fiance’s best friend.
Paige Connell: Yeah, I think you do have to invite her kind of, Ooh, I don’t know, it’s tricky. I would say if something has actually transpired between the two of you and she is a person who’s caused you harm. You don’t need to, and like your partner should be the one to have that conversation with his best friend. If you just, just like don’t like her, like you just don’t vibe, you don’t like her energy or like just who she is as a person, I think that’s slightly different.
Um, if somebody’s caused you direct harm, it been unkind to you, you shouldn’t have to have them at your wedding. If it’s just that you just don’t like them. Like, I don’t know. I think we can, you are not gonna pay attention. You’re not gonna notice her. Again, going back to the, like, if you have a hundred people at your wedding and you hate one of them for no real reason, and I’m not saying you do, but if, if that’s what it is and it’s like, just don’t pay attention to her. Like just ignore her. It’s you. You don’t have to interact. There’s enough people there to buffer that. It doesn’t have to impact your day.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no, that’s, that’s a really good point. And I wanna say, I’ll try to say it so it’s not like too obvious, but I have to say something similar happened at our wedding. I wouldn’t say hate, of course, I don’t hate anybody but someone in our wedding that’s like really close with my husband started dating someone. I knew from my childhood that was just like, like kinda like a bully, not like a nice person. Yeah.
Paige Connell: Yeah.
Christa Innis: And when I found, like, I was like, oh, we have to give him a plus one. I know he’s gonna bring her. And it was just kinda uncomfortable, awkward, not nice person, but I just like put my feelings aside with it and it ended up being fine. Like, it ended up being fine. Totally fine. She was awesome. And I feel like it was just me kind of holding onto some like childhood thing of like, okay, I don’t know how this is gonna go.
And it was fine. So, I don’t know, I, I don’t, not saying recommend to like all of a sudden like, let it go. ’cause we don’t know what happened with these people, but just Right. Totally.
Um, well thank you so much for coming on. I feel like we kind of jumped all over the place because I’m like, oh, like let’s talk weddings and, um, mental load. But I feel like there’s so many important conversations to have and I was just telling someone, like I started by just sharing like, you know, wedding stories on here. ’cause that’s what I do on my, in my content. But I feel like it’s so much more complicated than just wedding. There’s relationships, there’s um, you know, new, you know, new relationships, dynamics, that kind of thing.
And it all ties into so much more. So thank you for coming on.
Paige Connell: Thanks for having me.
Christa Innis: Can you again just tell everybody where they can follow you, what kind of content you share, and anything interesting or fun you’re working on?
Paige Connell: Yeah, sure. I share content on modern marriage and motherhood and what that looks like in relation to gender equity, and you can follow me on pretty much every social media platform at, she’s a page turner.
I also have a website. She’s a page turner.com, a substack, all the things, and so. You know, if you Google it, you’ll find me.
Christa Innis: Awesome. Well, thank you so much. It was awesome chatting with you.
Paige Connell: Thank you.
Career Pivots, Friendship Red Flags, and a Trashed Groomsuite — with Rebecca Rogers
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
What would you do if a random wedding guest ate your lunch, faked an emergency, and trashed the groom suite? Rebecca Rogers joins Christa for one of the most unhinged stories HCTD has ever featured.
They also get real about toxic friendships, the loneliness of online work, and the importance of recognizing red flags—at weddings and in life. Rebecca opens up about her teaching-to-TikTok pivot, setting boundaries, and why she’ll never apologize for using her voice.
This one’s part comedy, part therapy, and all chaos. (Also: how not to propose during a graduation.)
Join me on Patreon and get bonus content every month!
Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
01:17 Rebecca’s Journey from Teacher to TikTok Star
02:46 Challenges and Changes During COVID
05:11 Navigating Social Media and Teaching
08:09 The Reality of Being a Teacher
12:24 Misconceptions About Teachers and Schools
19:29 Personal Growth and Social Media
36:03 Wedding Stories and Friendships
50:21 Wedding Etiquette and Responsibilities
50:46 Groomsmen and Laid-Back Attitudes
51:21 Unexpected Wedding Drama
53:36 The Bridal Suite Incident
55:11 The Aftermath and Confrontation
55:47 Parents’ Involvement and Shocking Revelations
57:34 Reflections on Relationships and Behavior
01:10:02 Confessions and Personal Stories
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- The Infamous Wedding Crasher – A guest of a groomsman eats the bride’s lunch, causes chaos in the suites, and ends the night with a shocking twist.
- Toxic Friendships in Bridesmaid Dresses – Rebecca shares the wild story of a bridesmaid sulking at her bachelorette—and why she later disappeared from everyone’s lives.
- From Classroom to Camera – How Rebecca accidentally became a viral voice for teachers and learned to advocate through storytelling and humor.
- “That’s Not a Prank” – Christa and Rebecca dissect prank culture, consent, and why shock-value content often crosses ethical lines.
- Finding Your Voice Online – They talk about isolation as creators, building authentic community, and what it means to be truly seen.
- The Timeline Trap – Pressure to hit life milestones—marriage, kids, careers—gets called out hard, especially for women navigating societal expectations.
- Real Talk About Boundaries – From people-pleasing to politely saying “no thanks,” both women share what they’ve learned about protecting their energy.
- Wedding Proposals… at Graduations? – Christa opens a discussion about hijacked milestones, and Rebecca does not hold back.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “Recovering people-pleaser here—still learning to say no without guilt.” – Christa Innis
- “The bride is the star—this isn’t daycare, happy hour, or guest speed dating.” – Christa Innis
- “Rules exist because of people who pull stunts like this.” – Christa Innis
- “I don’t share wedding stories to spread hate—I share them so people can learn and feel seen.” – Christa Innis
- “Sometimes a skit is exactly what someone needed to realize they’re not crazy.” – Christa Innis
- “If you’re gonna be a professional, be a professional—don’t eat the bride’s lunch and trash the suite.” – Rebecca Rogers
- “I used to be a doormat. I still struggle, but I’ve definitely found my voice.” – Rebecca Rogers
- “Most parents and teachers are great. They just don’t make good stories.” – Rebecca Rogers
- “You never know what you don’t know—but you can always learn as you go.” – Rebecca Rogers
- “The behavior might be explainable, but that doesn’t make it justifiable.” – Rebecca Rogers
About Rebecca
Rebecca Rogers is a former high school teacher based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a BA in History and a licensure in Social Studies Education. She first turned to social media during remote learning as a creative way to connect with her students—and quickly found her voice online. Since then, she has grown her presence into a full-fledged brand, with over 2 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Widely recognized as a “teacher influencer,” Rebecca uses her platform to educate, entertain, and inspire, all with the goal of making the world a better place—one smile at a time.
Follow Rebecca Rogers
Join the Drama with Christa Innis:
- Website
- Tiktok
- Youtube
- Get ‘Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story’ on Amazon
Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!
Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form
Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!
A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi Rebecca. Hi. Oh my gosh, I missed you so much for coming on. I know. For anyone who to know. So Rebecca was just, I was just, we met up in Chicago and we gotta do a fun little podcast for you. So if you guys haven’t listen, you have to listen to that one. Maybe we’ll get, put that in the show notes so they can listen to it too.
Yeah, I’ll put the link in the
Rebecca Rogers: description. I haven’t even gotten to make clips for that yet ’cause I’ve been so sick, but I know they’re gonna be good.
Christa Innis: We talked a lot. It was so fun. I feel like we could have talked for like hours. Like
Rebecca Rogers: I literally told my mom, I was like, I have to make another trip to Chicago just so we can go get dinner and keep talking.
Yes,
Christa Innis: yes. Oh my gosh, I loved it. Yeah, no, that was so much fun. But to start off, for anyone that doesn’t know you, can you just tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do and all that good stuff?
How COVID Changed Everything
Rebecca Rogers: Yeah, so my name is Rebecca Rogers. I originally started as a high school social studies teacher, and during COVID Lockdowns I was just trying to make the kids laugh in the best way that I could, you know, everyone was really struggling in that time.
And, uh, I made a, a TikTok as a way, as just like an inside joke for my kids. And I figured if previous students thought whatever, who cares? Um, but it was supposed to be an inside joke, and they picked appropriate, silly trends for me to do. And I started making skits about silly things they would do in class.
And then more teachers kind of really liked it. Parents liked it, kids liked it, teachers liked it. Whether they felt seen as a parent dealing with silly kids or a teacher dealing with education or kids just, oh yeah, I, I, I did that. Or, uh, my poor teacher is, what do they have to deal with? And it kind of turned into like a.
Advocacy kind of form of like using comedy and storytelling to raise awareness about issues and education. Mm-hmm. And, uh, I still do that, but when I left the classroom, I kind of tried to pivot and do the same thing with other, other occupations and other ways of life just to kind of, when I taught my, I taught social studies and I would always tell my kids that the first step to accepting each other is understanding each other.
Mm-hmm. So that’s kind of the my reason and my why behind everything that I do.
Christa Innis: I love that. I find it so interesting. So many people I’ve talked to COVID like 2020, so much happened, right. But I feel like it was such a, yeah. Little time for so many people. Like a lot of people made pivots in their career, pivots in their lifestyle pivots.
And like, it kind of made you look at life a different way of like, how am I going to, um, approach my career? How am I gonna approach my family? Like the next kind of stages? So I find interesting, I can only imagine the stress. Being a teacher during that time?
Rebecca Rogers: Oh yeah, it’s, I left, so, so I worked at a school where the community was very strong.
Um, there, there’s even a term for it, but like the school name’s in it, so I don’t wanna like say it, like dos the plays or anything. Um, but people who, like kids went to school in that little community from elementary through high school. Mm-hmm. Teachers didn’t really leave. Um, so there was me, my best friend at the time, well, we’re still very close, but we just don’t see each other all the time now that I’m not teaching.
Um, he was a few years older than me and I think the next oldest teacher was like 10 years older than us, and the next year tea, next oldest was 10 years older than them. Right. And then like everyone is in the, oh, in the next 10 years, all these people are gonna retire. So I got designated as the youngest, um, the virtual teacher, and my oldest colleague who I loved, he was a amazing human being.
He was 75. And they put all the virtual only teachers in a trailer. So I really didn’t even at work in person, I was in a empty classroom in an empty trailer building all day. Oh my. Um, and it, the only interaction I really got was when my 75-year-old colleague who adored, would come and say, Hey, can you, can you show me these, the sty to our laptops?
And I’m, yes. I would happily show you Oh my it human interaction. Yes. Literally. It was crazy. It was, it was interesting. But I do agree that it changed everything about my life For sure. Just COVID in general, I think. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. It’s interesting to like, think, and I dunno if you think about this a lot, I feel like that didn’t happen.
Like would you still be teaching? Was that that moment for you that you were like, you know what, I can reach so many more people this way or, um, you know, kind of speak to a larger audience or kind of that find your true passion.
Rebecca Rogers: I think, I think even more than just occupation wise, I think COVID really changed my entire outlook on not just life, but even not in my, in myself and I, it’s actually funny, I didn’t even know that you could make a living doing social media.
’cause at the time I. I was not monetized. Mm-hmm. Um, I think it wasn’t even until, like, I started in October and it wasn’t until that summer that I even got my first brand deal. They didn’t even really have monetization for short term, short term content like that. Yeah. Or short form content like that. And, um, I remember like the brand deal I got, I was like, oh my God, this is so cool.
I can make money doing brand stuff. And those I would do at home, I wouldn’t do those at school. Yeah. Um, and my county was so interesting in that we had multiple viral TikTok teachers in the county. We had four. Oh, wow. Just in our county, all in the millions. Um, there was me, one of my best friends, uh, we taught at the same school.
Okay. She was in Spanish. I was in social studies and our classrooms were like right above each other.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And
“Those Are School Materials”
Rebecca Rogers: then there was a, a gym teacher who was at the middle school that fed into our high school. And then there was an elementary school teacher who I thought was on the, I think it was on the other side of the county.
And so there was a lot of us. And different, like we each were given different rules. Like my principal told my friend at my school, yeah, you can record whatever, I don’t care, as long as it’s not during school hours. And then turned around and told me you can’t record anything at school. And I was like, that doesn’t make sense.
Oh. Um, and then when I, HR started like contacting the social media teachers and HR told me, and I, I even have, I have the screen recorded meeting one day, maybe. I don’t know. I You always keep it just in case. Yeah. You never wanna get rid of that stuff. Um, but they told me, we don’t care that you record anything at school.
You can do whatever you want at school as long as like minors aren’t in it, of course safety anyways. Um, but you can’t monetize, you can’t use, you can’t monetize using school materials. And I said, I don’t know what that means ’cause I’m not using school materials in the videos. And they see, you see that brick behind you in the wall.
Those are school materials. And I was like, whoa,
Christa Innis: whoa,
Rebecca Rogers: okay. All right. And I’m like, well, regardless, I’m not monetized. Like anything I do with a brand deal is I, I think at the time, I, I worked with Sam’s Club and I recorded it at Sam’s Club.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: Uh, but anything that I’m getting paid for, I’m not doing it at school anyways.
And they said, well, we’ve seen your YouTube, uh, I just started posting shorts. We’ve seen your YouTube and we see the ads. And I said, but I’m not getting paid for those. And they’re like, well, we know how this works. And I said, I, I don’t think that you do. And they just weren’t list. Like they, they thought they knew, they thought they were so smart.
They didn’t know anything they were talking about. And that’s when I put in my two weeks, I was like, look, even just with these brand deals, if I can find a brand deal once a month, I. I’m still making more than my teacher’s salary. Mm. Like, which is crazy. Which is should not be a thing for public teachers.
Right. Public school teachers, yeah. Should not be reality. Um, but even just with this small, this brand deal that I would consider, like now at this point, a small amount, I was like, this is more than my teacher’s salary. And so I came to the conclusion that, well, maybe I’ll find something in EdTech. And until then, if I just can get a brand deal a month, I’ll be golden.
And then about a week after I put in my, I, it wasn’t even two weeks, it was 30 days notice. A week after I put in my 30 days, I received an email from YouTube saying that I was eligible for monetization and they were doing this new thing called the shorts bonus, and that I qualified. Mm-hmm. And here was what I was making for my first month in the shorts bonus.
And I looked at that number and I was like, oh. That’s double my teacher salary. I don’t need another job then I’m gonna do this all the time. Are you kidding? I can stay home with my cats and do this all the time. Yeah, yeah. I’m gonna do that for sure. Oh,
Christa Innis: and that’s the story. Wow. Oh my gosh. I love that. I, I hate that.
It’s like how our, our society does not value teachers and does not value like what they’re worth and their time. Like that’s obviously, it’s crazy. Oh, it’s such a big, not
Rebecca Rogers: only that, to think the bone, but to think of the bone the county was trying to pick when there was such a tea. There still is such a teacher shortage.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. And
Rebecca Rogers: I even asked, because I know there’s gonna be people listening that were like, well, if people were complaining, I asked them straight up, has anyone complained at all? Well, no. Okay, so what’s the issue? Well, what if someone does complain? Which was weird ’cause someone already did complain about my friend claiming that her video was about her child.
And that’s when the principal was like, we know it was a very general, broad video about teachers catching students cheating.
Christa Innis: And I
Rebecca Rogers: guess this mom’s daughter cheated, got caught and was like, well, it’s about my kid. Well, maybe they should be shamed a little bit. I don’t know. Um, but I said, so no one’s complained about my content.
No, but what if someone does complain? I said, well, I don’t make content about anyone who I’m actively teaching without their permission. Of course. Yeah. So who cares if some lady in Nebraska calls and says, I don’t like this video. It’s about a child. They don’t know. No one locally here is going to complain because it’s not about their kids.
Right. Well, people outta state don’t know that. Who cares? Who cares? You and I, I even said to them, I remember saying. I’m trying to remember the stats that I gave them. ’cause I knew ’em back then, and I don’t know them now. I said there are elementary school kids who got home at 6:00 PM because we don’t have enough bus drivers.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: We currently, I think we had at the time, 2000 teacher listings in our county. We’re a very large county. We have 17 high schools alone. 2000 teacher spots open on the, why are you picking this fight? What is the issue? And they couldn’t give me an answer.
Christa Innis: Yeah. That kinda stuff. I, I have friends that are teachers that I hear from like, hear about and I’m just like, it is like such a shame and I feel like social, like teachers that create social media content really like that do it the right way.
Like you’re talking about like they don’t put students in or anything like that really bring awareness to a lot of issues that are out there. They show encouraging, empowering content. I’ve seen like a large array of content with teachers and educators and I think it’s amazing to see like things like within the classroom, whether it’s like how you can like teach at home or how you can, or what your kid should be learning at home while Yeah.
Before they go to, you know, elementary school or just different things like that I think is like really helpful how teachers are using social media now, all kinds of professions are using social media as a way to educate and inform and um,
Rebecca Rogers: absolutely, yeah.
Christa Innis: It’s a shame that some districts haven’t like, kept up with that.
Rebecca Rogers: I think I, I really love the idea of teachers on social media, and I know there’s a lot of people that disagree, but in reality, I’ve seen so many people in comment sections just genuinely, oh, I had no idea that this is how things worked, or, I had no idea that teachers didn’t have control of this. Like, even just with recent times, and I don’t know if you talk about the stuff on, uh, I, I don’t usually talk politics or anything like that, but just as an example, I, when, when different parts of the Department of Education were getting defunded, um, not that long ago, I just remember seeing so many thread post about, oh, yay, now the states will finally get to make decisions about curriculum.
And I’m like, they’ve done that the whole time. It has always been with What do you mean? What do you, not what? Well, now, now the states can pay the teachers. They already do. And they don’t pay them crap. Yeah. What, what do you mean like. The number of, of the amount of misinformation that is out there about, not just like how our school system works, but how our government works, how, just in general.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. The
Rebecca Rogers: fact that people aren’t aware of the system that they send their kids to every day baffles me. Mm-hmm. I don’t understand why people who, especially who like to play the act of overprotective parent, but don’t actually wanna do the work or the research to actually play the part, you won’t take the 10 minutes to Google what, how this institution you send your child to every day actually runs.
You don’t know who’s in charge of what. Like I, we had a rule at my school. It was the 10 minute rule. So the first 10, in the last 10 minutes in class, um, kids were not allowed to go to the restroom. And the reason was because we had a lot of kids skip. And so the goal was to figure out, well, like we can’t figure out who’s going to the bathroom and who’s skipping.
So the goal was if we keep kids in the classroom, we know who’s running late, who’s skipping, who’s not where they’re supposed to be, those kinds of things. And it helped administrators kind of grab the kids that need to be somewhere else.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. The
Rebecca Rogers: number of parents who tried to accuse me of like withholding bathroom privileges, but you can’t do that.
This is a jail. It’s not a, first of all, I don’t even make this rule. If it’s an emergency, obviously we’re gonna make an exception. Right. Obviously, no one’s gonna allow your child to like pee on themselves. Yep. W what do you mean? This is not my rule. I don’t get to de decide the rules that go on in the school.
I’m like the lowest on the totem pole at this point. Right? Like, I don’t, I don’t know what they think. It’s just crazy to me.
Christa Innis: It’s like, yeah, they hear like one thing without actually talking to a real life teacher and ask them how it is. Because I think if you talk to most teachers, they’re gonna be there, right there with you and under, and, and agree with you of everything you’re saying, right?
And instead they’re just getting their information from someone that’s not a teacher, never been a teacher, or not in the school system,
Rebecca Rogers: or not only that. Like they’ll take one example. And I, I wish I remembered the stats for this too, because I looked them up for this comment. So many people, I, I have two points that just blow my mind.
I will never understand. People will see like one crazy individual who happens to be a teacher and who makes bad choices, and they’re like, oh my God, all teachers do this. Mm-hmm. And I don’t understand, because we all go to work every day. We all have jobs and we all have colleagues where we’re like, we don’t know how you got this job.
There are always, there’s someone in every profession, in every workplace that just blatantly shouldn’t be there. Yeah. And I don’t understand why teaching has become the profession. Why, when there are millions and millions and millions of educators out there, why is this like one person who clearly is just a crazy person who happens to be a teacher?
Why are you letting that identify everybody? Mm-hmm. And it’s interesting because it’s the, it’s a lot of times it’s the same people who are like, well, not all police officers, okay, but why can’t you have the same energy for teachers? You know? Mm-hmm. Yep. I don’t underst, I don’t, I don’t understand why are they the enemy?
Yeah. Right. And I, I remember someone was arguing in a comment section, and I don’t usually check like bad comments, but every now and then I have time. Yeah. Every now and then I’m looking for something to give me adrenaline and then I like to antagonize and then remind them that their tantrum is funding my lifestyle and move on.
Um, but, but I remember someone was like. I read an article about two different public school teachers last week who ended up being pedophiles, and I was like, that’s crazy and unfortunate. You know what? I found two teachers just in my state, in private schools who also ended up being pedophiles. Not only that, the statistic in the percentage of public school teachers that that encompasses is much smaller than the number of private school teachers that encompasses.
Now, that doesn’t mean I have an issue with private school teachers at all, but y’all, every people have gotta stop saying, well, I saw something crazy happen with two public school teachers, and that’s why private’s better. First of all, I. Incorrect because you can find the same number of people who are awful, people who happen to be private school teachers as well, or happen to be homeschool teachers, or happen to be nurses, or happen to be, um, gardeners.
Um, as I look into my garden, yeah. Anything, right? Oh yeah. That doesn’t mean that doesn’t mean anything. And I’ve said this before and a lot of people, for whatever reason, like jump down my throat because they don’t understand the point. When people say like, private school is better, you can send your kids to wherever you want.
I don’t care. No one, no educator actually cares where you send your school, whether it your kid to school, whether it’s homeschool or private school or charter school, public school, whatever. But the reality is the only place that you are guaranteed to only get certified licensed educators is public school.
Not to say that there aren’t private schools that have licensed teachers and public or private schools that require licensing, but private schools are not required to hire licensed teachers as a general rule. Now, a specific private school might have that as a requirement, but private schools in general don’t.
Charter schools in general don’t people, a lot of people don’t seem to understand the difference between a charter school and a public school. There is a difference on schooling not required to have a license. Um, and again, no one cares where you send your kids, but stop, stop with this. Well, the teachers are better.
They’re not, not always. They’re not even licensed teachers who teach in private. Or public, if they’re licensed, they get the same license from the same school. They’re not going to a special private school teacher’s college in a public school, teacher’s college. It’s the same education. I don’t know why they think it’s different.
Yeah. I’m rambling. I’m sorry. I didn’t look at her all today. I’m like ranting. You got me in my like
Christa Innis: my feelings. Yeah, I’m like talking about, yeah. Well it just shows like how passionate you are and I feel like there’s definitely overlap with what you’re talking about and like people, I tend, I see it like even in my content too, that’s not related to education at all, but in my content too, people like to label very quickly and they like to group people very quickly.
Um, yes. And so even I find, you know, when I do like, and I’ve talked about this before when I do like mother-in-law skits and I, and I try to always preface it with, most people that follow me are brides or have been brides so that I just happen to get more mother-in-law stories. But I try to focus on other things too.
There’s cousin stories, there’s brothers stories, there’s uncle stories. Um, but if people message me that be like, well, not all mother-in-laws are like this. And I’m like, I agree. I have an amazing mother-in-law. I love my mother-in-law. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. But I just happen to get more stories about mother-in-laws Exactly.
Hides right to me. So, well,
Rebecca Rogers: not like, I get the same thing about substitute teachers when people are like, all your stories are about bad sub teachers. Which first of all, the amount of stories I have about subs in general is like a very small percentage. That’s always a funny comment to me. But also I’m like, people aren’t gonna send me stories about the best sub they ever had.
Yeah. They send you stories about the worst sub they ever had. Yeah. They’re gonna send stories about the worst mother-in-law they ever had. They’re gonna send stories about this crazy situation you wouldn’t believe you wouldn’t believe about. Yes. That’s just the reality of what people send us. I don’t understand why people don’t under like a regular, a person who’s doing their job, though great and loved in the community.
We love that. That’s not it. It’s like the people who use the, the scary examples in the news. Like, this is why teachers are bad. Yeah, no, that’s just, that’s what gets people’s attention.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: The crazy parents are what’s gonna get people’s attention. Those few bad teachers, the few bad parents. I say this all the time, most parents that I interacted with as a teacher, great.
Loved them. They don’t make good stories. I don’t tell stories about them. The, I dealt with a hundred kids every semester. I taught for five years. That’s a lot of kids and a lot of parents. I think maybe I might have had 30 of my own situations and stories. Right. Most happening like within the same semester.
Mm-hmm. That’s a very small percentage. Right. I had, I experienced myself. Two substitute teachers because I, I didn’t know what a sick day was. I’ve always been a workaholic. Yeah. I, I can’t, two substitute teachers one time, one sub was actually my ex-husband. He was the first sub I ever had. ’cause he was subbing while, while ta studying for the bar exam.
And I was so sick. And he’s like, I’ll just be your sub and I’ll do exactly what you need me to do. And if I’m doing it wrong, you can FaceTime me at school. And I was like, okay, fair, valid. I’ll trust that. And then the last, the only other time I ever had a sub was when I already put in my notice and I was like, I got so many vacation days.
They’re telling me I can’t get paid out for them anyways. I’m gonna take some time off. Yeah. And I actually had a, the sub apparently never left my rollie chair. And just rolled around the room and broke the chair. Oh. And one of my students laughed at him. So in my sub note, my sub blamed that kid and said that my kid broke.
My student broke the chair. Oh no. And I, so like, I just got to school the next day and I looked at the note and I was like, oh my gosh, Timmy, what did you do? And he was so confused. He had no idea. I’m like sitting there scolding him for breaking my chair. He had no idea what I was talking about. And then he, I, I’ll never forget his face.
And he, he goes, wait, did the sub say I broke the chair? And I was like, yes. And he, we, I obviously was speaking to him in private, in the hallway, and he like, flings open my classroom door. And he goes, guys, the sub told her I broke the chair. And they all just start bursting out laughing. And I was like, what happened?
What, what, what’s going on here? What am I missing here? I don’t understand. It was crazy. It was crazy. So like, yeah, no one tells stories about people that just keep
Christa Innis: their head down and do their job. That’s just the reality. Right? We love a good learning moment. We love a good entertainment moment. Uh, exactly.
I feel like a lot of ’em, I get a lot of messages from, um, moms now, or they’re kind of in that next stage where they’re son or daughter is dating someone and they’re like, I know, like, we’re now to like, not cross these boundaries or to respect boundaries. Um, and so I feel like those are really cool messages to see.
’cause I’m like, okay, I’m not like, you know, just spreading negativity. I feel like it’s really good to see different conversations play out too, and how to handle different things. And of course there’s always a hinge of just extra drama because, you know, why not? It’s fun.
Rebecca Rogers: We love it. We love it. We’re human beings love drama.
We don’t like when it happens to us, but we like, like watching it from a distance. Yeah.
Christa Innis: And I feel like it like allows people to like, which this is gonna sound really weird, but like. Bond over the drama. So like in the comments? Yes. Like trauma bonding, you’re each other. Yeah. Like, right. Exactly. And it’s like, it allows you to like talk amongst each other about this situation.
How would you handle it? Um, I don’t know. It, it creates good dialogue. So not
Rebecca Rogers: only that, something that I, and it coming from social studies background, I’ve always loved like psychology and sociology as well. Like I studied that a lot. I just wish I had the opportunity to teach it. Um, I think there’s a lot of people who grow up in environments where a lot of the behaviors that we put in skits is deemed normal and they don’t always understand that it’s not.
And then when they see these kinds of behaviors in. Skits and online, and they’re seeing people say, this isn’t okay. It also provides a learning moment and a teachable moment. Mm-hmm. And they can either be receptive to it or they can, they can get up. And you can always tell in the comments whether this is dumb.
Okay, well you’re not receptive to it. Okay. You’ll just keep acting like that. That’s fine. Um, but there’s plenty of people who are kind of unlearning bad behavior that they either grew up with or watched someone else exhibit and just thought it was normal. And it, it’s like a teachable moment of, oh, okay.
I know not to do that anymore. Great. That’s my bad. And I think that allow, it allows so much, it allows so much growth and I think that’s so valuable.
The People Pleaser’s Wake-Up Call
Christa Innis: Yeah. Um, like I’ll share something like I learned from a skit years ago. I dunno if it was like a skit or like how they shared it, but like, I, so I’m always been, I’ve always been like a people pleaser and like, I always try, I don’t know if the, what the term is.
Mm-hmm. But like if a friend came to me saying, this is what’s going, what’s going on? I wanna fix, like, I want to help. That’s like my, I call that mom friend. We’ve already decided, we’ve already established have process. Correct. We, yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So that was always my thing. So I always thought if someone was coming to me saying, I have this issue, it’s up to me now to fix it.
No one ever told me that. I just feel like through different context clues through my life, I was like, yep, that’s my job. So I started thinking like, I have to give them advice. I have to do this. And then if they didn’t take my advice, I’d be mad about it. Or not be like mad, but I’d be like, oh, why do they keep doing this if they like are coming to me?
And I saw a thing where it was basically like, some people just want to vent. Some people just like getting it off their chest. They don’t want advice. And then I was like. Oh my gosh. I’m assuming they want advice how, like overstepping of my like their boundary. Yeah. And so I would start just being like, do you want advice or you want me to listen?
And then you can just ask them and just take a step back. And I was like, and it’s been freeing. It’s been so freeing because I’m like, everyone does not need me to fix them. ’cause I don’t even know what I’m doing half the time. You know,
Rebecca Rogers: literally, oh, I’ll, I even learned something from one of my own videos that I did something wrong and I had, I had no idea and I had no, I, and that’s been a couple times with that.
Um, and I’m trying to, there’s one I know I said on my podcast before, but I don’t remember who was your episode or not. So I’ll tell a different one. I did one video about a parent who came to meet the teacher and said, Hey, my student has, um, an IEP, meaning that they need accommodations. And the accommodations is that they have a mini horse.
And where are you gonna put the door in the classroom for the mini horse to leave and use the restroom? Which obviously like, that is a crazy thing to ask a teacher. How is a teacher supposed to put a, like, do construction in the classroom? Yeah. Put a door like I once taught on the second floor of a building.
How do you want that to work?
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: I didn’t actually know that a mini horse was like a legitimate accommodation for some people with some disabilities. And it’s rare, it’s not common, but it is a thing. And I thought it was just a parent being ridiculous. Mm-hmm. And so I was, obviously, her behavior and her expectations was ridiculous, but the accommodation itself was not, and I didn’t know that.
And so I’m sitting there making fun and then I was like, oh. Oh, I’m so sorry. Oh, you’re so it, we are all learning. That’s my bad apologies. Um, even another one, you know, and I, I’m trying to think of even how to describe it. And this might’ve been one that I told you, I told somebody I don’t know where our listeners can, we can always learn.
Yeah. Um, we’re in a day and age where lingo in words that are and are not appropriate is constantly changing. And I learned in a, another video about accommodations and disabilities. Um, I, in the skit, I had a parent come in asking about accommodations and I told them they needed to go check out the.
Specific department, but I said the word like SPED because that is what it’s called. And verbalize that at the schools that I worked for. And there are some parts of the country that that’s already sat established that is an unacceptable term to use. I had no idea. ’cause it’s the term that my school at I was still working at Used.
Yeah. Um, but some people felt it was a very inappropriate label and very offensive. And I had no idea, I had no way to know that. Because even professionally today, they still use that term in the schools, in the emails, in the meetings. Um, so I, I always say that you never know what you don’t know. But you can always learn as you go, and it’s just about whether you’re going to be receptive to
Christa Innis: it or not.
Right. It’s like are, yeah. Are you gonna be defensive over it or be like, oh, I didn’t know that. Let me look into it and let me change my speech, or, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Definitely. And I think that’s the beautiful thing about this, kind of like next generation too, is that we can always like learn.
And we’re not, I mean, some, some people, I mean, we’re always, we’re always learning, you know, adapting and changing, but like, yeah. To it with the different skits and stuff is like being able to see it and being like, okay, how can I learn from this? Um, look inside myself and see like, okay, I’m not perfect, we’re all flawed.
Um, how can we mm-hmm. You know, how can I take this and Exactly. And move with that. Okay. So that being said, I know we’re kind of, we can, like I said in the beginning, like we could talk forever.
Rebecca Rogers: I know we just, I just love you so much. I know. Oh my God. We’re gonna have to do multiple episodes. That’s crazy.
We didn’t even really talk about like wedding things.
Christa Innis: I know. I’m like, Hey guys, is this bonus episode, because it’s not about weddings yet. Yeah. Um, we can do another one about weddings. We’ll just have different topics
Rebecca Rogers: eventually. Eventually. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah,
Rebecca Rogers: yeah. Yeah. Why not?
Christa Innis: Why
Rebecca Rogers: not? We could just, I love that.
It’s so
Christa Innis: fun. Um, I know. It was funny, like right away we’re like, we could talk, we haven’t even started recording yet. Um, I think what’s so
Rebecca Rogers: funny is we went into my, the episode for my podcast is like, Hey, we’re not gonna talk wedding stuff. And then we only talked wedding stuff and then we went into yours like, we’re gonna talk wedding stuff.
And we have not talked about wedding stuff.
Christa Innis: Well, and it’s funny too, I was just saying to my husband, like the other day, I was like, I kind of wanna change my, and I might have said this to you too, when we. Got together last time. But I kind of wanna change my name from Party Planning by Krista because it just, to just my name, because obviously like, I love talking about events and weddings and all the drama around them, but I feel like it’s very confusing for people.
And like we talked about this, like, so many people think I’m a current wedding ev and events planner. Mm-hmm. And I’ve said a million times, but like, people don’t see everything. I’m, I’m not a professional wedding planner. I’ve just been to a lot of events. I’ve been in a lot of weddings and I helped do Day of Coordinating here and there.
And so I’m like, I kind of just like talking. I mean, it talks, we talk about relationships, we talk about boundaries, we talk about events and, and just life. So, you know what it’s, here comes the drama. ’cause there’s always, I would change your name. I would
Rebecca Rogers: here, I, I definitely would change your name because, not because of other people, but because it’s what you want and because it reflects like the brand that you want to put out into the world.
Um, I’ll, I’ve been out of the classroom for, so a. Four years at this point and people, you left the classroom. Mm-hmm. I have a whole hour long video about why I quit teaching pinned to the top of my YouTube. Yeah. You wait. You’re not a teacher anymore. Nope, I’m not. Not for a while. Yeah. You’ll never escape it.
You just won’t. Yeah. That’s what, even since getting divorced, so many people have asked, are you going to change your name? And I said, why would I? No one, everyone’s still gonna call me Rogers, so at least professionally, why would I change it? Yeah. It makes no sense. Seems like more work go back on me personally.
I might. And so I, I think that you should, like, for your branding for like, I think that you should, um. People will still call you the wedding planner even though you weren’t one.
Christa Innis: I know, I know. Yeah. We’ll, we’ll play around with it. Okay. So that being said, do you have any crazy stories that come to mind when it, uh, comes to weddings, events?
Um, I have so
“May These Friends Never Find Me”
Rebecca Rogers: many. I have so many. Do you, do you want a theme? Like you, you’ve gotta pick in-laws bridesmaids, like what do you want? Let’s go bridesmaid. I
Christa Innis: feel like we hear some in-law stories. Okay, let’s go bridesmaids.
Rebecca Rogers: I, I might’ve told this on ours, but that’s also okay. Yeah. That’s awesome. Um, but this was the moment in, in this moment, I realized, may these friends never find me.
Like truly, yeah. I was in a wedding. And one of the bridesmaids was talking about her best friend’s wedding that she was also just in.
Christa Innis: Okay.
Rebecca Rogers: And it was a few weeks before, and first of all, she was talking about how everyone assumed that the bridal dressed colors were going to be terrible because everyone basically got, they were all able to get different dresses in their style.
As long as they were like pinky tan, that was the description they were given. And for whatever reason, all the bridesmaids thought it was gonna look terrible. They actually looked pretty cute, in my opinion. Everyone had pinky tan dresses. I thought it looked like a cute little ombre, whatever. Um, and the bride was kind of panicking a little bit, and this bridesmaid said, don’t worry, no matter what happens, it can’t be worse than my best friend’s wedding.
And went on about the pinky tan dresses and then was kind of making fun of the fact, you know, her wedding venue was two stories, and so you had. What I assume were considered like the A list guests down at the bottom and the B list guests up at the top and the venue didn’t order enough food, so they made sure to feed everyone at the bottom layer.
Everyone in the a group, the no, a group guests. And then everyone at the top, no one ate, no one received any food. No one told the bride. ’cause they didn’t want her to panic. No. And instead her bridesmaids just started making fun of it, uh, at other people’s weddings, talking about, Hey, at least can’t be as bad as my best friend. And I thought, may these friends never find me, may these friends never find me. Like just the tone and the just sheer snobbiness of the entire conversation. I’m like, this was your best friend. Okay.
Christa Innis: Oh, so cool. And I just, oh, they, so she was like talking about how like the, the other guests didn’t get fed at the wedding.
Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: Yeah. And it, it’s, I think it, I think there’s a difference between being like, oh my gosh, this was awful. And being like, oh my God, her wedding sucked. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, there’s totally a difference. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. It’s like, it’s like the friend that’s like waiting for something bad to happen behind their back.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I was just talking about this with someone where it’s like, those are the friends that can’t. Allow someone else to shine on their day. They’re waiting for their moment to like fail that I’ve been like secretly waiting. Um, and I, I like to think that there’s been signs all along that that friend is like that.
I would hope so. And you’re just like, oh yeah, I always have that friend. Because looking back in my, like early twenties, even like high school, I had a couple friends that were all like, I was called them my first bullies. You know? They would like Yeah. Down. They would make fun of me. And I was like, oh, that’s what friends do.
And then you get real friends and you’re like, oh, that person was never my friend. They were always wishing for my downfall.
Rebecca Rogers: You, you just unlocked a memory of mine.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: Okay. I have a story, I have another story for you. I don’t think I’ve ever told this anywhere.
Christa Innis: Okay.
The Bridesmaid Who Made It About Herself
Rebecca Rogers: So when I got married, um, I had six or eight bridesmaids.
I had a, I had a larger bridal party and one of my biggest flexes is, uh, most of them I’m still the best of friends with. Mm-hmm. Um, I think the only ones that I don’t really talk to are people that were like, associated in my ex’s family, like obviously, you know. Right. And one other person who kind of dropped off the face of the earth from everybody af kinda after.
And this is, this is who this story is about is very Oh, okay. Okay. Um, at my bachelorette party, um, one of my best friends, Lauren was my maid of honor and she put together, of course, some games and one of them was like, what is your favorite memory with Becca and this girl, for whatever reason, we all, we all cheered together in college.
Most of us told the story about how when we were competing. She literally, like we, we were both very tiny and so we were on top of the pyramids together. Yeah. And I basically held her and did a trick and she like kicked me in the face while we were competing, which is normal. And cheerleading, you know, like you get hit, it happens.
Okay. But like, that was her favorite memory was kicking me in the face competing. And it was just so funny and like, and I didn’t know, like she ended up with, and I never apologized and I just remember thinking Okay. And I didn’t know at the time, but apparently she spent the next hour sulking in the other room.
I was told she was doing hair and makeup. Mm-hmm. Sulking in the other room because her ex-boyfriend that she was stalking was coaching cheer down the road in Myrtle Beach and she wanted to leave to go talk to him and hang out with him. Oh. And wanted just go figure out why they broke up and was so angry. ’cause I don’t think Becca would care. I don’t think Rebecca would mind, I don’t think, I don’t see why I can’t just leave and go talk to. And I didn’t know it at the time, but everyone apparently, like all my really good friends were like, you, you can’t do that. We’re no, no one’s driving. You don’t, don’t do not leave to go chase your ex-boyfriend.
That is a bad decision. Oh
Christa Innis: my gosh. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That is, yeah. That’s one of those things where that person could not allow you to have your time and it was weird do about her. That’s that is she eventually
Rebecca Rogers: just, Ooh, I just spilled my drink everywhere. She eventually just kind of dropped off the face of the earth.
Like even Lauren was like, have you heard from her? Nope. No one knows. She just kind of started a new life at the other end of the state and no one ever heard from her again.
Christa Innis: Interesting. Wow. Very strange. That is, yeah. That’s interesting. Yeah. I like, like I was saying, it’s like those kind of moments. I think like, I wonder if you like, look back if you’re just like, oh, there’s other things where like, I realize now like she never like fully supported me or was kind of backhanded compliments or, you know, stuff like that, that I feel like with age we kind of start now.
Like, like weeding away. Weeding out those kind of people. Yeah. Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: No. Yes. Well, I kind of even going back to what you said early at the beginning, like COVID in general I think changed how I view everything, whether it be myself, whether it be, um, the world people, because in reality, like I used to be, I’ve always been an extrovert, but I used to be much more reserved and self-conscious and social media, well the classroom was really where I could be silly and be myself and just, you know, whatever.
Mm-hmm. And then when social media accidentally took off, I learned, oh, I can be myself. And people don’t hate it. That’s cool. And that’s kind of where I found my voice, not just with myself, but with people also. Um, being able to kind of step into my true skin really helped me. I. Advocate for myself, set boundaries, like all, like all be more picky about who I allowed in my life and not.
Um, and of course we’re all works in progress. We all have ways to go. I’m still a people pleaser. I’m still a doormat, but I’m definitely not as bad as I used to be.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I, I know, I totally agree with you. Yeah. The people pleaser the thing where I’m better at saying no. Now if something, if I like don’t have time or I just can’t do it, I still have that guilt though.
I’ll be like, are they gonna think I’m a bad person or a bad friend? Mm-hmm. And then my husband will be like, no, they’re not. They literallys not a second thought. Like, it’s okay. But um, yeah, it’s interesting how you like, how you’re kind of like ingrained in that. But I always recall call myself a recovering people pleaser.
’cause I’m like, I’m actively working against it and like telling myself exactly. But I think my like immediate filter is better at reading people now. Um. Like I had a, I dunno if I call it a situation. I don’t know. I had a thing happen where, um, someone that I had met years ago, and I wanna be very vague.
Someone I had met years ago, and the time that I met her, she was not very friendly or kind. Okay. Okay. But since she had seen videos of mine on TikTok and when she bumped into me immediately asking how I could help her and was like, oh, mm-hmm. My, my thing like over here and asking me all these questions, she’s like, I’ll send you a message on TikTok right now because I’d really like to like know how I can do this.
And I was just like. Okay. And I was like, literally I was at an appointment, I was somewhere and I was like, okay. And I came home and my husband, I was like, I have no intention of messaging her back. Mm-hmm. Because I could tell it was for all the wrong reasons. She Yeah, exactly. Just I felt like very like used and like icky after it.
And she’s like, yes. So loudly so people could hear and like being like asking about personal things and I was just like, I sorry. Mm-hmm. M’s. Not interested in that. Um, okay, let’s get into, I know people are gonna be like listening and being like, Krista’s all over the place today.
Rebecca Rogers: Longest episode ever. No, I love this ’cause I’m all over the place and so she’s really just mirroring me.
It’s my fault guys. It’s fine. I
Christa Innis: love it. Well, actually no, people have said like, I wish the episodes were longer, so it’s okay if it’s a little bit longer.
Rebecca Rogers: Oh, you, you, you brought the right guest. Yeah. Yeah. Me. Like we really could sit and just talk forever. We could. That’s, and I,
Christa Innis: that’s my favorite thing. Oh, go ahead.
Go ahead. Go ahead, go ahead. No, you’re good. I was just gonna say, I barely, like, other than my husband and my daughter, like, and then if we randomly go do things, like they are who I see, like I work from home, so like if I have a call, I see someone. So that’s why I’m like, the podcast is a great way to like chat with people.
Rebecca Rogers: ’cause I’m like, yeah, it really is this job. People don’t realize how isolating this job really is. ’cause in reality, we’re like sitting at home alone, talking to ourselves and like, yeah, we post it for a lot of people, but we, we don’t have that human interaction. Yeah, but what I, I always say, and I think I, I probably said this to you when we were together in Chicago, is that.
There’s so many different types of personalities that do well on social media. Um, and when you find the people that have the similar one to yours, it’s like the most validating and wonderful feeling. And I’m like, I wanna talk to them all day long. It’s, and it’s like, it’s the best feeling because even in, in days or moments where you feel self-conscious, it’s like, but I found the people who get me.
I’m like, sliding off on my cushion right now. Don’t mind me. But I found the people who get me and yeah, it’s beautiful and it feels good.
Christa Innis: It’s like the best feeling ever. Yeah. No, definitely. Yeah. It’s, it’s definitely a, an industry and heart and hard to explain sometimes. For sure.
Rebecca Rogers: Yeah. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Always. And a lot of misconceptions.
Yes. Yes. Oh my gosh. Okay, let’s get into this week’s wedding story submission. As always, I have not met yet. I’m ready, but we’re gonna see what we got. Uh, feel free to stop me at any time, or I’ll make pauses as we kinda go. All right. Okay. Okay. This wedding is in Texas at a rustic but upscale venue that doubles as a winery.
It has no tones of Old Western, just rustic think wood tones. A large reception space that looks similar to a barn, but glass doors. Mm-hmm. This person gave a lot of details that we don’t normally get. Yeah, I like that. I can visualize. Yeah. Um, the ceremony space looked very like a very small church from the outside.
On the morning of my wedding, the bridal party was getting ready in the bridal suite and the groom was getting ready in the groom suite. One of the groomsmen didn’t follow instructions and showed up two hours late with a different girl than who we RSVPed for. Okay. This, this girl had a very strong Russian accent.
Uh, went into the groom suite and started talking to the groom and asking questions. For example, is this a yee-haw wedding and will you be doing square dancing? Okay. Interesting. I mean, I guess like switching, I get it. Like, girl, it doesn’t really matter, but it’s interesting. Oh, wow. Okay. Okay, go ahead. Go ahead.
Um, the boys kicked her out and told her to wait somewhere else, and she came then to the bridal suite. She came in and started acting faint and sat at a table demanding attention from all the bridesmaids. They were taking care of her because they were worried and had a hard time understanding her because of her accent.
When they turned away to the, to finish getting ready for the day, she ate my lunch, the bride’s lunch, the audacity. There was no more food left until after the ceremony, so I went to my wedding Hungary. I see I’m a big, like weddings that I’ve been in and like helped coordinate. I am big into like no one other than the wedding party be in the room.
Like, yeah, why was she in there? Yeah. I feel like it’s like, it’s probably the groomsmen that wasn’t paying attention. Being like, oh, just go in there. You’re fine. You’re one of the girls. ’cause I’ve seen that. Yes. That’s what I can see that,
Rebecca Rogers: yeah. One, see, okay. I could give her the benefit of the doubt in the, in the, in the groomsman suite.
I could give her the benefit of the doubt and I’m like, ah. She’s just, you know, I think there are such stereotypical views of Americans in different parts of Europe. Mm-hmm. Europe. I can see her, like I can see her like genuinely getting excited. Is this a yha yha wedding? Because like everywhere is Texas.
Yes. People in Europe don’t understand that, you know, they see, they think cowboys, they think McDonald’s. They think, you know, they have very specific ideas of what they think America is. Yeah. And. Sometimes when they’re like, oh my God, am I going to be able to experience this American like thing that I only see on tv?
Like, they can get excited and even though it comes, can come off as, uh, it can come off as rude because I feel like, especially in, uh, Eastern Europe, sometimes people are much more blunt than we’re used to here in the us. Mm-hmm. Um, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just different. But then the going into like weddings or weddings, wherever you go, the bride is the star.
Why are you, why are you demanding attention as a guest? That should be common sense. Yes. Why are you going and bothering people you’ve never met before? Like if, right. I can even maybe see like a, Hey, we don’t want you to mess up with the setup. Stay in the groom suite. Why are you sending her? I can see. I can see why a man, I love men.
Some men are dumb. Not all men. Always a man. Not all men, always a man. Yeah. Why is some man being like, yeah.
This is not babysit your girlfriend time, Tinder, chick of the week. Like Right. You could have been just, she could have even been established as a new serious girlfriend. It’s not everyone else’s job to babysit her. That’s weird. That’s strange.
Christa Innis: Well, and
Rebecca Rogers: I feel like it, and you should know,
Christa Innis: oh,
Rebecca Rogers: go ahead.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no, I was gonna say, I feel like it’s such like a guy thing too, like weddings, like the women, like, you know, typically, right.
We’re talking traditionally women have like a schedule. We start early, we get hair and makeup Right. Champagne, whatever. They exactly. Up a much more structured day up. Yeah. Groomsmen just show up, they put a suit on, take a couple pictures, drink whiskey, you know what they get to like hang out and obviously like we gotta hang out too as girls, but like, I just feel like the guys are more just like laid back about it and that’s society.
I’m not blaming that on the guys. That’s how it’s, you know. Right. Exactly. So I could totally see the guy being like, just, just
Rebecca Rogers: not even thinking about it, which is not necessarily his fault, but what is his fault is assuming that everyone else is gonna babysit his date and for the date, she’s a grown woman who invites herself into a space and just eats everybody’s food.
Do you even know the bride’s name? Probably not. That to me is crazy. Holy moly.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: Holy moly. I would’ve been so upset.
Christa Innis: I know. And like, I like, I’ve, like I’ve said, I’ve been a part of weddings where like, it seems like a, what’s the word I’m looking for? Like Grand Central Station. Like people just constantly come in and out.
Like there’s big families, they wanna see the bride. Mm-hmm. But I, I don’t know if that’s me just being like a more private or like type A person, but I’m like, lets keep it to the wedding party if you’re coming in to say hi. Sure. But like, I kind of want like my own wedding. And then weddings I’m a part of, I’m like, okay, if you’re not like in the wedding, let’s kind of like, yeah.
Not come in literal. Literally. Literally. It’s almost like a play, it’s a performance. Right? So like, let’s not look at the actors before they walk out. I know some people are gonna like laugh. Yeah. But you know, it’s a little bit, it’s kind of like that let’s not reveal before, like you wanna
Rebecca Rogers: show the finished product.
You know, people, they, they sit and they get ready all day long. And I think it’s different when you have like a close family member or a close friend coming to, Hey, do you need anything? Hey, how are you doing? Hey, X, y, Z. But like, this isn’t happy hour, this is not friend speed dating. This isn’t daycare.
Why? Who like, okay, you, you broke up with your girlfriend, you have a different date to the wedding. Okay, that’s fine. She has nowhere else to go. She’s hanging out. Okay. But it’s not, why is it everyone else’s job to entertain her?
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: Why is. Why, why did you ha, did you have to bring someone? Like if she had
Christa Innis: nowhere else to go, why did you just, why did you bring her?
Have to, yeah. Especially being a groomsman. I feel like you’ve got, you’ve got your guys there, you got other stuff to, to do. All right, let’s, right, let’s see what, what happens next? So she goes to the wedding hungry at that point. Oh, wait, that’s not all. Oh my God. Okay. Sorry. I’m sorry. Oh my gosh. You there was the whole story, girl.
We’ve got lots.
Rebecca Rogers: Okay. Okay. Okay. Continue. Continue. So Molly, okay. Okay.
They Did WHAT in the Groom Suite?!
Christa Innis: At that point, she got kicked out and was told to wait in the ceremony space wedding, and sues with no other problems until the reception. During the reception, the girl tries to enter, enter the bridal suite and the groom suite where the wedding planner catches her and tells her that it’s locked until after the wedding.
No one is allowed in except for the bridal party. Okay, good. I’m glad the wedding party planner is there now. Right? The girl on top of this Exactly. The girl retrieved her groomsmen and they tried picking the lock to the groom suite. What, what? For what? Why does she need to get in there? Yeah. A friend of the groom went and found the planner to let them know the girl was trying to break in the groom suite because the groomsmen was with her this time.
They unlocked it for them and was told they were changing. So the planner left to take care of the couple. Wait. They told them they had to get in there and go change. I’m so confused. They
Rebecca Rogers: pro i, I, they, they told the planner, Hey, I need to get in the grooms. I’m a groomsman. I need to get into the grooms in a suite.
I have to change my clothes so that Okay. And they unlocked it and left.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. So, oh my gosh. That’s stressful. I’m sweating. Okay. It says they did the deed, if you know. Mm-hmm. That’s where I thought this was going. That’s where I thought this was going and left the place in absolute disarray.
Disarray. A huge mess. They then left the wedding early, and we didn’t find out about the mess until after our families went in to clean up the suites and pack everything up. We felt very disrespected by this, so I personally texted the groomsman the next day to ask him why he brought a stranger. First of all, without talking to us about it, the girl RS that he RSVP’d for was his girlfriend of a year that we knew.
So there we go too. And why? He left her to wreck havoc upon the bride and then disrespected the place by basically destroying it. He brushed it off and didn’t mention oh, so he brushed off the communication and mentioned that he barely knew her, but that she was a family friend. No apology whatsoever. I was then talking to my bridesmaid about everything that happened with her, and we found out the groomsman par parents paid her to be his escort and get him to break up with his girlfriend.
That is not where I thought this was going. Wait, what? His parents paid her to be his escort, so she was a hooker. I,
The Escort, the Lies, and a Wedding Fallout
Rebecca Rogers: that’s, I mean, it says his, first of all. First of all, if he first, I have, if you are a man who is easily swayed to break up with your girlfriend of a year, ’cause of a fancy accent and some excitement, throw the whole man away. Throw the whole man away. In my opinion, full stop. That’s just a bad, okay. Okay.
Obviously we don’t know like what kind of issues were going on in his relationship. Right, right. We have no idea. Yeah. She could have been a toxic girlfriend. We don’t know. Right. The whole thing just screams gross to me. Why?
I’m so shocked that I’m like, I can’t even find my words.
Christa Innis: I,
Rebecca Rogers: the last sentence, I
Christa Innis: just, the last sentence says, they also paid for her expensive designer clothes for the wedding, then paid them to have an expensive hotel that night. So the parents literally just wanted this. Like, but why the parents getting involved?
Like, we need to get rid of this. Well, not only that, if they, if they had this fancy hotel, why can’t they wait till they get to the hotel? That’s what I’m confused about. So they just like had to do it. That’s just
Rebecca Rogers: so inconsiderate. Who’s this like that? When you’re dealing with relationship issues, I am so mad at him for a lot of reasons, because when you’re dealing with relationship issues or the, the downfall of a relationship, I don’t, I can’t think of a word I’m looking for right now.
So that’s what we’re gonna go with. The downfall of relationship. It can really mess with you mentally. Okay. Like I know that, I get that. I spent the last year getting divorced actually. In fact. So, fun fact, in North Carolina you have to be separated for a year and a day. That’s tomorrow for me. Literally tomorrow.
Congratulations. I’m excited. Thank you. Thank you. I’m excited. Um, it’s a celebration. Yeah. But I understand better than anyone, that message that can bring you down and you can really struggle. That doesn’t mean you just get to blow up everyone else’s stuff that they have going on that doesn’t give you the right to just.
Bash and trash other people’s exciting moments if you’re not able to handle that kind of celebration. Like we’re all adults, right? We’re all adults. You know, right from wrong. If you cannot handle being at that kind of celebration, you, you need to speak up. You need, I’m trying to think of how to phrase this ’cause I know there’s gonna be there.
From my bad Apple videos, I always know, there’s always people like, well you have no heart ’cause you’re not thinking of the other side. And I’m like, ju, when people go through a really difficult time, whether it be emotional turmoil, mental spirals, addiction issues, their behavior can be explainable. That doesn’t make it justifiable.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: You don’t get to do that to people. You don’t get to do that to people and call yourself their friend. Yeah. That’s just bad behavior. That’s bad friend behavior. Your friend’s wedding is not about you. Your friend’s wedding is not about your recovery or your breakup or you trying to get back at your ex.
It’s just not, no matter how badly you were treated, no matter how badly you’re hurting, it’s not always about you.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: Period.
Christa Innis: A hundred percent. The fact, like the fact that his parents did all this and tried to get involved is gross, and I feel like Yes, yes. We don’t know. I mean, he sound, I mean, he must be very easily manipulated, but it sounds like he doesn’t really come from a good background.
If the parents are like, you know what? If we need him get to break up with this girl, so we’re gonna hire an escort for him to come to the wedding with him, pay for everything. It’s like, so did he not know or was he just like, oh, okay, cool. Like this girl seems better. I don’t know. Which is the
Rebecca Rogers: whole thing’s.
Everything about it is just weird. And it’s hard to know like what the truth is with those things. Like did he know, did he not? We don’t know. Right? Is that the first time he ever met her? We don’t know. Was he struggling ’cause he was mentally abused by the girlfriend? We don’t know. But what we, what we do know, like at the end of the day, your best, your friend is getting married, one of your best friends getting is getting married.
You know, you’re not gonna be asked to be a groomsman in a stranger’s wedding. More than likely, nine times out of 10 you’re gonna be asked by someone you’re very close to.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: For you to just blatantly not care about one of your best friend’s. Weddings like that. And even if he was in such emotional turmoil that in the moment he didn’t realize, and that’s possible, but then to be confronted with that and not care, that’s just a bad friend.
Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I think that’s, that’s a bad friend. An issue is that he couldn’t even look back at his behavior and be like, you know what? I’m sorry. Like, my bad. Yeah. That is like, it makes me wonder like what the aftermath was. Like, are they still friends with this guy? Who is this guy? Like, was he just like a old high school friend that they rarely kept in touch?
You know, like there’s that friend where you’re like, you’re hanging on by a thread and you’re like, we still kiss three. Nice. The thread. Yeah. Red is, that has been snip now. Mm-hmm. So I’m just like, that is so like, you know what, like in the beginning when they’re like, oh, she, he brought someone else, whatever, fine.
Right? But at the end of the day, when it comes out to be all this, it’s like, no, you were blatantly disrespectful. You then when someone confronted you about it, you just, no apology. You cut off communication. Like so you know you were in the wrong. And also
Rebecca Rogers: if even another side I just thought about, and I don’t know what her exact profession is, I’m not sure.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: But like, if you’re professional, be a professional. You know? Mm-hmm. No matter what it was like, I’m, I’m never gonna be someone that’s sex shames, like sex or sex shames or, uh, shame sex workers or anything like that. You know, people do what they do. Their job is their job. That’s none of my business.
But if you’re gonna be a professional, be a professional. That doesn’t mean go in like, you know what you’re doing. You know that you’re eating other people’s food, you know, you’re bothering people on their wedding. You know that you’re getting into somewhere that you’re not supposed to be.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: What are you doing?
That’s, that’s crazy to me. And the fact that he tried to pass her off as a family friend is hysterical to me.
Christa Innis: Yeah. If you mean family friend, because your parents. Got found her first, paid her in. I mean, sure. That’s wild to me. That is really wild. Wow. And this is why, and so many people are like, when I share like videos about like plus ones or bringing a guest and stuff, people are like, oh, there’s so many brides stills.
It’s like, and not saying this is gonna happen at weddings. ’cause I’m sure this has not happened at a lot of weddings, but, but you never know. Rules happen. Rules are because of things like this happening, like, or people wanting to bring random tinder dates. I just read a story about that or like, oh yeah.
It’s like people do this because there people don’t understand boundaries or they you get Exactly. And that’s like whatever. It’s just another day. Like, I’m just gonna go hook up with this girl I just met in the groom suite. Like, why not? Like, because it’s
Rebecca Rogers: inappropriate. No, it’s the same reason that you don’t propose to someone at someone else’s wedding. It’s not your wedding. It’s not about you. Yeah, it doesn’t, you don’t have to get exactly what you want, the moment that you want it
Christa Innis: at someone else’s wedding. Oh my gosh. Speaking of that, so I’ve talked about that so many times, how it’s so tacky to do at someone else’s wedding and people have their own opinions.
Like if you are, if you’re asked ahead of time, sure. Whatever. But I just saw a video where a guy did it at his girlfriend’s, uh, college graduation. Literally as she’s walking up to grab her diploma, he walks up, cuts the teacher off, or the professor off from talking and proposes. And I was like, no. I was whoa, cringing so hard, such
Rebecca Rogers: a side story, but Oh, I don’t like that.
I don’t like that at all. No. There’s so many reasons that I don’t like that because I went to a high school that had a few thousand kids in the student body, like our class size was huge. We’re there all day long. You’re telling me you’re trying to add another 15 min, like you’re holding everybody else up?
Yes. Because you want, this is not about you. This is about all of us.
Christa Innis: We’re all here. We all graduated red flags. I saw red flags. Everyone was like, he couldn’t her have her moment of grabbing, you know, had to get back to him. Yes, that too. That’s how I saw that. Yes. And
Rebecca Rogers: yeah. Well, even like who, I feel like, I’m trying to think of how to phrase this.
I think that the effort someone puts into surprising their significant other for anything, a proposal included, says a lot about them and the relationship and things like that. Oh, this is already an event and everyone’s gonna be dressed up. I. Yeah. You, you didn’t wanna put forth any other, some of my cat’s climbing the screened in porch.
I’m like, please stop. Please don’t do that. Um, you like, unless the there is there a chance that there’s some big like emotional meaning behind this? Yeah, sure. We don’t know the context.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: But you couldn’t find anything more meaningful or significant or put forth a little bit more effort or not interrupt everybody else’s day.
Yeah. What?
Christa Innis: Yeah. That’s crazy to me. I was like, I had to talk about it, so I’m so glad you like, said that. It was like an opener. ’cause I’ve been dying to talk to someone about it. I saw it and I was like, oh my gosh. Oh my God. I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. But that was a crazy story. I cannot,
Rebecca Rogers: yeah.
Christa Innis: This was insane.
Rebecca Rogers: I, my head’s just reeling and I’m thinking about like, what would I have done in that moment? I know I had a friend who, one of my best friends got married and I was her maid of honor, and there was a guest who was like, Hey, I see that the dress code says no jeans, but I’m going to come in a Hawaiian shirt to be funny.
And she was like, please don’t do that. And he did. He just came to this wedding, this beautiful mountain wedding in a Hawaiian shirt, in shorts to be funny. To be funny. See, to me that’s, I know I will, they want it to be more about them. They can’t just, exactly. Exactly. And like I understand there are people who are, who go a little overboard and put like very specific dress codes, and I don’t agree with that either.
Right. But you know, you cannot wear jeans for a day, or why do you have to do people always say, oh, it’s a prank. I think today, nowadays. People have lost what the actual meaning of a prank is. Yes. I don’t think it’s funny to upset somebody or to actually like ruin someone’s day or event or whatever. That’s not a prank.
Christa Innis: Yeah. If you
Rebecca Rogers: think it’s funny to like genuinely upset people or ruin someone’s time or ruin someone’s day that says more about you, like that’s not a prank. Oh yeah. A funny, it shouldn’t be funny to actually cause. Genuine upsetness or emotional harm that Oh yeah, it’s not cute. It’s not funny.
Christa Innis: The things that drive me nuts is the pranks where they like go out in public and like prank random people, like in a store or like kids. There was like a literally a woman that was, I think I wanna say she was pregnant and they like put a bucket on her head. Have you seen this? No, I don’t. No, don’t touch strangers.
Rebecca Rogers: No. Why are we touching
Christa Innis: strangers? And they like film it. They film their reaction and they’re like, they’re just, no one was just not a store shopping by herself. And like, she had, she had like a, a medical attention. She needed some medical attention because of it. And I’m like, no. Like, let’s, that’s not a prank.
That is like actually like No, that’s not cute. Yeah, that’s not,
Rebecca Rogers: it’s so crazy to me because especially in today, in today when you know, everyone talks, consent is key. Well, it doesn’t apply to me. ’cause it’s funny. It’s not sexual. It doesn’t matter. No. Why are we touching strangers? Why are we putting our hands on them?
Why are what, who raised you? Yeah. I don’t understand. Yeah, I don’t understand. That drives me cr I would not be happy. I would not be happy. And also like you never know. For example, like you never know what people are going through. You don’t know who has PTSD. You don’t know who suffers from anxiety or panic attacks.
You don’t understand who’s claustrophobia.
Christa Innis: Why, why no, why are we doing that? Yeah. If you have to prank someone like that, you need to come up with better content. Sorry.
Rebecca Rogers: You just, yes. Yeah. They’re looking for the shock factor. And I’m like, you don’t have good content. You just are shocking people. That’s why they’re, that’s why you’re getting views.
Yes. I don’t, and I, I don’t like being mean to people. I will never say someone’s content sucks or anything like that. I would never say that. That’s not content. Yeah. That’s inconveniencing people and going viral. ’cause people are so shocked this happened. They can’t look away. Yeah.
Christa Innis: It’s wrong, it’s bad behavior, how they react to something without their consent, you know?
So, I don’t know, I don’t even know how we got on that topic, but I love it. I love that. We, we, I love
Rebecca Rogers: it. No, I love it. I think it’s
Christa Innis: important. It’s a good thing to talk about. It’s like food for thought, you know? Yeah. We can, we can all think about all, yeah. Um, okay. We usually like to end these with confessions.
People send me confessions. Okay. So I’m gonna read a couple confessions and we’ll just react to them. Um, I know we’re okay and we’re a little over time, so hopefully No, that’s okay. I don’t, I don’t mind. If you don’t mind. I don’t mind. I don’t mind. Let’s do it. Okay. Yeah. Um, this says. Resent. Okay. I resent that out of the 300.
My eyes, I don’t know. I’m like, I need glasses or something. No, you’re good. You’re fine. I resent that out of the 365 days. My sister had to pick the same day as me to get married. Oh, the same day. Same day. I would kind of be weird about that too, I think. Yeah. Like why? Because like,
Rebecca Rogers: I, I, I know not every, I’ve learned recently that not everyone has the same kind of relationship with their sibling that I have with my brother.
My brother and I are so close. I love my brother. Like we travel together. We have, we’re the best of friends. Yeah. I love my soon to be sister-in-law. They’re not even engaged. I, they’re just perfect. You’ve just adapted her as that. I just love her so much. Um, like he, uh, he had to go to a wedding in Mexico and.
This is a, this is a tangent side note story. I’m so sorry. I love it.
Christa Innis: Hey, my list some stories
Rebecca Rogers: so it’s perfect. Oh, good, good. I, my, so my brother’s friend, very close friend got engaged. They were planning a wedding in Mexico and you have to plan accommodations and travel stuff for that very far in advance, like a year in advance.
And he had not met his now girlfriend at the time, but he assumed, yeah, I’m sure by then I’ll be seeing someone. God, I hope by then I’m seeing somebody. Yeah. Um, and he was the most perfect girl in the entire world for him, but she’s also a girl boss getting her PhD and she had doctorate exams the day after the wedding, so she wasn’t gonna be able to go.
So I graciously accompanied my brother on this wonderful trip. Had to chaperone to make sure he didn’t get kidnapped, of course. Right. Yeah. ’cause I’m such a good sister. Um. But I, I learned when I was there, like so many people were like, I could never go on that trip with my sibling. We’d rip each other’s throats out.
We don’t like each other enough to do that. Yeah. And that makes me sad because I, I’m so thankful for the relationship with my brother and if he wasn’t, like when I get, whenever I get remarried, whenever that may be. If it may be, I would be devastated if he wasn’t at my wedding. You can’t be at my wedding if we’re getting married on the same day.
Yeah. Whatcha
Christa Innis: doing well, whatcha doing? My thought is that not the same, my thought it wasn’t the same year, but I’m guessing like the same date. I don’t know, maybe, maybe I’m reading into it, but maybe, oh, I read same day
Rebecca Rogers: day. You might be right. Or I heard, I might have heard that if I could be wrong. You know what I mean?
I guess it could be either way. Yeah. Same year. I think that’s dumb to be mad at. Personally, not everyone has that opinion. I don’t When, like, when people get married, you don’t own a year, you don’t
Christa Innis: own No.
Rebecca Rogers: A season
Christa Innis: What I’m thinking is like if I got married today, like May 21st, 2025, the sister got married May 21st, 2026.
That’s what I was thinking. So like the same, their their anniversary is the same. Oh, they just have the
Rebecca Rogers: same anniversary? Yeah,
Christa Innis: that’s what I think.
Rebecca Rogers: Oh, why does that matter? You’re not hanging out with your sibling on your anniversary. Yeah. Why, why does that
Christa Innis: matter? Yeah. I don’t know. I, I could see where, that’d be kind of weird though.
Like, and maybe it’s the only date available. I don’t think it’s something that I would be like hold, like holding a grudge about, but I would be like. I don’t know. It’s kind of weird. I think everyone
Rebecca Rogers: is everyone’s of of feelings. If like, if that were to create emotion that’s valid. Like your feelings are your feelings, you can’t control your feelings.
Um, I, I don’t think I would get upset about that. Yeah. And I don’t think it’s something worth holding a grudge over. ’cause again, your anniversary is about your partner. Like when you go on anniversary trips, you’re going with your partner, you’re not going with your sister.
Christa Innis: Yeah. You’re not
Rebecca Rogers: going as a, it’s not a family trip.
It’s an anniversary.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Now I really wanna message this person and be like, okay, same. And like ask clarification. Yeah, yeah. Like you’re getting married at the same time. Because now that I’m reading it again, I’m like, okay, you might be right. And where, who’s the parents gonna go to? Right, right. Where are the parents gonna go?
She’s like, okay, we’re getting married at 5:00 PM on May 21st. And the sister’s like, cool. We’re getting married at 11:00 AM So no. Oh, my, okay. I need
Rebecca Rogers: to know, I need to know this clarification.
Christa Innis: I need to know. Okay. I, well, I’m gonna message this girl, girl or guy. I don’t know. I didn’t, I didn’t read the, I don’t know the, there’s sex.
Okay. Um, next one. We broke up the day after his aunt’s wedding. I was in the middle of all the family photos. This is, I think, a lot of people’s fears with like dates and plus ones. They always try to put them on like the sides. I never thought about that at my own wedding, and I don’t think we had that issue.
I think most people we invited were long-term relationships or married. Right. But you also never know someone could get a divorce, someone could break up. I don’t know exactly. That’s the, that’s just what happens. I don’t know.
Rebecca Rogers: I know somebody who. Had a family member bring a plus one and it, it was a long-term partners, they’re like, of course.
Yeah. Bring your long-term partner. Yeah, absolutely. The family member never revealed that they actually broke up and not only still brought them as like, I don’t wanna go alone, come with me. But like kept when they did family photos and the bride was like, oh, it’s a long-term partner, I don’t wanna leave him out.
Come on. Didn’t tell him to sit out of the family photos, like had him go be in everything. So were they st they, they completely had broken up. Oh, they broke? Yeah, they completely broke up. Were they like just good terms? She’s now completely married to a completely different person. Oh,
Christa Innis: weird. He is like, just come along please.
I don’t wanna be alone or have.
Rebecca Rogers: Right. Or Well, well, they, they had like, there was tension between her and her dad, and it was the bride’s family members. So it was like cousins, right? Yeah. And she didn’t want to go to the wedding with her father there alone, I suppose. Okay. So she asked the ex-boyfriend to pretend to still be the boyfriend.
Oh. But still included him in all the family photos.
Christa Innis: Oh my
Rebecca Rogers: God. Didn’t
Christa Innis: tell anybody. Didn’t give anyone a heads up. Yeah. And then like a week later they see, he’s like engaged to someone else. They’re like, wait, what? Well, I think, I think the
Rebecca Rogers: worst part about it is her mother knew and
Christa Innis: still didn’t
Rebecca Rogers: warn anybody, didn’t.
Christa Innis: She’s like, we’ll, leave it to them. It’s fine. Oh my gosh. Can you imagine though then like you’re in your ex’s like aunt’s photos for the rest of this, that’s their life. So I mean, I, you know, I really love that
Rebecca Rogers: about. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because I was in my ex sister-in-law’s bridal party.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: I’ve been thinking about that a lot actually. So you’re, you’re forever a part of it. I, I think I’m on the end in a lot, which is great for them. I hope, I feel really bad. Oh, I, I, I like actually have been actively thinking about it for the last month. I’m like, I feel awful because they got married in September.
Yeah. And we separated in March. Oh. Or no, ma May, sorry. May. So, like it wasn’t even that long after. It wasn’t that long after. Mm-hmm. Oh my gosh. You’re like, well, mm-hmm. It’s all the memories. Yeah, when I saw an anniversary post, I like felt guilty for like a week. I was like, I know I had, I, I mean, how was I supposed to know?
You know, you don’t know what you don’t know, don’t know what you, but I still felt so bad about it.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. It’s fine. Everything’s fine. There’s nothing wrong. That’s all good. Okay. This last confession says, I have gone no contact with my mother-in-law for two years, but I still see my father-in-law and they are married.
How does that work?
Rebecca Rogers: I,
Christa Innis: well, I would, well, I, I Is the father-in-law, mother-in-law divorced? No, it says they’re
Rebecca Rogers: married. Oh. Oh.
Christa Innis: We ended with that. They’re still married.
Rebecca Rogers: So do you watch that content creator that Shauna the mom? Yes. I love her. That makes me think of like, not associating with Barb, but going to painting class with Frank.
Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yes. It’s the, um, it’s the strong personality mother with the very passive dad that just wants to keep everyone, you know, involved with each other, like however. Yeah. But I feel like the barb though is very like, nosy, so it makes me wonder Yeah. Like, have they gone No contact. They blocked her Because if typ
Rebecca Rogers: like, think of personality types like Barb.
Barb is so self-absorbed. She doesn’t even know what Frank’s doing. Yeah. He doesn’t know or care. So why would she, why would she ever assume he was doing anything interesting? She takes no interest in his life. Yep.
Christa Innis: Oh, a hundred. That makes
Rebecca Rogers: sense to me. Yeah, that makes sense to me. If she can’t see what the son’s
Christa Innis: doing, she has no idea.
It makes me wonder if the father-in-law’s like lying. He’s like, I’m just gonna run out to the store. And then he is like, at their house, like hanging out and she’s like, have you heard from Jimmy? She, he probably,
Rebecca Rogers: I’m going out. Okay. And like, that’s it. Yeah. It’s that. I don’t even think people, people like that wouldn’t even ask, where are you going?
Yeah. Like they have the people that they care and they’re super extra nosy and anyone else, they don’t care. Yeah. Like with the sun. Super. Wanna be in the know. Super nosy.
Christa Innis: Anyone else? Doesn’t matter. Sorry, go ahead. I ied you. No. Oh my gosh. No, you’re good. Um, no, this is what we did. What did we say? This is like two and I’m, I’m not.
Diagnosed, but I’m like pretty sure I’m like a DHD of something. We’re the same person. I’m telling you. You
Rebecca Rogers: have a DH adhd. Yeah. So I
Christa Innis: don’t ever get offended. Yeah. I’m like, I don’t ever get offended when people try to talk over me. This is how feel teachers, adhd, communicate. This is what we do. Oh, we do.
This is how
Rebecca Rogers: we first
Christa Innis: or mean. Yeah. But I totally picture that like nineties sitcom where it’s the mom is like, or the wife is like doing everything around the house. She’s like, you know, busy body, naggy, whatever. That’s how they make them in the nineties or early two thousands. And then the husband’s just like on his lounger, he’s like running out.
You know? It’s just very like that dynamic. That’s exactly how I
Rebecca Rogers: picture Frank. Exactly how I picture Frank’s.
Christa Innis: That is so funny. I love that. Like the sick, oh, I love that vibes. Do you have any
Rebecca Rogers: confessions?
Christa Innis: Like personal confessions? Yeah. Yeah. Oh. I don’t know. I have, I, I could I, could I, oh, do you have, do you have some?
Let me think. Yeah. Yeah. I got some. I guess some. I never had a guest ask me if I have a confession.
Rebecca Rogers: Oh,
Christa Innis: ooh. If the
Rebecca Rogers: teacher in me, what are you bringing to the class?
Christa Innis: Well, I was, it’s funny because I was, I was just thinking like, I’m like, sometimes when, like I have certain, like, guests on and I’m just like, we’re just like vibing so well, I like kind of forget I’m recording sometimes and I’m like, did I say anything like that?
I should, like, earlier I was like, did I do a good job of masking who I was talking about? Um, so I’m like, I probably, I feel like I already kind of said some confessions. Um,
um, that’s okay. I, I can go. I’m so bad on the spot. I,
Rebecca Rogers: I think, hold on. I’m trying to think of how to word this.
I already know based off of. The wedding that I had with my ex-husband, I already have a list of things that I either don’t want or don’t care about or won’t waste any energy or emotion or anything on. Mm-hmm. In the slightest bit. I like, for example, I think, I’m trying to think of how to phrase this. I think looking back there were always signs and I think that there were things that I was worried about in regards to the wedding that now that I know myself better, I will not be worried about in my next wedding or will not be stressed about because the why will be different.
Christa Innis: Mm. Yeah. If that makes sense. No, totally. Um, I was just talking to someone how I feel like at different like stages of your life, and we might have talked about this before, but. You like, if I had gotten married in my early twenties, it would’ve been a completely different vibe. Like, I feel like, again, way more of a people pleaser, inviting every single person I know.
Mm-hmm. Of course though, like personal finances would’ve been way different, so I would’ve had to rely more on help. Yes. Um, but inviting everyone I knew I would had a different bridal party, probably not friends that were really there for me. And doing more of that, like people pleasing type, like what do you guys want for the wedding?
What do you guys picture for the wedding? Um, and I just feel like now, like my husband and I had been together for many years before we got married, that like we both kind of knew what we wanted. We were kind of over the people pleasing when it came to the wedding. Um, and it was easier for me to be like, no, I’m not gonna invite this person’s, you know?
Yes. That I barely see. No, I don’t care. Like we’re gonna make the cut right here, because I haven’t talked to them the whole time I’ve been engaged, you know, that kind of thing. Exactly. I’ve never met them. I think
Rebecca Rogers: that for me, I’ve, I, I’ve, I’ve really changed a lot of my outlook on a life and love and relationships in general.
Um, I used to be like a, well when, you know, when you know kind of person and love, you know, I think that there are some people who meet at a young age and they just find their person and it’s just a match made in heaven forever. I know I’m, I’m almost 30 years old and I have friends who have been dating since I know people who have been dating since they were eight years old.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Like
Rebecca Rogers: actually, wow. Um, and I, uh, other friends, their first date was the eighth grade dance, still married with kids and That’s beautiful. Wow. And that’s great. And I love that for them, that is not the normal. Yeah. And I actually. Not that I would ever force my opinion on anyone without asking, because if someone is like, oh my gosh, I think I wanna get engaged and they’re 22, I’m not gonna follow it up with, oh, I wouldn’t because Right, right.
But when people ask me, there’s so much that I learned about myself and I like, again, I told you in, in 2020, I really came into my own skin that I, I personally love the idea of getting married a little later when you’ve really become your true self, and I, I say this pretty often. I think everyone in general, when they finish school or trade school, whatever, whether it’s high school, college, grad school, whatever it is, when you establish yourself as as an adult and get your job, job and like really settle into adulthood, you settle into your adult.
Self.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: And it is not always what you think your life is going to look like at 22 when you’re finishing school, or 18 when you’re about to graduate, is not always what you will settle into by the time you are in your mid to late twenties.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Rebecca Rogers: And I think that’s when you really find yourself and figure out what you, not only what you want in life, but what you want your future family to look like and what you value in a partner.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Rogers: That’s so important. Yeah. Because as people either grow together or apart, and you can’t always control that, and people are still growing so much in their early twenties that. You, you don’t always know that early if it’s going to be apart or together.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no, I, I totally agree with that because like I said, like my husband and I were together many years before we got married, but like, I remember like week one, first few months people were already asking like, are you gonna get married?
Are you getting married? And like, I, we always felt these external pressures and I would always be like, are we behind schedule? We’d be dating for two years. He’d be like, oh, you’re, he hasn’t proposed yet. What’s he waiting for? And like making me feel like, oh, does he not love me? ’cause he hasn’t proposed yet.
This is like really deep stuff. And I was, and we would be perfectly fine. Like if it was just the two of us, we’d be great. And then that conversation would happen and I’d be like, I’d feel like I was like, wait, is something wrong? Yeah, yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I’m like, wait, we were literally just fine. Why am I mad?
Because of what someone else said. I’m like, we are good in the same way with having kids. Like I didn’t have my daughter until I was 32 and I was like. That was perfect timing for me because I was a little more established in my career. Obviously I’ve made a pivot since then. Mm-hmm. But like I was more established in my career.
Like I, there’s no way, and I’ve always said I didn’t want kids in my twenties. I thought for me, and this is not anyone doing, yeah, everyone’s journey’s different, but it was just like, that would not have been the right time for me. It’s hard now in my thirties, but I feel like way more levelheaded now than I think I would’ve been.
And so I just feel like you have to listen to your own plan and what not necessarily a plan. Exactly. Your own thing. And like take out the external pressures, um, because it’s so easy to fall into of like, you know, oh, follow this timeline. I need to be married by this age and I need to have a baby by this age.
I, or you know, whatever. It’s just like you need to like realize like we’re all on our own timeline. Get to know yourself a little bit. Um. Yeah. No, I think that’s, that’s such a, such a good point of what you said. Good. I love that. Oh, I like that. A, I love words. Yeah, I love that. I love when it turns into that.
Well, thank you so much for coming on. Oh, of course. Thank you for having me. It was so fun. Like, like we said, like we could chat forever. Um, and I’m sure when I hang this up, we’ll chat a little bit more, but can you again, where they can find you, um, and anything fun you’re, you’re working on? Yes. Um, I’m working on my garden.
Rebecca Rogers: I’ve actually, that sounds fun. I, in, in, in reality, I’ve been so sick for the last two months that I’m so behind on work, so I’m just exci. I need to catch up. So that’s what I’m working on currently. But I’m Rebecca Rogers on all platforms, on YouTube, on Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram. Too many, too many places.
I need to calm down.
Christa Innis: I was like, you were like, you told me, you were like, you need to get on Snapchat. And I was like, girl, one more platform sounds So I, I’m gonna show
Rebecca Rogers: you we’re, we’re gonna, we’re, I’m gonna call you and I’m gonna show you how to easily integrate Snapchat with like the, the software stuff.
Yay. Yeah. Alright. Cool. We got, I got you. I got, I just need to get my head on straight first. All right. Awesome. Well, thank you so much. Of course, of course. And thank you again for having me.
Dress Codes, Divided Families & Day-Of Disasters With Lisa P.
What happens when a dream wedding breaks more than just budgets?
In this episode, Lisa Pontius shares how her whirlwind romance turned into a wedding that fractured friendships—literally.
From unexpected parent fallout to the silent war of traditions and finances, Christa and Lisa unpack the hidden landmines of wedding planning that no one warns you about.
Plus, they dive into viral hot takes—from guest dress codes to social media restrictions—and ask: are you really ready to get married, or just pressured to?
Join me on Patreon and get bonus content every month!
Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Lisa’s Background and Content Focus
01:25 Self-Care and Mental Health Through Fashion
02:48 Crazy Wedding Stories Begin
03:06 Lisa’s Wedding Journey and Family Drama
05:07 Wedding Planning Stress and Family Dynamics
14:21 Wedding Hot Takes and Opinions
25:02 Wedding Story Submissions
28:26 Wedding Mishaps in the Heat
30:26 Rainy Wedding Stories
31:59 Reception Disasters
33:54 The Missing Bride and Groom
38:02 Wedding Planning Realities
42:37 Weekly Confessions
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- When the In-Laws Stop Speaking – Lisa shares how her and her husband’s parents became friends, then stopped speaking after the wedding drama unfolded.
- Wedding Planning Pressure Cooker – Money, expectations, and tradition clashed hard during Lisa’s wedding, revealing everyone’s “ugliest selves.”
- The Myth of the Perfect Day – Lisa reflects on being the bride: “I wish I had been a guest at my own wedding.”
- Hot Take: Dress Code Boundaries – Lisa and Christa break down why curating your event is not controlling—it’s thoughtful.
- Unrealistic Wedding Expectations – How Pinterest weddings and movie moments set brides up for anxiety and disappointment.
- Setting Social Media Limits – Can couples really control what guests post? Lisa shares her surprisingly balanced take.
- Marriage > Wedding – With 12 years of marriage behind her, Lisa offers clarity on what really matters post-vows.
- Planning Regrets and Lessons Learned – Why day-of coordinators are non-negotiable, and what every bride should do first.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “My number one tip for brides—get on the same page with your partner first. Block out all the noise.” – Christa Innis
- “Weddings bring out everyone’s true colors… and not always in a good way.” – Christa Innis
- “You cannot blame the wedding party for a day you refused to plan.” – Christa Innis
- “Marriage should enhance your life—not be the only thing holding it together.” – Christa Innis
- “You don’t have to follow a timeline. Everyone’s journey is different.” – Christa Innis
- “Everyone is kind of their ugliest selves around wedding planning. It’s a recipe for disaster.” – Lisa P.
- “I joke that I wish I had been a guest at my wedding—being the bride was not awesome.” – Lisa P.
- “Weddings are not indicative of marriage. They’re a totally weird, standalone experience.” – Lisa P.
- “You’re not just curating photos. You’re curating an entire experience.” – Lisa P.
- “Be careful who your parents become friends with. You might be stuck with them forever.” – Lisa P.
About Lisa
Lisa Pontius is a New Yorker-turned-Charleston housewife who brings bold opinions, vintage glam, and real talk to every conversation. A former culinary school grad and kitchen pirate, Lisa traded 12-hour shifts for southern living—and never looked back. She first began sharing her story online during the pandemic and quickly found her voice talking about motherhood, self-worth, toxic relationships, and societal norms—always with a splash of style. Now known for her blend of 1950s glamour and modern edge, Lisa dishes up a mix of fashion, fire, and unfiltered honesty that’s anything but boring.
Follow Lisa P.
Join the Drama with Christa Innis:
Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!
Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form
Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!
A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi, Lisa. Thank you so much for joining me.
Lisa P: Hi. Thank you for having me.
Christa Innis: Yes, I am so excited to dive into this. like we were just saying before, recording, there’s so much drama when it comes around weddings and events and all that stuff. But before I talk too much, can you just tell everyone a little bit about you and, I don’t know, like maybe what interested you in coming on?
I feel like I’ve seen your content. A lot and I feel like you share a lot of important takes so I’m just interested to hear a little bit more about you and, what kinda I interested you.
Lisa P: Yeah. well, I’m Lisa. My handle is, it’s me, Lisa p across all socials. I share a lot about motherhood and relationships on my page, so, the conversation of weddings absolutely comes up.
The conversation of marriage comes up. So, I was intrigued to kind of come on here and talk about some of the drama that surrounds it. but yeah, my content really focuses on. relationship motherhood centered, but with like a real life spin. I like to kind of get to the why of the way things are, in a cute outfit.
So a little bit
Christa Innis: of everything. Yeah. I just say like, I love your style. I am always like you so put together. And I like thought about that when I was like coming on. I was like, okay, I need to make sure I’m like. dressed well because I know Lisa will be, she has such good style.
Lisa P: Listen, I love an outfit, but I’m just as likely to show up in, like my gym clothes if I haven’t had a chance to get changed.
So I totally get it. I just, this is one of my like self-care pick me up things that kind of got me out of my motherhood blues, and I consistently keep up with it because I know it’s. Like such a mental health thing for me.
Christa Innis: Yes. I am right there with you that I did the same thing. Like especially with working from home, I feel like you don’t see a lot of people all the time or like, I’m just here with my child.
And so sometimes it was just like, I need that feeling of like getting ready. And so like, even when I was home during like COVID, I was like, I need to like make sure I like, do something to make for myself. It’s like an
Lisa P: art. I think I got more into it actually during COVID because I was already a stay at home mom.
But I had that like busy schedule outside of the home, so I’d go from like gym to running errands to being with the kids. So I like wouldn’t have that time. And then once everyone was home, yeah, like fully sweat panted, I was like, oh no, no, no. I gotta get up and put some pants on because Yeah. Otherwise this is gonna be it for the next decade for sure.
Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh, a hundred percent. I know. I was like, I can’t be someone, I can’t just like sit. In sweats all day Of course, there are days I am in sweats all day. I will not never deny that. I love a good sweatsuit, but If I’m like doing something from home, I’m like, I still need to like do something or else I will just melt into my bed.
Lisa P: For sure. It shifts your energy I think and it like definitely makes me feel more, especially ’cause I’m around little people all day, you know? It makes me feel like a little bit more adult.
Christa Innis: Yes, absolutely. I love that. Okay, so jumping into like crazy stories, people love hearing the crazy wedding stories.
I’m sure we’ve all have witnessed. I know I have some things you have. A situation, I dunno if situation’s the right word, something that happened in your family when it’s relating to weddings and marriage. So I dunno if you wanna talk a little bit more about that.
Parents Became Best Friends… Until the Wedding Planning Began
Lisa P: Sure. so I feel like I have to preface this with me and my husband moved very quickly, like right after we met.
We knew that was at one, like we were ready. I think we like attempted to put a deposit on a wedding venue down before we were even like. Publicly engaged. Wow. So it was very untraditional in that sense. And I think that sort of started off the entire wedding journey with our respective families and kind of threw everyone for a loop from the get go.
we were just ready to get married as soon as we met. And, yeah, so we actually met because. My parents who were like new transplants to Charleston, which is where I’m still living. they had met his parents and they had become fast friends, so they. Friends first before I had even met my husband, before I had even like, heard of my husband.
Christa Innis: and somehow, like through the process of us getting married, their relationship completely disintegrated. And you hear it all the time with weddings that like friendships will break up.
Mm-hmm.
Lisa P: But like, this was so out of left field because these were like the adults in the room, right. Like these were the parents.
Christa Innis: Yeah, especially too, because like, I dunno, I feel like that’s like a dream for a lot of people. Like they meet and then it’s like, oh my gosh, maybe our kids will get married. You know? Like it just,
Lisa P: well we thought we had it hacked. We thought we were about to hit the grandparent lottery of like, oh, we’ll have kids and they’ll just all watch these kids and just hang out.
Like, this will be great. It did not work out like that.
Christa Innis: Was it the wedding planning? And of course like if, there’s anything like. Too intrusive or you don’t wanna share, like, just stop me. do you think the wedding planning or like the moving fast or anything with that, that had to do with it or just like happened soon?
I think
Lisa P: so. It was 100% the wedding mostly. I mean, I don’t, again, I’m not privy to like what went on behind closed doors in their friendship. There might have been like some underlying stuff, like, who knows, right? that’s their drama. But the wedding. Added so much like pressure onto it and onto me and my husband at the time too.
Wedding planning is extremely stressful. There’s money involved, there’s like traditions involved. There’s a lot of things that like are much more serious than like a social relationship, and sometimes you kind of, what I think happened is like their incompatibilities as. Friends kind of got blown up like blown wider because of the wedding planning and the pressure of that.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I was just talking to someone how like weddings, especially when you bring in two families together, almost brings in this like Unnecessary comparison though, right? Because it’s like if someone’s like, let’s say like family A is like really into planning and like maybe they have a little more finances or something.
The other one not so much. They might feel a little like. Uh, not insecure about it, but they might be like, Ooh, like I’m uncomfortable with this, or I feel like they’re doing so much and I can’t do enough, or, I’m being pushed out. when that might not be actually happening. They might just kind of have those feelings of like.
what’s going on here?
Lisa P: I think everybody wants it to be like, really, even like really down the line. And like in movies you see it, you know, there’s like the bride side and the groom side, and it’s equal. And I think that’s just not as realistic as like it actually goes down.
I know in our situation, both of my parents are only children, so there isn’t like a huge extended family on that end. But traditionally the bride pays for the wedding. So like. There was a lot of like, well, this seems like a lot of your people and like, we don’t have a lot of people and we had a very small wedding anyway because that’s just what we wanted.
but it definitely. Everyone had a lot of feelings about it, about like how many people were coming, how many cousins we could invite, who all was gonna be there, who all was paying for what, and it just, ugh.
Christa Innis: It like there’s so many Yeah. Opinions that come into a wedding that it’s like, it’s so hard. My number one tip for brides like that, like watch and like listen. I’m just like, get on the same page with your partner first. Block out all the noise because it’s so hard. It’s like you get people coming in that you maybe never had an opinion on anything before.
And they come in, they’re like, you need this. And you’re like, wait, do I need, yeah. Where did this come from?
Lisa P: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think weddings are in some way, like. Not indicative at all of marriage. So I think it’s such a weird standalone experience. And again, I’m now looking at it like 12. We just celebrated our 12 year anniversary, so like 12 years later, all the feelings have subsided.
We can laugh at it now, right? we can all laugh at the drama and the craziness and how stressed we were because it wasn’t the end of the world at the end of the day, we got married and we’ve been married and marriage is longer right than,the wedding part, but. I think, you know, the family’s coming together.
This is the first time where people have to like work together, you know, work within each other’s boundaries. Maybe set some boundaries, maybe do things that their mother-in-law doesn’t like. Maybe like these are the first things that you’re like, oh, I’m not gonna be able to make everyone happy and myself happy all at the same day the same way.
Christa Innis: Yeah, yeah, that’s true. It’s like all the personalities coming together and. Certain ones really shining a certain a way me might not have seen before. I’ve definitely seen it in a lot of weddings. I’ve seen it in a lot of just events in general. Just like family events. You see like, oh, that’s how they, they are in this light.
Right? Or this is, that’s how feel about that. Interesting. Yeah. I feel like, you know, it’s just like. Especially like you don’t know what other pressures they’re getting. Like I know like just certain brides, like I’ve known before, they get married and then I know them during their wedding and I know them after their wedding and I’m like, oh, some of them were different people during all of those stages.
And not saying good or bad, I’m just saying like they just had different pressures put on them or different, you know, situations. And it’s just interesting how that comes up.
Lisa P: I mean, I know I felt victim to like the want everything to be perfect, like hyper fixating. I think brides in general do that. I think that’s where the bride Silda comes from.
Yep. Um, because there’s so much pressure to want this day to be this like picture perfect. Oh my God. Once in a million like time moment. And there’s so much pressure on it that I like. Oh my God. I, I joke with people all the time that I wish I had been a guest at my wedding. ’cause my wedding was awesome. Being the bride at my wedding was not awesome.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I, I heard that so many times and I was one of the later ones, like outta my friend group. I was like the la one of the last ones to get married. And I, my husband and I had been in so many weddings, so I’ve seen so many and I heard so many bride say that they were like.
I didn’t get to enjoy it or like there was too much of this going on or I kept getting pulled in different directions and so I was like, okay, I wanna try so hard not for that, to that to happen. Of course it did in to some extent, but yeah, you hear about that so many times. You put all this pressure on this day and half the time the bride and groom don’t get to enjoy it the way they want to.
Lisa P: Yeah. I think there’s just so much anxiety and so much riding on it and like. I feel like that contributed a ton to our parents, like kind of having a friend break up, um, during it for sure. Because everyone is kind of like, and this sounds terrible because it’s like a day of love, but like everyone’s kind of their ugliest selves, um, around like wedding planning.
’cause there’s big money and there’s big expectations and there’s big family. It’s a recipe for disaster. Yeah. Like, it’s just a recipe for like, something to happen. Like there’s gonna be some drama. It could be like with your girlfriends, it could be with like a bridesmaid or a groomsman or like, it doesn’t have to be your immediate family, but like, something’s coming up.
Christa Innis: Yeah, yeah. Oh, that’s for sure. It’s, they say everyone’s like, true colors come out during like intense moments and events like that. Um, so moving past that, so they kind of just like drifted apart and like. Now at family events, they just kinda like drift by. They like still aren’t
They Were Supposed to Be Co-Grandparents
Lisa P: friends. Um, they are co grandparents.
Um, and there are like family events where everybody comes and everyone’s like, fine and peaceful. But like I, I almost like to the point where I almost forget that they used to hang out like independently before us. You know what I mean? Like mm-hmm. They act like Stranger Law grandparents. Um, but yeah, they used to like.
Have beers by the pool and hang out and like that just blows my mind.
Christa Innis: Wow, that’s so interesting. It’s interesting how relationships can just change so quickly like that when you go through an experience, I guess.
Lisa P: Well, and I’m sure they, they all in their own way probably like, ugh, we’re gonna have to see them forever.
Like a divorced couple. Yes.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Like they’re literally going through all those stages. ’cause they’re gonna. Like they, yeah, you can’t just ghost
Lisa P: each
Christa Innis: other and like never
Lisa P: see each other again because it would be easier, like you could totally do that one. One set of these parents doesn’t even live here anymore, so like it would be easy to never even think about each other except for the fact that you share grandchildren now.
So be careful who your friends are. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh, yes. Wow. Yeah, I would say that would be a, I don’t even know if I would call the crazy story. It’s, it’s sad that that happens and it’s like sad that there’s like pressure on weddings and stuff, but, uh, I guess I. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be at the end, but
Lisa P: it, it was meant to be because you guys met through it.
I like to think that they were friends only for long enough to like bring me and my husband together. That’s my like silver lining about it, that they were never really meant to be friends. That that was kind of part of like the plan.
Christa Innis: Yes. I love that. I love that. And you guys knew right off the beginning, right from the bat that it was meant to.
Lisa P: Yeah, we knew. We knew really early and like, I know everybody says that. Some people get that like light bulb moment. Personally, like full disclosure, I didn’t have the light bulb moment. My husband had the light bulb moment. Um, but he, yeah, he turned to his dad after the first weekend we had met and we met at my dad’s.
60th birthday and we met because I flew down to Charleston for my dad’s birthday. And my husband’s parents were guests at like this birthday party, Shindi situation. And they like roped him into coming to kind of like, hang out with me ’cause I would be the only like under 60-year-old person. Um, and that’s how we met.
We were like kind of, they say it was like, it wasn’t a setup, but. It worked.
Christa Innis: Yeah. It like wasn’t a set up, but they were like, he’s got a son. They’ve got a son. I don’t know. You’re home. Yeah. Like, take your son maybe. Yeah. It was all meant to be in, in just a, a different kind of way. Um, all right. I love that.
Thanks. Thanks for sharing that. Um, okay, let’s get into some wedding hot takes. So these are different hot takes that people. Send to me on my stories and we’re just gonna kind of react to them, say what you kind of, what you think about them. Okay. Um, all right. Should couples get to control what guests post on social media about their wedding?
Lisa P: I guess it depends before or after the wedding, but like, I don’t think so.
Christa Innis: I know I’ve never really heard of that before. Lately I’ve been getting a few more like that, that are saying like, I don’t see, I was never like. I
Lisa P: feel like I got maybe too early to like even have that as like a conversation because like, like the hashtag thing hadn’t happened.
So I don’t think you can control everyone around you. No, unfortunately, no. Yeah. I feel
Christa Innis: like when it comes to like, okay, the bride’s getting ready and she hasn’t like come out yet. Yeah. Like don’t post.
Lisa P: Yeah. Don’t
Christa Innis: post a picture
Lisa P: of the bride in her dress before she does her like walk down the aisle. Like, be respectful.
Don’t post any pictures where the bride looks bad. I feel like that’s just not being a, a friend. Right? Like, you know, if you catch her like picking a booger, maybe don’t post that one. Um, but yeah, as far as like what they can share, I, I don’t see a problem with it.
Christa Innis: I feel it’s like the age we live in, it’s like you just know, like being a bride or groom at the wedding.
Like people are gonna take pictures, hopefully not during the ceremony if you have no photos, but you know.
Lisa P: Yeah, you’re not just gonna be able to share your professional photos. People will have like candidates and stuff.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And last times those turn out really good. I mean, I didn’t have photos like during the ceremony, but like I had some random like f friends that took photos, like during our fir first dance that were like so good that like just, they just happened to catch.
And I was like, you don’t. Yeah.
Lisa P: Um, we had a great video. We had a videographer, which I think was like pretty new when we got married. We got married in 2013, so like, okay. It was a while ago. Um, so we had a videographer and we had a photographer and I wanted a lot of those candid, so we did get a good amount of those, which I’m so thankful for because I think those are so fun.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I know. I ended up liking ’cause Yeah, we did the same, we had two photographers and a videographer and I loved the candid photos like so much more than the stage ones. Like the stage ones. I was like, oh no.
Lisa P: That was one of the things I had to fight my family on ’cause I wanted like a very. I guess now you would call it like editorial style.
Mm-hmm. Photography. Um, ’cause I just thought it was so romantic and pretty and like again, this was right like in the middle of Pinterest wedding, so I was like, let me do something a little different. Um, and they were like, no, you have to have the like portraits. We have to do every family member in every iteration stand there, smile, portrait.
And I was like, okay. That one. I was fine.
Christa Innis: You’re like, all right, that’s your thing. Okay. Yeah, I know
Lisa P: I have those though now, but
Mood Boards, Dress Codes & Wedding Boundaries
Christa Innis: I, yeah, it’s like I feel like they’re the ones that like look nice, but like I felt like when I was looking through them, I was like, that just doesn’t look like me. But yeah, you gotta have those, but sometimes you gotta do the old school thing for sure.
Yeah, it’s good. It’s a balance. Um, all. Is it setting boundaries or just controlling to ban certain songs, colors, or styles from your wedding? Because I’ve been hearing this more and more about people like setting a certain, like, no,
Lisa P: actually, I think that’s setting boundaries. In fact, I don’t think it’s controlling.
I think it is like, I think it’s curating. Mm,
Christa Innis: mm-hmm.
Lisa P: You’re curating your event. And I’m a girl who loves a theme. Okay. So like, if someone gave me a color palette and a vibe, I would be fucking psyched. Um, because I’d be like, what we’re doing glam Met Gala, black Tie. Got it. Like, I feel like. I think that is curating not just like the after products, like the photos and stuff, but you’re curating the whole experience.
Mm-hmm. Which makes it a more immersive experience in general, and that kind of elevates everyone’s exper experience.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I was just talking to someone about it and people get so offended by. Being told there’s a theme or like certain things to follow, but as like a planner as like, I don’t know, type A in, in some aspects, I love being told it too.
Like if they’re like, wear a shade of pink. I’m like, let me find my best pink. Um, let me look for it. Yeah,
Lisa P: no, I know at least that, you know, the expectation I, my biggest pet peeve is where it’s like so randomly vague that you’re like, what does this mean? Yeah, like barn cocktail, I’m like. Our boots too much, right?
Like where are we at? Like which level? Give me, give me more references. Gimme a Pinterest board. That would be great. Gimme a reference. Yeah. I have a friend of mine who does this constantly and she’s a, like a photo stylist and like it’s very on brand for her. This is what she does, like her living. But whenever she has an event, she will send out a mood board.
Oh my gosh, I love that. Or like outfits. So she had, um, her, God, was it her 40th? I think it, no, it couldn’t have been her 40th. Anyway, she had a big birthday that just happened and she had it at a magic show and she sent out a mood board and everybody showed up and showed out. And like we were the only group that was dressed up.
Okay. Like circus for performers. But we were all doing it together. Okay. Yeah. And it had colors, it had mood and vibe, and she was like, this is the vibe. And everyone was like. Bet and like someone came as like the rabbit coming out of the hat. It was wild, but it was so much fun. Oh gosh. If you’re not to that, I can understand why that would be intimidating, but you could still just pick colors.
Yes. You know, you could, you could still adhere to it.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I think it’s nice because when there’s those times, certain events, not necessarily a wedding, but we’re like. It looks like everyone’s attending a different event. Like someone’s in a formal dress, someone’s in like leggings and a t-shirt, and it’s like, we’re like, what’s the, I always, I feel like I always try to dress a little nicer than I think ’cause I’m like, I don’t ever look under.
Take it from me. Yes. That was like, I feel like someone told me that years ago and I was like, yeah, I always wanna be a little, little over, because you never really know what to, what
Lisa P: to expect. Yeah. Well, listen, if someone’s gonna talk about you, you would rather them talk about like, wow, she was really overdressed, but that was a great outfit.
Yes. Than like, oh, yikes. You know what I mean? Like you’d always rather be like shining. Yes. Yeah. Like let’s not wear like jeans to a wedding. But I also feel like the dress code thing has gotten very convoluted in between like our parents’ generation and our generation and now like the younger generation getting married.
I feel like people really don’t understand, and I see this on TikTok all the time, and I feel like since you’re in the wedding sphere, you probably see it a lot, but like people don’t understand the difference between cocktail and black tie or black tie and white tie and these sort of like. I feel like giving the vibe and the color and like a theme is like the new way of doing that.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I agree. Because I’ve definitely have spent time like googling, like, okay, it says cocktail formal. And I’m like, what does that mean? Is that like a step up from cocktail? And I’m like, what does that mean? Um, so yeah, I, I agree. I feel like that’s their way of like helping them out. Like some people take it as like.
Oh, it’s so, um, you know, Bri the Bridezilla term so entitled, so it’s bridezilla to do this, but I’m like, I feel like from a bride’s perspective, they’re like, no, I’m, I’m trying to help. Like, I’m just like giving you some guidelines so you like, it’s easier. You’re like,
Lisa P: yeah, it’s a formal event, but it’s also like in a meadow with like grass and flowers and like, yeah, you might not wanna come in like a sequined ball gown.
Like, it’s just not gonna fit the vibe. So like, yeah, here’s the thing.
Christa Innis: Yes. We want you to feel comfortable and at home here. That’s why I always think about it. Um, awesome. What was the last one? Should a maid of honor or best man ever bring someone the bride or groom used to date? Oh, I’m gonna say no.
Lisa P: No, that’s not even like a hot take.
That’s like a obvious one. Yeah,
Christa Innis: I would, I would hope not. I’ve been seeing these like crazy stories lately. Um, someone commented on a video saying that. She was at a wedding where the maid of honor gave a speech for her sister. He was her twin sister. Turns out she had dated the groom before and in her speech talked about how she was a better sister and that he should have picked her.
I was like, how is this real? Like I, I don’t
Lisa P: you marry your sister’s ex-boyfriend. That’s what my thought. Like that. Wait, yeah. Like five steps back.
Christa Innis: How? How? Yeah. I was like, ’cause she’s like, he, when he met the twin, he’d left the other one. So I’m like, how intense was like, were they like teenagers and dated or were they like living together?
Yeah. Was
Lisa P: this like 10 years apart? You know what I mean? Like dated the sister in middle school. Right. Maybe if that’s the situation where it was like a, you know, you were eight years old in third grade handing notes back together and you were like, this is my boyfriend. And then like. If your sister started doing him in college, then I could get it.
That’s like the only scenario I could see that being Right. That’s like just really tricky waters. Like I just like not for me, not for me. It’s not for me. Absolutely not. I have two sisters and never has there been a stream crossed ever in any way, nor would there ever. That is just, Nope.
Christa Innis: No thank you. No, I’m the same with friends too.
Like I know people that I’m like, oh, I dated my friend’s ex, whatever. I’m just like, once a friend is like with that person, I’m like, no, I’m good. Thank you.
Lisa P: Agree. The closest I ever did was I dated for like a long time. A guy that my friend had like a hookup once with, and there was a conversation ahead of time.
Like, there’s gotta be a cur, like a courtesy call, right? Being like, Hey, is this weird for you? Is this okay? Are we okay? Yes. Yeah. ’cause that’s just, that’s real code. I mean, you’ve gotta, oh, sure. You, you can’t date someone’s like. No, that’s no. Yeah, don’t
Christa Innis: bring ’em to a wedding. Please. Definitely. Also don’t
Lisa P: bring them to the wedding.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no surprises. Especially. Okay, let’s get into this week’s wedding story submission. So these are a bunch of submissions that are sent to me. I don’t read them ahead of time, and we’ll just react in real time. So feel free to stop me or I’ll pause and here we go. Let’s brace ourselves. Okay. This wedding was just one crazy thing after another.
We all flew across the country from Oregon to Georgia. So, um, though some of us flew into Nashville and drove to save some money so the bride could get married at her parents’ house. The thing is they lived in a pretty normal subdivision and Georgia that they had moved to after she went off to college.
So she had no emotional attachment to it, and very few attendees lived nearby. She had been there for a month preparing for the wedding, but when we arrived the week before, she hadn’t done anything with the fake flowers to make them into bouquets. Hadn’t picked a single song for the dj, not even first dance, so we jumped in to help.
While I was helping her compose the song list, her dad yelled at me for being on his computer, even though his daughter was sitting right there with me. The morning of the wedding, the bride was on the front yard, in the front yard, setting up chairs for the ceremony and starting to yell, I’m claustrophobic if you’re not helping set up chairs, get out of the yard and none of you are helping.
We tried to help, but she really didn’t know what she needed help with and kept redoing everything herself, like moving chairs half an inch to the right. Yikes. Um. When she was finally getting ready to get dressed, her mom was nowhere to be found. After waiting over an hour, we sent the bride’s brother to check the neighbor’s houses, and they found her mom getting her hair and makeup done there.
When she finally came back to the bridal suite, which was actually just the master bedroom, the bride wanted a picture of her mom helping her into her dress. For some reason, instead of stepping into it, they lifted it up over her head and fell straight onto the mother of brides. Freshly applied bright red lipstick.
Oh my God, that, that’s my nightmare. That’s terrible. She said yes. It stained the dress. Oh no. If she’s already like that panicky, that’s razzled
Lisa P: and pissed off. Oh my God.
Christa Innis: Uh, everyone panicked. I ran to the computer. This was 2009, no smartphones yet, so I googled to how to, how to get lipstick out of the wedding dress.
I don’t even remember what the solution was, but we found the instructions and luckily the stain wasn’t too noticeable in photos, so we moved on with the day. The bride had insisted to get these fancy high heels that matched the floral belt on her dress. Most of the bridesmaids didn’t order them in time, but we all had to have heels and colors that coordinated with the floral belt.
I was her roommate, so I made sure to order them early. They were expensive and uncomfortable. You were talking about like the having everyone look the same. Um, and of course we had to walk through a yard in them since the aisle was in the grass,
Lisa P: so that was something that was not thought through. Like, this is already just like bad planning like this, this can all be attributed to a lot of bad planning.
Christa Innis: Yeah. This is just like not thinking of like the logistics behind everything. It’s like, yeah, you want these great shoes, but we’re gonna be walking in muddy grass or you know, through the grass. Yeah. Yeah. Ooh. I’m already like bat in heels, so walking in grass is terrible. Um, okay. We basically, um, aerated that lawn, our aerated the lawn ourselves.
I nearly lost a shoe and another bridesmaid almost fell. They, they scheduled the ceremony for 5:00 PM in direct sunlight. In the middle of July, the bride was sweating so much. One of her brothers, a groomsman, passed a handkerchief to the best man who passed it to the groom and handed it to the bride so she could wipe her face.
Oh, that’s another thing. Weddings, outdoor in the middle of the summer. Like you, it’s so hard to plan for. Like I’ve been to a wedding in the middle of July and same thing, we were like covered in sweat. The sun was literally like in our eyes. I dunno how the writing room felt. Oh my gosh. Well
Lisa P: then your hair.
Yeah, and like the hair, the makeup, the whole thing. Like it’s just
Christa Innis: all that time and money is just,
Lisa P: yeah, I know. We got married at the end of April and in Charleston it’s like hit or miss. We like, luckily had a good day, but we almost got rained out so could go the other way.
Christa Innis: Right. And I feel like that’s, it’s like so hard.
’cause you never know, every month has their kind of battles. Like, same with us. We got married the end of March. And it could be like rain, almost rainy season. We had every kinda weather that day. It was like snow, sun, rain or like whatever. Bring it our way. It’s fine. I think I would take
Lisa P: most things over.
Sweating though. Yeah. Rain. I feel like you could just be like, oh well, like
Christa Innis: there’s been a lot of pretty weddings I’ve seen online with rain and they like have like their umbrellas and it’s all like decked
Lisa P: out still. Do you know that scene from Pirates of the Caribbean? It’s like the second one where she’s like.
The wedding got interrupt, interrupted, but she’s like being rained on. Yes. And I always thought that was so beautiful that you could do this like white gothic wedding almost. If you had like the right vibe, it could definitely work out.
Christa Innis: Yes, and I, and I always look at those brides too, and I’m like. This is a bride that’s there to get married.
She’s like more of like, yes. Like let’s look, make it look a aesthetic and everything. But like, I love when they just show them like running down the aisle or like at the end, like getting rained on. I’m like, I love, that’s, it’s romantic. Yeah, it really is.
Lisa P: It’s, it’s an underrated. We had a, we went to one where it was pouring rain and luckily it, like, it was pouring rain the whole way up until like the, like the, she had to walk down the aisle.
Like we were sitting there. Everyone had like. So, you know, our programs covering our heads, like it was raining and then it stopped. Oh my god, I’m gonna get chills. Um, and this like wasn’t even my wedding. And she, she walks down the aisle, the sun comes out, and a rainbow, a double rainbow comes out at the end of their ceremony.
And I just remember thinking like. That’s amazing. Like Bravo, like I had the best photos. Yeah, the photos were unreal. Like it was so well done. Well done weather. Like it was well done. I love that,
Christa Innis: that
Lisa P: Yeah, that’s the thing too. It does not always happen that way, but I was very happy for her.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I feel like right after our rain, it’s like everything just looks like a little brighter, like Yeah.
That’s amazing. I love that, but the
Lisa P: sweating like a pig. Not so much.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Lisa P: That I, that I’m kind of out on. There’s no aesthetic way to like handle that. There’s no glistening,
Melted Makeup, Broken Microwaves & Bridezilla Chaos
Christa Innis: no, I’m definitely not one to glisten when I’m sweating either. Um, after the ceremony we took a few pictures and they sent us. Up to the reception venue, a community center in their neighborhood, about half a mile away.
The caterers arrived at the same time the bridal party did. It was Mexican food catered by a restaurant, but they microwaved it on site. There weren’t enough outlets in the prep area, so they plugged the microwaves in throughout the room. Naturally, this overwhelmed the circuit. And tripped a breaker. No, someone had to find the breaker box to reset it.
Lisa P: Oh my gosh. This, oh my God. So my background is in catering and the second it was microwaved on scene, I was like, oh, this is gonna be bad. From like a, just from like, it’s gonna be gross kind of way, but also. The breaker box.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Because even that alone, like micro, we microwaving all the food. These like golf, I’m assuming
Lisa P: it’s like a golf club type thing.
Like they have kitchens, commercial kitchens. Usually I’m kind of think or usually skates will come and like see where they’re serving from ahead of time. So like that’s an interesting, or they would bring their own like. Affordable kitchen type deal. So
Christa Innis: yeah, that seems like another interesting thing with like logistics.
Like if you’re gonna get married at a place to not, for them to not tell you, like the people that like own the venue to be like, Hey, so we don’t actually have a kitchen, so you have to do, bring it hot
Lisa P: or I don’t know. Yeah, bring it hot, have some chaing dishes ready to go, like. Do they have like six microwaves, like through the reception area?
That’s what I’m picturing.
Christa Innis: We’re just gonna put on the head table for a minute. We gotta warm up. Yeah, just all of
Lisa P: these microwaves just showing up. I’m just like,
Christa Innis: yeah. Oh, this poor bride. Does it get worse? I know. Um, there’s a few more paragraphs, so I’m gonna get. Um, okay. Even after all the guests had arrived and had been just standing around talking for 30 minutes, there was still no sign of the bride groom or photographer.
There was no music, no announcements, and people were hungry. That’s one of my worst things at a wedding. I feel like food needs to be like on time. Priority. Sure.
Lisa P: Yeah. People are hungry. Can be drunk. So like feed them early. Yeah.
Christa Innis: You need to fill their bellies. Yeah. Like weddings where you’re waiting like an extra long time for food.
Like I feel like that you remember food, you remember things around food. At weddings, I. We, the wedding party and bride’s parents finally decide to let people go through the buffet. No one told us not to. About 70 minutes after we arrived and around 15 minutes after everyone, everyone had eaten the bride and groom finally show up.
So they’re all eating before the bride and groom come. ’cause no one knows where they are.
Lisa P: I get it. Sometimes you do like cocktail hour or you do like, but you gotta feed people or give ’em drinks or something. Long time.
Christa Innis: You have to think about it as like you’re hosting a party and so like your guests need to be taken care of.
Like yeah, you run away sometimes and do photos and stuff, but it sounds, yeah.
Lisa P: Photos after the ceremony are super standard, but like that’s usually when there’s like cocktail hour with some bites and some food.
Christa Innis: It sounds like there was no like wedding planner or coordinator or some, oh, no, there was no plan.
Get this in the. Oh my gosh. So at that point, the DJ announces them. The bride was livid, that people had eaten Without them, not much we could do. At that point, we had gotten them plates and had them sit down so the rest of the schedule could continue. During the cake cu cutting the groom ended up dripping chocolate down the front of the bride’s dress.
This poor, let’s just go to bed at this point. Done? Yep. Oh my God. Why are we having drip dripping chocolate? Like, we gotta think about these
Lisa P: things
Christa Innis: when we pick our desserts.
Lisa P: Dripping chocolate. I’m not sure I understand, unless it’s like a fondue thing, but,
Christa Innis: uh, yeah. Yeah. Maybe it’s like a. Was that chocolate fountain or something?
I don’t know. Oh gosh. The bridesmaids helped her to the bathroom to clean it up, and of course it just smeared. Luckily she was able to laugh this one off. Okay, that’s good. Good. Okay.
Lisa P: That’s
Christa Innis: a win. Yeah. The next day we saw the couple at brunch before they left for their honeymoon. The only thing the bride could say about the wedding was that she still couldn’t believe that we let people eat before they arrived.
She said it on repeat even after we explained the situation and we even had to remind her of the good parts. We actually stayed friends after that until I broke up with a boyfriend who I’m only, who I only dated for about 10 months, and she had only known for about five. He must have said something wild about me because she texted me saying she was worried about me.
I explained why I broke up with him. He was manipulative, verbally, abusive, narcissistic, and basically never heard from her again after that. Whoa. Interesting. Whoa. That’s a
Lisa P: interesting, uh, that was, that was a wild ending to like, this girl stuck it out for this wedding. Like that she was doing her best to make this day happen.
I know. And after all that, to just get a friend broken up with Yeah. What, I mean, the ex-boyfriend must have said something really heinous.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Lisa P: Like, I feel like you should corroborate that.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I would feel like. Like, if any of my friends, if their boyfriend or partner came to me and said something, I’d be like, yeah, I’m gonna trust my friend over you.
Yeah. I’m gonna
Lisa P: double check on that. I’m
Christa Innis: gonna, we’re
Lisa P: gonna have a
Christa Innis: talk. Yeah. Um, so she just ends with, last I saw she and her husband are still married with kids and seem happy, at least from what I can tell on Facebook. So, um,
They Thought They Could Plan a Wedding…
Lisa P: well, thank goodness they, you know, the, I feel like the, the older generation always says the worse the wedding, the better the marriage.
Or at least that’s, I think what they say like. To make people feel better about things like that. Yeah, yeah. Um, that honestly, I dunno if I, like, I feel like these things didn’t happen to this couple. I feel like this couple like thought they could plan a wedding and did and could not, like, could not plan a wedding and realized way too late.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I find because of the weddings I’ve been a part of, I find there’s a lot of times where people just. Nice as nicely as I can put it. They live in fairytale Land, so they like see a movie and they’re like, oh, that looks beautiful. But they don’t realize there’s all these people, people behind the scenes that make it possible.
So they have all these wishes or like desires for things to happen, and they think it’ll just happen on that day. They don’t realize like, okay, well if you want catering, then you need to have. Someone to set it up or you need a kitchen, or if you want your bridesmaids to wear these dresses, you need like an aisle for them to walk down or you need, you know, like they don’t think of all the things it takes.
Pay attention to detail, which
Lisa P: is why there are wedding planners.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Lisa P: Sometimes people can’t do that and you need someone to help you. And again, like we only had a day of wedding planners, so I did a lot of the planning myself, but I feel like I had. I had a lot of like friend vendors, so like that helped out.
But also just like, I don’t know, have you never thrown a party? Like there’s certain things, you know, alcohol, food, logistics, schedule like I do that when I throw my kids’ birthday party. You know what I mean? It’s the same skill. Yeah, you still gotta feed people, you’ve gotta make sure people can get there.
Um, probably wanna set up ahead of time. These are like pretty standard. Yeah. For hosting anything, not just a wedding. And a wedding is like 10 times more intense.
Christa Innis: Oh yeah. I know. My husband always laughs at me. ’cause like even for our daughter’s party, like birthday parties, which are like two, three hours max.
I like write out a whole timeline. I’m like, okay, food arrives at this time. People arrive at this time. Like I just, I have to visualize. Oh I’m, it’s funny, I’m like type A when it comes to like planning stuff like that, but like I see type A like mom videos and I’m like, I don’t think I’m a type A mom. I think I’m a type A like planner.
I don’t even know if that makes sense. But
Lisa P: I have some of that too. I feel like when it comes down to making sure things like kind of run smoothly, I can be very hands-on. I don’t make a timeline, so like I feel like that’s, that might be my next step over the top might be my next step. Um. Yeah, like I love hosting, I love cooking and like cooking very much is about timing and execution.
So like that sort of skill, like my biggest pet peeve is when I’m like finished cooking and I’ve timed everything and I’ve told people like when food’s gonna be ready? And then they’re like, absent mindedly, like mingling or something. I’m like, no, no, no. The food is hot and ready. Like right now.
Christa Innis: Yeah. This is the now time.
Right now. This is even time
Lisa P: we must sell now.
Christa Innis: Yeah, no, for sure. I feel like those definitely all those things, like I feel like when we said like, have you like hosted or whatever, I think there are a lot of like brides that this is their first time, like really like hosting something. You should not be
Lisa P: doing
Christa Innis: it on your own.
Like Yeah,
Lisa P: if it’s your never hosting anything, you’ve never done like a holiday party or you’ve never hosted your friend’s birthday party. Mm-hmm. Don’t try with the wedding, the wedding’s not the time to like take a stab.
Christa Innis: I know, I think that’s when it gets so stressful. I was the same with you where I, as you were, I had, I pretty much planned it, but like our event, our wedding venue had a day of coordinator and people don’t realize how helpful that is because that person’s gonna like do the behind the scenes, running around, making sure things are where they need to be.
And I’ve done that for a few weddings now and that I love doing it because I’m like. You tell me what to do. You tell me what needs to be done, I’ll make sure it’s done. Don’t get dirty. I will do that
Lisa P: if you want to. And like back to what we were saying before with, I wish I had been a guest at my wedding.
If I had also been like running around coordinating the, the staff and the vendors and the, the drop offs and the pickups, you’re not having any fun like that. You’re not having any good of a time at all because you’re so stressed about the comings and goings and there’s so much that goes into. Getting everybody where they need to be at the right time.
Right. Like and getting everything to execute.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Lisa P: I am like a huge proponent of, even if you don’t do a planner for like the whole wedding prep. The whole wedding planning, definitely a day of like, yeah. But maybe that you’re like engagement gift right? From your parents or your in-laws or something. A day of coordinator.
Christa Innis: Yeah, just someone to like ease a little bit of the stress because you don’t wanna just like randomly like. Task people with it that day. ’cause they’re not gonna be thinking about it. And it’s just, yeah, there’s random things that just pop up. For sure.
Lisa P: They really are.
Christa Innis: All right, well, that was a crazy story.
All right, I always like to end these. I know we’re running short on time, but I always like to end these with weekly confessions, so people send me confessions kinda related to event or weddings, um, on social media. So let’s see here. This first one says, um. I absolutely hate the girl that my sister-in-law loves.
It makes me hate seeing my sister-in-law, too. Oh,
Lisa P: well hopefully that doesn’t last long.
Christa Innis: I don’t know. Yeah, I That’s, that’s tough. ’cause you can only do something much when it’s, when it’s a, a sister-in-law. I’m guessing it’s like a, your. Partner’s sister? I would guess so. You probably can’t.
Lisa P: That’s what I assumed.
I assumed it was like your partner’s, sister’s girlfriend that we were going with. That’s okay.
Christa Innis: That’s what I would get.
Lisa P: Yeah. Yeah. And like you usually button your mouth until you have to not button your mouth on that one.
Christa Innis: Yeah, yeah. Wait till they say something to you and they ask for your opinion, or something happens and you can be like, well, here’s what I think.
Until then, you gotta let it work itself out. Otherwise you’ll be the villain. Oh, absolutely. Yep. Um, this says I had to uninvite half of my friends to make room for my mother-in-law’s tennis buddies. No. What? Whose wedding is it?
Lisa P: Oh my God. I call it they’re gonna stop talking to the mother-in-law like five years down the road.
Yeah. Like altogether. No way. That’s insane.
Christa Innis: That sounds like, and I’m obviously reading between the lines, but that sounds like a mother-in-law that was maybe paying for part of it or something, and she used that as a way to like control the wedding because mm-hmm. I, I see the make room like you had to, like who’s, who said
Lisa P: you had to.
Yeah, that’s definitely, that’s a manipulation like that. Mm. I don’t love that. I don’t either. I feel like is probably gonna go bye-bye for in a, a little while.
Christa Innis: Yeah. We need to, we need to say no. Set some boundaries with that mother-in-law. Um, okay. This last one says, I joked I wanted pockets on my wedding dress for getaway money.
Deep down, I think I knew it was true. Oh. The number of times people have confessed to me like, oh, I’ve had a, I had a feeling, um, before the wedding. I told my dad I didn’t wanna get married before the wedding, and I still did. I’ve gotten so many of those.
Lisa P: I had a
Christa Innis: friend do that to me. Really?
Lisa P: Yes. I knew before they got married that they did like they, that, that, that she did not really want to start all over is like how she kind of put it.
Mm-hmm. Um. I don’t know. I took that to my grave. We don’t really speak anymore, and that is not my business. And they’re still married, so sometimes
If You Have Doubts, Don’t Walk Down the Aisle
Christa Innis: it works out. Oh, see, I was gonna say the opposite, uh, opposite happened to me. I, and I’ve talked about this before, um, but I was in a wedding years ago and every wedding event there was some kind of thing, and it was with him, every kind of thing.
And she, and she like cried in the car after the bachelorette party. She cried in the car. Oh, yeah. After the rehearsal. All these different things. And I was just like. Hey, maybe we like, should we rethink this? Oh, I, we already paid the vendors. I’m like, yeah, but divorce is way more expensive.
Lisa P: Oh God no. Yeah, no.
If there’s like, if there’s a doubt in your mind on the person, I feel like I. You’ve gotta cut and run. Like you, you getting divorced is so much more traumatic. It’s so much more expensive. God forbid you like, have a bunch of kids. Um, no, no. If it’s not right and like, this is why, uh, so on my page I talk a lot about, and I’m very happily married, that like marriage should not be this like.
Default standard that people are trying to hit. Because you know when you get 12 years in a marriage and you’re, you know, most people my age got married somewhere around the same time I did. You see a lot of divorces by now. Okay. We’re starting to have that first round of divorce A is coming through and it’s like, God, what a wait.
Not a lot of waste because like a lot of them have children and that’s like the wonderful thing that came out of it. But you know, you don’t have to get married like. You could end up really miserable like in so many ways. And that’s like, you know, it’s just not something that, if you can, if you can in any way, imagine your life without that person, not without a spouse, but without that specific person.
Don’t do it. Right, a hundred percent. Especially if you’re a woman.
Christa Innis: Oh yeah, totally. And I always have this too, like I’ve been with my husband, I think we’re going on 11 years this year. But we’ve been married three. And so like for us it was like, I totally agree with you what you just said about like, you don’t have to get married, you don’t have to follow a certain timeline.
So many people were constantly like, when are you getting married? When are you getting married? And I was like, we, like, we do things on our own timeline and I just feel like. So many people have this, like their own expectations on everyone else, and especially as women, I feel like we have the expectations of like, okay, I need to do this, then I need to get married.
I need to have a baby. And you feel like you have to follow this timeline.
Lisa P: Yeah. And it feels like a rushed timeline at the, at the moment. Like, and I feel pre to that too. I was like, oh, I wanna have two kids, um, by 30 and like I did, but. You know, now looking back at it, I’m like, you idiot. Like you should have just been like, find the right person and then figure it out.
Like
Christa Innis: Yeah, I know. I remember like, I would like if it were just like my hu like then boyfriend, but husband and I, I just like doing our own thing. Like, we’d be like totally fine and then like someone would like bring up like, oh, are you guys gonna get married? And I would be like, do I wait? Are we doing something wrong?
And like, it almost puts us like, not like guilt, but this feeling of you of like. Wait, are we doing something wrong? Is our relationship, because we’re just dating right now, is that like wrong? And you start getting this like, no, because half
Lisa P: of the men in divorces anyway, so like, you know what I mean? Yeah.
Marriage isn’t the great indicator of like lifelong companionship anymore. Mm-hmm. Um, well, and like
Christa Innis: too our, like our parents’ generation, I feel like they were so committed to like marriage that like they stayed. Are unhappily married for so long without actually like admitting like, I actually hate this.
Oh, they wrong
Lisa P: gold stars for it too. They’re like, we’ve been married 35 years. I hate Jeff, but he lives in the other bedroom, so, you know, but we’ve been married this long. And I’m like, but why? What kind of award are you winning here? Like, I know some people have the whole like, divorce is a sin thing, but like you’re already in hell.
So. Yeah. Yeah. I don’t see the point in that like a relationship should only be there to enhance your already like wonderful life. And if it doesn’t do that, then it’s not worth it. And like kind of feel the same way about kids too. I feel like the relationships that I see with people who don’t have kids by choice, obviously there’s like.
People who have extenuating circumstances where they can’t have children, but people who choose not to have kids, I feel like they have this like gift of time to like really find their perfect partner.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Lisa P: Uh, and they usually choose better.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm. Like.
Lisa P: They get to choose somebody that they truly just genuinely wanna spend all their time with, as opposed to people who do, who do the musical chairs type of marriage, where they’re like, well, it’s been three years since college.
Like, I guess you’re the guy.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Lisa P: Yeah. Yeah. I guess you’re the person I’m with right now. So musical chairs, let’s do it. Like, let’s get married. Timelines are ticking, like I feel like it kind of saddles us down. Um, oh yeah. In a.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah, that’s definitely another thing with, as women we’re like told that the biological clock is ticking, you need to have kids hurry up.
My husband and I since like one year, one of dating, when are you guys gonna have kids? And I was like, I’m not even thinking about kids. Or what are you talking about? And, and I like, and I like look back and I’m like, if I had kids when we had started dating, I was like, I would’ve been a completely different.
Ma Um, I would’ve been in completely different like financial point in my life and I just feel like we need to like, and not saying that’s right or wrong, I’m just saying everyone’s timeline is different. ’cause I know people had kids at in their early twenties and they are thriving and they were meant to be moms at that point.
But I just feel like it’s so important to like listen to your own timeline. ’cause I have friends now that are like,
Lisa P: this new generation is doing a lot better than like we were as millennials. Yeah. I feel like the younger girls are like, really? Coming to the table with the head on the shoulders a little bit more without like the fairytale movie, prince Princess aspect that, that we were kind of sold.
Christa Innis: Yes. I love that. Yeah. I’ve noticed like the shift in the movies, especially with my daughter being she’s two and I feel like. The movies have shifted. Obviously there’s still the fairytale, but I’m like, let’s watch Moana because she’s like brave and she, you know, or Meredith, she doesn’t need a man. You know, I try to like show her some different things because of course we still love the classics, but it’s good to kind of open the horizons up a little bit.
Lisa P: Yeah, definitely. I mean, my daughter is, I mean, she still like, very much knows she wants to get married and have kids like I knew from a young age. So I don’t like balk at that. Like I, you know, some people just like really have that desire. Um, but she still is like, well maybe I’ll be president and a dance teacher.
And I’m like, you go, you do both. I love that. Yes, you do both.
Christa Innis: Stop you, girl. I love that. Yeah. Yes. Well, thank you so much for coming on. This was such a good discussion and I feel like it was good to kind of like just kind of talk about like, obviously the pressures on women and Bridezillas and there’s just a lot of cool things we talked about, so thank you for coming.
Yeah, I loved it.
Lisa P: This is such a fun topic. I’m sure you get so entertained hearing all these stories, so that was so fun.
Christa Innis: Yeah, they always, they never cease to, uh, surprise or amaze me. It’s, it’s always something new. I bet. Yeah. Well, for anyone listening, um, where can everyone follow you, find more of your content and anything exciting that you wanna share?
Lisa P: Yeah. Um, you can find me on mostly TikTok and Instagram. My handle is, it’s me, Lisa PI like to say I talk about hard topics in cute outfits. Um, and that covers relationships and marriage and parenting and boundaries and setting boundaries once you have kids, which I feel like once you get past the bride phase, that’s coming next.
Mm-hmm. Um, and you can find me there. Um, and. I would like to say I have something big in the works coming, but I don’t because I homeschool my kids and this is what we’re doing. And that’s big in. That is big in
Christa Innis: in itself like mom and is a full-time job.
Lisa P: Yeah. I wear a lot of hats, that’s for sure.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my gosh.
Awesome. Well, thank you so much. Thank you
Lisa P: very much. Have a good one.
Follow-up Story: My Future MIL Confronted Me in a Pantry
What happens when your future mother-in-law corners you in the pantry to accuse you of ruining her son’s life? That’s exactly what went down in today’s jaw-dropping episode.
We reconnect with an anonymous guest, who now returns to share how her wedding journey unraveled into a powder keg of emotion, betrayal, and a confrontation she’ll never forget.
If you’ve ever questioned a wedding’s red flags, this story will stay with you. From a fiancé caught in the middle to a mother-in-law determined to divide, this episode is a must-listen.
Join me on Patreon and get bonus content every month!
Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
03:13 Engagement and Initial Red Flags
03:45 Mother-in-Law’s Demands Begin
04:52 First Major Incident: Venue Address
08:13 Boundary Issues and Kitchen Confrontation
11:56 Fiance’s Call and Silent Treatment
16:55 4th of July Weekend Tensions
20:43 Handling Emotional Conflict
22:11 The Pantry Confrontation
28:19 Post-Confrontation Reflections
31:22 Dress Shopping and Relationship Dynamics
33:25 Premarital Counseling and Lessons Learned
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Pantry Blowup – A quiet moment at the rehearsal dinner turns into a private ambush from the mother-in-law.
- Caught in the Middle – The fiancé’s struggle to balance loyalty between partner and parent creates more chaos.
- Crossing the Line – The mother-in-law’s accusations include controlling her son’s life and “changing him.”
- Silent Treatment Strategy – Post-fight, the MIL goes silent, leaving tension boiling under the surface.
- A New Kind of Wedding Day – Despite everything, the couple finds their own way to move forward—with boundaries.
- Delayed Fallout – A honeymoon doesn’t stop the drama. The emotional scars show up weeks later.
- The Support That Mattered – The groom’s eventual stand for his partner offers a moment of healing.
- Telling the Story – The power of sharing your experience and being heard, even years later.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “If you’re scared to speak up at your own wedding, that’s a red flag.” – Christa Innis
- “Respecting boundaries doesn’t make you difficult—it makes you self-aware.” – Christa Innis
- “A wedding should never be the battleground for someone else’s unresolved issues.” – Christa Innis
- “Silence doesn’t mean peace—it just means someone’s swallowing their feelings.” – Christa Innis
- “Just because it’s tradition doesn’t mean it’s healthy.” – Christa Innis
- “I knew the moment she opened that pantry, something was going to explode.” – Anonymous Guest
- “It wasn’t just about the wedding—it was about control.” – Anonymous Guest
- “She made me feel like I was stealing her son, not marrying him.” – Anonymous Guest
- “I kept waiting for someone to stand up for me, but no one did.” – Anonymous Guest
- “You think family drama will die down after the wedding, but it only gets louder.” – Anonymous Guest
Join the Drama with Christa Innis:
Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!
Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form
Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!
A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi there. Thanks for joining me. Thanks for having me. I’m so excited. All right, so before we started recording, we said we are gonna keep you anonymous today because we have a kind of crazy story to dive into today. for those of you guys listening, they’re like, what is she talking about?
I think it was episode, I wrote notes down here, episode seven. I had Suzanne Lambert on and we read was one of the craziest stories. I think one of the kind of intense mother-in-law story. It involved, a lot of, anguish, a debate and a pantry on 4th of July and a lot of drama that went up, from there and.
This was such an interesting story to us, and we were like, I think you ended it with part two coming soon because you’re about to do your bridesmaid or no, your wedding dress shopping. So I was like, I have so many questions, let’s reach out to her and see if she wants to come on the podcast. So here you are.
So I appreciate you for being vulnerable and coming on and sharing.
Anonymous Guest: Yeah, no, uh, thanks. I mean. Honestly, like it was such a crazy story and I just think, I was just like, well, someone’s gotta hear this, whether it’s for entertainment purposes or therapeutic for me, I was just like, someone’s gotta hear this, so it’s good.
Yeah. Yeah.
Christa Innis: So if you guys have not listened to the full episode, I would recommend you guys go back to episode seven and give it a listen. but let’s just do some quick bullet points here. We’ll kinda walk through it together. I might also put a little, audio clip from it so you guys can hear some of the crazy moments there.
But starting off, you said, my fiance and I got engaged in April. We were excited to plan our wedding for next September, and his mother has always been supportive, often teasing him about proposing. So when we called to share the news. She barely finished saying congratulations before asking if she could go dress shopping because she only has two sons, so I’m not gonna read the whole thing, obviously.
But then getting into it, the red flags started appearing when you guys all got together. At, I think, was it an engagement party?
Anonymous Guest: It was at our house with Father’s Day weekends. Okay. We were hosting all the men in our lives. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Okay. And so at that point was when she started to demand to know the venue, address.
So tell us what went down here and oh, actually I wanna know first before all of this, did you guys consider her like a good relationship? Like have a good relationship with her?
Anonymous Guest: Yeah, no, we had a great relationship and like it, my fiance’s relationship with his mom was always good.
Ours was good. She was very supportive of us. And I even noted, but his grandma was pa in the process of passing away and on her deathbed was like, you have to marry this girl in two months. And he is like, you’re nuts. And of course we wanted to get engaged, but there was like a lot of family support including his dying grandma, his mother, like all these people.
And so there was never really any signs of any like, anguish as you said, like, or upset feelings. really until. Like the wedding started coming to fruition and that like maybe we were making decisions that were for us and nobody else. So I think that’s kind of maybe where that happened or. Maybe her perception of how that was starting to unfold was different than the reality.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Okay, so let’s go to that first moment. Yeah. Where she starts pressuring you to tell the address, even though the month was still like a year out, and you said this is the name of it. We actually haven’t even been there yet. So what happened? What all went down?
The Text Message Debacle
Anonymous Guest: Yeah, it was crazy. It was like, so we were sitting in our living room just having like normal Father’s Day watching golf kind of thing.
And we had told her where we were getting married. we kind of had left out details from the beginning just as we were figuring them out, told her. And then, you know, she was like, can you send me the address? And I was like, well, I already shared it with you. And she’s like, well, I delete my text messages, which is something that I know you guys noted the first time.
Yeah. We were like, what is she saying? They were like, who does this? And I was like, no, she’s just somebody that’s just like, just delete. Them? I don’t know. I don’t know. She actually
Christa Innis: does. She wasn’t just saying
Anonymous Guest: that goes through and she just like deletes all, every thread. It gets deleted like every day kind of thing.
So she doesn’t keep anything. Oh. And she doesn’t have a, you know, she just doesn’t keep anything. So I knew that originally she was asking ’cause like she didn’t have it. but then, you know, as time went on, she started like, and I said, well, why do you need it? I told you we were getting married.
And she’s like, well, because I wanna go and I wanna go see where the hotels are in p. And because it’s not so far from where she lives, all this stuff. And I was just like, oh, no, no, no, no. You know? And I, I was just like, no, that’s like really not necessary. We have it all figured out. It. April and our wedding is the following September.
So we were so far away time I couldn’t even open a room block if I wanted to. And so my fiance and I were just like, what? So, this is kind of happening and this is like starting that conversation again. We’re just very casual and she’s just like, no, like, just send me it. And I was like, well, it seems as though you wanna go there.
And like that’s not, we haven’t even been, and I’m trying to like bridge and bridge and understand and like. Really press this down kind of quickly and as amicably as possible because I’m just, she keeps pressing and then I keep trying to bridge it. and so that was like the first of what I,thought were like three major incidents within this incident of a day was her pestering about the venue.
And it was just so shocking to us. ’cause we were like. why are you pressing on this so hard right now at this time and this day? Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. It’s like, where is this all coming from? All of a sudden you have to go see it and it’s like, how can she not see that this is a special moment for you and your fiance at the time of being able to like go to the venue together, see together for the first time before people coming in, in with their opinions.
Anonymous Guest: Yeah. and we, to this day, still have not seen it, which is hilarious because I planned our whole wedding around a venue I’ve literally never seen. but that’s the thing is I was just like, I don’t know when I’m gonna go. I don’t have plans to go. As of right now, it’s four hours away from where we live.
Like this is just the reality of it. And just because you were closer, let’s not like prioritize You’re needing this to go. Also, I was expressing it to private property. Like it’s not like you can just show up like a ballroom or a hotel. You can’t just show up. And then, my fear was that like, as she was pressing, I started to realize, well maybe she would go and, go to the property and start talking to these people and having conversations that I was not a part of.
And so I kind of started spiraling myself and that’s where I think I started getting more worked up by the thoughts of it. of what could happen. Mm-hmm. And just try, like I said, just trying to shut it down in that moment, really. Yeah. as kindly as possible.
Christa Innis: Yeah. ’cause it’s totally understandable to be like excited be like, if you want me included, I would love to be a part of it, but to then press, especially after you’re like, well, we haven’t even seen it ourselves.
It’s a private property. You can’t just show up. And she’s still pushing for it. So then she corners you. In the kitchen. How does that all happen? And does this kind of fizzle out first and you guys are like, just kinda like moving up past it? like what are other people doing during this time? Like are they looking at this like.
Is this still happening?
“Aren’t You Just So Happy?”
Anonymous Guest: well, we have a kind of open concept floor, so like our kitchen’s connected to our living room and connected, and we were kind of outside, so we had a group outside, like no one was really in the house anymore, and she’d kind of come inside and we were in the kitchen together and everyone else was kind of outside, which is a very similar, like kind of set up as it was when we were in the pantry situation, which don’t get to, but, and she was just, expressing that she was like.
Are you just so happy? I’m gonna be your mother-in-law. And I was just like, in the moment, I was taken aback because I’m like. Why are you asking this? Like, is this something you’re really concerned about? Like, am I so happy? Am I so not? Because I’ve obviously been maybe giving off some energy that, I was not as excited by your excitement to go to the venue and I was kinda shutting that down and then I shut down the conversation with my bachelorette party, and so I’m like, are you kind of getting the vibe that my energy is coming back to you in a different way and now you’re trying to get validation through me by saying, aren’t you just so happy?
I tried to like, address it as head on as possible and just say like, yeah, of course I am, but here’s what’s happening right now, is that like, I feel as though you’re kind of, you’re trying to step on this, what I would call a boundary and saying like, my boundary is that you don’t go to the venue and you don’t, like this is the situation and I would just appreciate that you kind of let us handle it.
And, I didn’t again realize at the time the weight of the words I was saying. Again, I was trying to be as amicable as possible, be very choosy with my words and being kind. And ultimately like I wanted to be kind to her and, just express clearly how I was feeling. And I did not realize the weight of the word boundary.
and how like significant it would play into the rest of.
Christa Innis: She’s held onto that grip on it. They don’t do boundaries in this family. Gorilla
Anonymous Guest: Grip, gorilla Gripp onto it. Yeah, it’s crazy. and I think that like it maybe was the first time being put in a, like to be held back from something or maybe to be really put into that box.
But at the same time, like it’s funny because you guys noted like, where’s your fiance and this whole thing, he is outside having a drink, has no idea. We’re, you know, in the kitchen kind of thing together. And I think in the most of the story, like he and I and, the sentiment really is he was just as stunned as I was through the whole thing and.
I think his reaction in the fight or flight minus fight his is kind of take a step back and process. And so whereas I maybe was more communicative with my feelings and clear up front later in the story, he was much more like nervous and surprised and then had to find a way to then speak and speak up about it, which is after the situation when we were in the kitchen when he ended up calling her, but.
I mean, we were by ourselves in the kitchen. And then as I said, this is my boundary. She, I don’t really remember her exact kind of feelings about it, but we ended up, walking away and having the rest of the day kinda be fine. And we thought the day went kind of weird after that and we were just like, man, that was like such odd energy in front of everyone, not just at least the three of us.
And. That’s when he ended up calling her, which came after that.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Okay. So we have an issue with the word boundaries. I’m glad you said the thing about like you and your fiance. ’cause I think a lot of times, like stories like this are written by the brides and they experience it firsthand because of that kind of like, turmoil, I dunno if that’s even the right word, but it’s like.
The fiance we to remember too, is in a difficult position, right? It’s like, obviously they’re choosing you, but at the same time it’s like, I’ve never seen this side of my mom before. I’m really sorry. But also what’s happening, but also I love you, I promise. they’re like dealing with all these like different so of like emotions and things they’re going through.
so that’s important to say as well. okay, so these red flags are showing, you’re like, okay, we’re gonna move on from this like boundary day. Yeah. then your fiance calls her. Mm-hmm.
Anonymous Guest: yeah. so we decompressed, we talked about the day.
We were like, wow, that was really weird. Never had an interaction like that. just seemed as though like she was really pressing and feeling anxious or worked up about the details. And so we called her and was just like, Hey, like. I kind of told him, I said like, if you feel this way, say it on behalf of you.
Like, I don’t want you to speak on behalf of me. in any way, giving anybody ammunition as to saying, well, she feels this way, she feels that way. I said, just speak on behalf of you and leave it at that. So he said, you know, like, I feel like the other day was weird and the energy was weird, and it essentially like maybe being more.
Clear with how he was feeling. I think it really upset her and she ended up getting so upset with his confrontation of the behavior and just saying like, and I forget along the lines of what he said, but he was just like, talking about this and talking about that. She goes, well, that was a joke.
And like, I can’t, I was just teasing. And he was just like, yeah, it really wasn’t, a joke or whatever. You know, he kind of addressed like things. Clearly and she just had different perception of it. and then I think that being as though he was so clear with her and like how he felt, she felt very attacked by that and very like hurt by that.
And the only way I think that she knew how to process that was to literal hang up on him and not talk to him for three weeks. Yeah. Which was crazy. Do the silent
Christa Innis: treatment. Yeah. I find that so interesting because it’s like, okay, respect your elders, communicate and he did just that. Yeah. He literally called her in an appropriate way, did not out her in front of a bunch of people saying, Hey, you’re being rude.
You know, like literally the most respectful thing. But there’s a certain, I feel like certain people cannot handle being told they did something wrong, or, someone was hurt by the way they acted.
Birthday Silence Treatment
Anonymous Guest: No, that’s exactly, right. and I think again, their relationship was so fine, but why did this instance of confronting behavior, and maybe he never did, and what I’ve come to realize in the last year about him and his relationship growing up and stuff like that, like he is so unbothered by everything.
Like the man could not be bothered by a single thing. And it is what a peaceful life my fiance lives because he just does not get worked up about anything and. It takes so much for him to even feel worked up. And so when coming at situations like this, he can so easily take it in and brush it out and it’s like.
Most people cannot do that or you internalize a little bit. And so I think that in interactions with her previously or growing up, like he certainly has never felt the need to address anything head on and or felt heard enough. But I think when it came down to us discussing how we felt and how I expressed to him how that made me feel, he then felt ownership and saying like, okay, well this is something that obviously we need to talk about and I need to address, but maybe she had never.
Had that be addressed before or been told to your point Like, this was wrong or your behavior upset me in any way. So it definitely stunned her. And you said she hung off the phone and didn’t talk to him for three weeks. didn’t talk to either one of us for three weeks, which was a notable three weeks because his birthday fell during that time.
And, there wasn’t like a. Come back together kind of moment. And it was a little hard. I mean, she expressed after that in the story that that was hard for her. And it’s hard for us, like, to have such a normal, good relationship with somebody and then to know there is tension and to know what is present for that whole time, like.
It was definitely difficult for us too. Mm-hmm. Because like we’re just trying to process how we feel about the situation in general and celebrate our engagement. And then also there’s this like massive tension that’s like building and then kind of being expanded in the family as like more people were obviously present and then seeing what’s happening and hearing what’s happening and it’s kind of expanding it felt like.
So that was, it was hard. Yeah. And then of course it’s birthday, so it felt, it just felt terrible. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. I find it all so interesting because it’s like she can. Beret is probably a heavy word, but she can like, call you out in front of everybody, make you feel a certain way, even though you were like constantly putting your boundary down, saying, no, no, no.
She gets contacted in private by herself. Mm-hmm. And that’s disrespectful. It’s not okay. And she goes into silent treatment mode. She goes into like victim mode of like, oh my gosh, you guys are attacking me. And it’s just kind of funny to see like the opposites and from different point of views like, how she can’t even see like past her own like lens.
Anonymous Guest: Yeah. And that’s like a lot of the work that I’ve done in therapy and personal therapy like is just understanding. Yeah, of course. Like you have two sides to every story, but like. The information that we had to your point, was in private, in a calm way and trying to be clear and communicative and it wasn’t receptive.
she wasn’t receptive at all of it. So I think that’s a piece of, I. Getting feedback and then being able to process at the time, at least in the situation, she just did not handle like super well and then ended up, my fiance and then extended party, like ended up suffering in those, three-ish weeks to that before the next, major incident.
So it was crazy. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. So let’s get into a Father’s Day weekend. This was the part that 4th of July. This is
Anonymous Guest: 4th of
Christa Innis: July weekend. weeks. Year. Oh, fourth. Oh yeah. Father’s Day weekend was the first dinner. So we’re talking Yeah. 4th of July weekend. This was still over the, not talking to you stage.
Mm-hmm. Completely like blocking you guys out. Yeah. Yeah. So at that point, okay, let’s talk about 4th of July then. So you guys don’t hear from her. You guys have a 4th of July party at this house with a really big pantry. Yes. Yes. This is the part that Suzanne and I were just like, wait, what is happening here?
She’s in the pantry now. This doesn’t make any sense. Yeah. I’m like visualizing this like beautiful, like huge pantry.
Anonymous Guest: It is. Yeah. Um,
Christa Innis: so you guys had like a rented house?
Anonymous Guest: Well, yeah. So without giving too many details my fiance’s family has like a larger, lodge of sorts, very much like the Hallmark esque make big lodges that they spend their Christmases in kind of thing.
They have one in their family. it’s also like a hunting lodge kind of thing. Okay. So just very large. and the kitchen is like an industrial kitchen, so you imagine like the big industrial stoves and stuff like that. And so there’s just this larger like wraparound kind of pantry type of situation that’s adjacent to off of it, but yes.
Where at their family’s house. lodge for, better words, but yeah.
Christa Innis: So it’s his family’s house. Everyone’s there, but his mom just hasn’t shown up yet. She shows up late, right?
The Lodge and the Cold Shoulder
Anonymous Guest: Yeah. So she doesn’t live too far from there. and so my fiance has like, family ownership of the lodge.
So we go up, we bring my family, my parents are there, that we all join the lodge for the weekend. So we’re there for like the long weekend and it’s her family’s place. and his grandpa. Owns it and he’s there and then the aunt is there. So everyone that was at the original incident is also now, coincidentally at 4th of July weekend.
so she had every right to be there and all the plans to be there. But it sounds as though like, obviously we were struggling with communication. We were obviously not talking and then, so it didn’t seem as though she was very excited about the idea of joining us as soon as possible. So we were there for a couple days before she ended up joining.
Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh, and do you think that was her plan all along? Or do you think she was randomly was like, I’m gonna go and make my entrance, my grand entrance?
Anonymous Guest: Yeah, it’s, well, so there was up being a couple things that happened. So there was like this other party that we were going to within for the July weekend that was at a house very close, and we ended up seeing her there for the first time.
So she was also at this adjacent family party inside of 4th of July weekend. Oh my gosh. To give you the vibe, and that is where we first. saw her face to face since he had not speak to her, like been on the phone and she was very cold. Like, very much did not want anything to do with us. And at the time.
I was, I kind of saw her in the corner and I could see that she was talking to somebody. and I could see she was very heated about what she was talking about, and I could only imagine that, she was kind of recounting what has been going on in her life. and she said a couple things kind of verbatim that she repeated back to me in the pantry.
So I knew that’s ultimately what she was talking about and mm-hmm. So I could tell that, yeah, the vibes were a little intense and so he kind of went up to her and tried to embrace her in some way and she was very much not into it. I tried to do the same thing. She basically didn’t hug me probably the first time ever.
and so it was like a really cold interaction. and then my parents were at the house, you know, down the road kind of thing, and. Her whole point was to come there and to spend time with all of us. And she ended up leaving that house and never visited them. Never even stopped, like just kept going. So the plan was to be there kind of the whole weekend, and she kind of came in, did her thing, and left.
Left for a couple days, and then came back what would be ultimately like a couple days later. So,
Christa Innis: oh my gosh, very much.
Anonymous Guest: Not the plan. Not the plan
Christa Innis: at all. Yeah. Yeah. It’s so crazy. Like looking back, of course, like. I’m just like, she could have avoided all of this by just like responding to her fiance being like, I’m sorry I made her feel that way.
I would love to like, get lunch next week and just like, hear about your wedding plans or, just like, kind of just completely turn it over instead. have like a toddler blocking this out. We’ll have
Anonymous Guest: to, yeah. Yeah. I’ll have to cut this out, but she needs some serious therapy, so I’ll find something else to say.
But I mean, yeah, it definitely like. You could tell she was so upset and she just didn’t know how to process her feelings and or how to navigate the situation in general. And like, I get that. I totally get that. We were all in uncharted territory, so it’s like. We were all processing things and being in this interaction for the very first time.
And so I think it’s important that, we handled it how we felt we could defend and talk about and, be proud of. And, I don’t know if she felt the same way, but it seems as though like she was kind of. Operating on out of fear and like confusion and, we were really trying to make sure that we were clear and concise and kind, you know?
Mm-hmm. Like we didn’t want to create any animosity, but, a lot of it definitely could have been avoided. And especially this whole like buildup to not talking and to not, leaving and not coming and not embracing all this kinda stuff is like, well that’s just hard, you Like none of us really wanted to.
Start back up again after so many weeks kind of thing. But it’s like someone has to do it. That’s why the pantry situation happened was because I was like, we must like do this now. You know? Like it
Christa Innis: get rid of the tension.
Anonymous Guest: Yeah. We have to try. So try.
Christa Innis: Alright, so let’s, let’s talk the pantry moment. So the pantry moment,
Anonymous Guest: this large pantry.
Christa Innis: So. how did that all come about? So eventually she shows up at the house. On a day, like she kind of showed up later to everyone. Like you said, it was kind of weird. She kind of came in and out. Sorry, I’m kind of like looking back at the story. No, ahead. Tell how, tell me how that kind of like all started.
Because I think it started with your, fiance and her talking, right? And then you were kinda like listening in.
The Pantry Confrontation
Anonymous Guest: I was like, we have to address this. And they had finally just exchanged his birthday gifts It was kind of okay, but we had no, that was in front of everybody and so we had had no, like, one-on-one time with her.
and so she kind of went in inside and everybody again was sitting outside. And so I was like, well, we should go, we should gotta, we gotta do it. So I was like, go, I’ll be behind you. and. So again, the beginning of the conversation, she kind of thought she was having it with just him. And that’s why the detail about me coming into the pantry was kind of a note because she didn’t realize I was there because like he’s standing in the doorway, she’s inside the pantry and I’m on the outside behind him.
It’s tall, man. So it’s like, she didn’t know I was there. So he kind of says like, we gotta stop this. Like you gotta stop. And so then she starts explaining like how up upset she is and how this has been so upsetting for her she kind of starts venting a lot of her feelings.
And then the first thing that she kind of said that like threw me was she was like, and she said she would send me the address and like, she didn’t send me shit. And so then I was like, well, it’s my time to enter now. And so I hear my name, I’m being summed. Literally. I was like, well, you brought me into it.
Darn it. I’ll join now. So I kind of came around the corner and I was like, well, and I kind of said exactly that, like. Well, it’s not time to enter out. So, like I come in and I was just like,I didn’t even give any words out really before, she kind of came in and she got very close to me and got very aggressive as far as saying like, how dare you speak to me that way.
You know, how dare you talk about a boundary like that kind of referencing our, father’s Day weekend conversation and just essentially saying that like. She couldn’t imagine, speaking, having somebody speak to her that way. And, what the hell is a boundary kind of thing.
And it, what the hell
Christa Innis: is
Anonymous Guest: a
Christa Innis: boundary?
Anonymous Guest: Oh no. like she knows, but she lists like, what the hell, that has nothing to do with this kind of thing. Like, just not understanding the impact of really what I was saying. And she’s like in, you know, very close to my face and I was just like, are you really, like, is this really what you’re gonna do right now?
And my fiance. The man was stunned. The man’s mouth was probably a gate on the ground like, and he is again, he is definitely not a fighter and he’s not like a flight, but he’s definitely someone who just maybe a little bit freezes, especially in this moment. He’s a very like. Confident person. Like he knows how to handle stress really well.
But I think when it comes down to someone that you really didn’t expect it to be from, he just froze in that moment and he said nothing. and so it was just me, you know, me, Duke’s up, got my hands up, I’m so mentally prepared to handle this conversation. I’ve had so much therapy that I was like, I can do this.
and so I was just like. Are you really gonna, approach a conversation like that right now? Like, I am not being aggressive and I don’t have that tone. Like, I just don’t think that’s productive. And, her responses were very aggressive and trying to get her feelings across in a very, like, loud, big way.
and then I. Lost every, all of my therapy in me and I started rising as well. Hard get to, to a point where you’re just like, whatever. My ears are bright red. I am just like my heart is beating outta my chest because I’m just, I’m trying so hard to contain my thoughts and be clear, but then I’m also being attacked when I’m trying to process that.
my fiance is obviously standing there. I know this is hurting him in some capacity, so it’s like a, culmination of quite a few things that I felt like were like, leaning on my shoulders and I just started apologizing and and I truly felt apologetic like I did, that my intentions maybe were not the result of like what I said or how she felt, and.
those were just not received well at all either. So all I can do is apologize. All I can do is take ownership of what may have been unintended consequences and like it wasn’t being accepted. So at that point, like, what are we to do? we are not getting anywhere. and we went but I can go in circles for a while and we did.
So we went in circles for a while and then mm-hmm. Ultimately, it ended up kind of coming to a close in that moment, but, not without going on for quite a while before that point, and mind you we’re in a pantry that is extension of a kitchen, extension of a dining room that has got windows that are open to the outside.
So many people, I think, no real confirmation, this pantry has windows. So the pantry door was open. We were standing in the, literally, oh, we were standing in the door and then the kitchen’s open, and then there’s a doorway, and then the doorway goes straight outside. Stop. So did you see
Christa Innis: people walking by and like no one
Anonymous Guest: was in the house.
They knew what was going on, so they were like avoiding it, you know? Yeah, they, did your parents
Christa Innis: know what was going on? Like were they
Anonymous Guest: like everyone did? Yeah. It was sad. My mom actually ended up getting. Really drunk. She’s like so worked up. She was just drinking so much wine. She goes, I got so drunk. And I was just like, you’re crazy.
Like, because she was so worked up because she knows like, I certainly don’t need anybody to step in on my behalf. So she was like not worried about having to do that or. Isn’t really that personality type anyway. But she was just so stressed out by the confrontation and the attention that she like got accidentally drunk.
But I think that they could hear, so, what I know to be true is they could hear parts of it. So I think at that point, we ended up coming to kind of a, close and it didn’t really feel resolved though, at all. and it was just difficult to be like, well, this didn’t really do what we wanted, kind of thing.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. Okay, so then the next morning she comes back to the cabin and that’s when you guys talked to her and everything like Yeah. Said that she felt disrespected. mm-hmm. And basically she just kinda leaves saying, I’m happy we talked.
Anonymous Guest: it was hard because. We’d gone kinda the whole day spending the day on the water and before this conversation even happened, and I felt so unresolved.
It seems as though she kind of came into the day with a cleanish slate and was really trying to put everything behind, but not really, addressing it necessarily enough to put it behind. Mm-hmm. She kind of just said, well, that happened and now it’s over. and so as the day went on, I just kept.
Feeling so much more tension building up, because I was like, how are you going on? As if like, this did not happen yesterday and we had, this is not really resolved. and so I was like, I’m gonna say something. And I was like, I wanna say something. And I was like, I need to right here.
So we kind of, you know, approached it and I just said like, I felt very disrespected by the comments that were made and the way that you spoke to me and the tone that you spoke to me. And I said, essentially I felt like she was. Damaging the relationship that we did have and like to me as a person, like I felt like a wounded bird and somebody’s just like punching it, I just felt as though like I was already down and it just felt like I was getting punched. And so I tried to communicate that I didn’t really feel a lot of, again, apologetic energy from her. it was more so just like trying to find a means to an end or trying to get to the end. Mm-hmm.
Resolution—or Something Like It
And, it was hard. And then as I’m saying things, I’m more verbal processor, but as I’m saying things, I’m trying so hard to get off my chest to say it and to, feel it and to communicate it. And I just kept feeling like my blood pressure rising, like everything was just getting more. And she goes in for a hug and she’s like, I’m so happy.
We talked and I was just like. shaking. Mm-hmm. And like, I was just like, oh my God, I’m gonna die. So it was really hard because I felt like I was trying so hard to do everything the right way. And then finally I get it all out and I feel, no bit better. Like not even a single percent better.
but we were having tension in the conversation. And then my fiance kind of stepped in and. be more clear and communicate from his perspective. Maybe someone she was more open to listening to. and, you know, he was just kind of shutting down some of the other things that she was saying.
And she, again, more, a little bit more receptive maybe to him. But, the problem definitely was coming from me and maybe my more outspokenness. in general about the situation. So it was, really hard and I was like, well, we, I wasn’t really happy. We talked, I’m happy I said what I said.
But yeah. You know, I don’t feel like immensely better because of it at all. Yeah. So,
Christa Innis: that’s how I, kind of understood it while I was reading it. Yeah, because it seemed very, like you were very open with her, you were very forward with how you felt, and then she was kind of just like.
Okay, happy we talked. Bye now. And I just picture that being like, oh, she’s trying to just brush it, put it under the rug, which I get to a certain extent. Yeah. Like let’s move on. But also like you did a lot, of hurt. You caused a lot of issues. Yeah. The way you acted is gonna create this little barrier now between.
Your son and his future wife. okay, so now let’s get to the new stuff for two part two. Yeah. Yeah. It’s been almost two months. You said since the incident, and you made an appointment to address shopping with your mom, your fiance’s aunt and his mom. When I read that, I was like, whoa. Okay. So she’s still invited, she’s still coming along.
Yeah. How did that go? what’s been going on since?
Anonymous Guest: Yeah, so. I felt as though it was still my responsibility to extend an olive branch or regardless of kind of where our relationship was, that that was something that I had to do, and ultimately it would’ve certainly caused more damage if I didn’t invite her, if she wasn’t a part of it.
and then giving her the opportunity to maybe make some adjustments as to how we’re handling, like wedding stuff. Like if she felt as though something really was wrong in the way she handled, like the venue conversation, stuff like that. Here’s your opportunity to handle it differently. so we did go dress shopping.
the aunt, the mom, my friend, you guys obviously mentioned the first part like bringing, like a mean friend. I did have a friend there that was like. Prepared to potentially like, fend off any comments or any mm-hmm. attitude from really anybody, ultimately wasn’t needed.
The dress shopping actually went really, really well. She right, I think she just had, had a lot of, big feelings at the time and they’d kind of settled at that point up until then. and that was, you know, like in September. So that was like quite a few months ago now. But, we checked that box, like we did that, and then I continued to dress shop with who I, not who I wanted necessarily, but just like who other groups of people I wanted to go with.
So she kind of went the first time and then proceeded to them, check in and understand like how the process was going for me. ’cause I didn’t buy anything that day as I continued to shop. and that kind of went from there. since then I would say it’s been better. It’s definitely been hard because
it’s not the same as it was. And there’s pieces of me that just feels sad about that and like wondering, like, is it gonna be like this forever or is other situations gonna bring up more explosive feelings? Like, could this happen again essentially? Mm-hmm. and so.
My fiance and I started premarital counseling last end of last year, kind of as this was settling down much after the dress shopping. And we have learned a lot in there together about like this relationship, with us of course, but then with her and our families together and stuff. And so that’s provided us with a lot of like learnings.
And something I’d recommend to literally everyone, doing premarital counseling and then. Talking about like common issues that you guys face together, which this was one that we were facing kind of together. Mm-hmm. And it gave us a lot of clarity. It gave me a lot of clarity as to how like, you know, she was feeling and she was kinda operating out of a state of fear and maybe feeling as so like her son’s finally getting married, kind of feeling.
And so I was like, better. Understood. I think her perspective, and we never really had like a long conversation about like, let’s look back on this kind of thing and I don’t think we ever will. but I’m trying to, understand like what I learned from the situation and how I could take it forward into the future.
And I. If something else happens again with her or any one of our family members, like how, essentially I have the tools and that we have the tools to like get through something like that based on what we’ve learned. So we’re on improving that relationship, with her and, we have, gone up to their house and stayed with them and, spent time with them outside of that.
And it’s, Definitely like more positive than it was. I wouldn’t say it’s just the same as it was before, so. Mm-hmm. But at the same time, like maybe it’s a lesson learned that the, distance and like the separation of. Maybe we don’t need to talk every day, or maybe we don’t need to be involved in every decision was like a huge lesson learned for maybe her or on both sides of just like what this dynamic is now that, he does have a fiance and someone that he’s building a life with and to talk to every day.
And so maybe if you guys aren’t talking as much, it’s because we’re talking a little bit or whatever that looks like. it’s a lot of change, so I totally understand that. But. It’s definitely been more positive than it was then. Like we’re on a small, incline, kind of, like getting
Christa Innis: better, getting back to like how things were.
No, that’s good. And I think that will give a lot of people hope too through like communication and you make a good point too, about. It might never be back to how it was because sometimes when you see a certain side of people or you see how they treat you in a certain way, you’re like, okay, I have to tread these waters lightly because you’re afraid of like, okay, am I going to say the wrong thing or is my boundary going to offend them again?
And so I think it’s smart to like in those moments be like, okay, I am gonna like. Just tread lightly. Keep my distance a little bit. we’re gonna be respectful of each other. so I think your story can help people see that like communication can go far and you can only do so much. Like when someone’s being like, difficult like that.
And just like giving the silent treatment, that was probably her. Working through everything, like what’s happening here. I’ve never been told no like that before or I’ve never had a boundary set against me. Or they think like, oh, a boundary means I’m a terrible person. I’m not a terrible person. Yeah. And so they immediately get like defensive.
So I feel like you are so like gracious with her, like giving them like time and like space to like, I mean, not necessarily like you asked for time and space, but she just No.
Anonymous Guest: Yeah.
Christa Innis: But yeah, I think sharing these stories are good. Like we were kind of talking about before recording, it’s like sharing these stories are good because.
Anonymous Guest: People that are going through something similar can be like, oh, okay, I’m not crazy. I went through something like this. Or I am a mom and I was crossing the boundary for my son-in-law, or my daughter-in-law. yeah, I feel we learned a lot on how to tackle maybe quote unquote problems as a couple.
’cause I feel like most often people either. seek help in the relationship. ’cause they’re obviously fighting with each other. but this was kind of a common thing that we were going through together. And so it was something that was very difficult in terms of balancing, well, this is his mom and his relationship.
So a lot of what we’ve learned, I think, kind of moving forward is that like we each deal with our own families. and mine’s not, absolved to the drama. Like there’s stuff there too. And, I think that. I deal with that and he deals with his, and it’s not so much that we are individuals dealing with our, it’s just because what we’ve found or what I found is that like families can probably be more receptive coming from their own family members.
So, kind of crossing that communication, like me talking directly to her is not a problem, but could probably be, be better received. Potentially became from him. Mm-hmm. So we started kind of saying, well if as long as you feel the same way, if we feel the same way, and this is a situation that happened with both of us, like you can handle it.
or you can address it or what that looks like. it changes every situation. But that was a big lesson learned. And then. I’ve done a lot of like work and under justand understanding relationships, and there’s just like a path to expressing yourself and then letting it go that you kind of have to follow when you cannot change what people think.
You cannot change how people react. And so the best thing you can do is, be clear and say how you feel, focus on the outcome that you want to get out of it, but. If you want to change people’s emotions in a situation, like you have to stop That’s not something that you can change.
you can only focus on, if you want an apology or do you want to be listened to, but like, you cannot change, you cannot ask for empathy. You cannot ask for understanding. Like those things are not something that you can ask for. Mm-hmm. And then if, like those things are happening and the situation becomes reactive, you kind of have to walk away.
So again, learned a lot from the situation that in general I think it’s just good life advice and relationship advice. But I think there is hope, for other people dealing with this situation and or even dealing with conflict like this in general, it. I think it’s just all about like using those emotional intelligence tools in order to have, productive conversations on difficult topics and
Christa Innis: mm-hmm.
Strengthen
Anonymous Guest: your relationship from within. So when you deal with stuff like this, it’s not me versus you, or it’s not us versus anybody, it’s just, Kind of just more communication than this tension and this big, outburst or this big long situation.
Christa Innis: So, yeah. Yeah. No, I feel like those were such great like parting words that people can hold onto that advice.
’cause like we all could use a little therapy and I feel like that was like very helpful, like to just take to our own relationships. ’cause especially a lot of people that listen. Have either dealt with this kind of situation or similar situations, or they might in the future. so I think it’s helpful to know, you know, we can’t control other people’s emotions.
All we can do is control ourselves and how we can communicate essentially. So,
Anonymous Guest: Yeah, there’s hope. There’s hope. I mean, it’s gotten better and I assume it’s going to continue getting better. but I think at the end of the day, like this situation happens because somebody cares. So deeply and in some capacity it comes from a very good place.
So it’s difficult as it presents itself, either out of fear or anxiety or sadness, but ultimately like the core emotion is different, or just there’s a lot of change going on, stuff like that. So I feel as though like the intention is always. Mostly always good. and you kind of have to sink back into that and say, well, what can I do to best understand this person?
Knowing that they’re coming from a good place? And if you know they’re not coming from a good place, just don’t interact. Mm-hmm. Just take a step back, stay as far away as possible and until you feel as though that’s the situation, because it’s just probably won’t go anywhere. But yeah.
Christa Innis: Don’t waste your energy on people like that, that are just trying to make you feel bad.
Yeah, exactly. Awesome. Well thank you so much for coming on and being vulnerable and sharing. I really appreciate it and you speak so well and I feel like, we talked about, like there’s so much to learn from this situation, but I feel like you came out of it like stronger, you learned a lot and I feel like it’s great just seeing that you’re applying it now to like future things.
so I really appreciate you coming on and sharing.
Anonymous Guest: No, thank you. Thank you so much for having me. And honestly, like I just hope. This helps anyone, so just happy to be here.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Family Meetings, Social Media Disasters & a Great Grandma Twist - with Cassie Horrell
What happens when a wedding planner is asked to walk Great Grandma down the aisle… only to be handed a Tupperware container?!
In this episode, Christa sits down with wedding expert Cassie Horrell to unpack the wildest wedding stories, biggest etiquette debates, and the jaw-dropping family drama that comes with saying “I do.” From setting boundaries with toxic in-laws to why open seating is a terrible idea, no topic is off-limits. Plus, they tackle unpopular wedding opinions and the ultimate white dress dilemma.
Get ready to laugh, gasp, and take notes for your own wedding day!
Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
06:43 The Wedding Planner Who Walked Great Grandma (Sort Of)
08:53 Wearing White to a Wedding: A Hard No?
11:38 First Looks vs. Traditional Aisle Moments
14:13 Why Open Seating at a Wedding is a Nightmare
17:53 The Worst Mother-in-Law Story You’ll Ever Hear
22:38 Bridesmaid Budget Drama & Bachelorette Expectations
27:08 Unpopular Wedding Opinions: Toss Traditions or Keep Them?
31:46 Wedding Confessions: The Most Awkward Guest Bets Ever
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Great Grandma’s Final Wedding Appearance – When a groom’s family insists their beloved great-grandmother must be part of the wedding, Cassie prepares for an emotional moment—until she’s handed a Tupperware container.
- Wearing White to a Wedding: A Crime? – Cassie and Christa debate the biggest wedding guest faux pas and share real-life stories of guests who should’ve known better.
- First Look vs. Traditional Aisle Moment – The pros, cons, and the real reason so many wedding planners swear by first looks.
- The Worst Mother-in-Law Ever? – This mother-in-law sabotaged dress shopping, criticized the bride’s body, and demanded her son’s ex be reinstated as a bridesmaid.
- Why Open Seating is a Disaster – Cassie explains why letting guests pick their own seats sounds nice in theory—but causes absolute chaos in reality.
- Wedding Confessions: The Awkward Guest Bets – What happens when wedding guests start betting on how long the marriage will last? Christa and Cassie react to the ultimate cringe moment.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
“PSA: If you have to ask, ‘Is this too white for a wedding?’—the answer is YES.” – Christa Innis
“I could not imagine having to walk on eggshells around my in-laws. That’s terrifying.” – Christa Innis
“Why do people feel the need to comment on a bride’s body on her wedding day?” – Christa Innis
“Nothing is mandatory at a wedding. If a tradition doesn’t serve you, toss it.” – Cassie Horrell
“If your wedding planner asks if your guest list is finalized, don’t surprise them with last-minute ‘add-ons’ like great-grandma’s ashes.” – Cassie Horrell
“You don’t need to invite people just because they’re family. It’s your day.” – Cassie Horrell
About Cassie
Cassie Horrell is a seasoned wedding planner and event coordinator known for her ability to handle even the most unpredictable wedding day chaos with humor and grace. With years of experience in the industry, Cassie has seen it all—from heartwarming moments to jaw-dropping disasters—and she’s not afraid to spill the tea. She’s passionate about helping couples navigate the stress of wedding planning, set boundaries with overbearing family members, and create a day that feels authentically theirs. Whether it’s dodging last-minute guest list surprises or dealing with wedding etiquette debates, Cassie brings expertise, real talk, and a whole lot of laughs.
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A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi, Cassie. Thank you so much for coming on.
Cassie Horrell: Of course. Thank you so much for having me.
Christa Innis: Yes. I’m so excited, especially because you have like firsthand experience in wedding drama. You do so much when it comes to weddings and you have some amazing content that I’ve loved, like seeing more recently. Cause when I started talking about the podcast, people kept tagging you.
And I was like, this is so cool. And you have like so many stories. So I was like, we have to talk and like, see what we can, come up with here. But before we get started, can you just tell us a little bit about you and what you do and then we’ll kind of jump into it.
Cassie Horrell: Yeah, my name is Cassie.
A lot of people on tiktok know me as wedding pro cast. I’ve been in the industry for about 12 years now. Always working venue based usually from properties like clubs, resorts. And now I work at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. so that’s kind of my main job. I help and lead a team that does about 60 weddings a year.
So we see a ton come in and out of our building. and I own a mobile bar, Clink 92, that services weddings and all kinds of events in Pittsburgh and Ohio. And then just this year, because of TikTok, I have started taking on personal clients, very small, anywhere between two to five a year, just because I’m so busy, where I actually do full service planning and partial planning for couples, so.
Christa Innis: That is amazing. Having fun. Yeah. So you’re like a planner by nature. You love getting it all together.
Cassie Horrell: Yes. I feel like since I’ve been young, that’s how I am. And I am just a very creative person. So any type of outlet where I can be connecting with people and sharing ideas and building something from the ground up, I absolutely love.
Christa Innis: Yeah, that’s amazing. And 60 weddings a year. Wow. That is, how do you keep everything like straight? Like, do you ever like mix up like, Oh, this couple here, wait, that was that couple. Like, I don’t, how do you, you have to be a really like very organized person.
Cassie Horrell: So I have to say, like, a lot of the reason we’re so successful is because of the amazing people that work on my team. I oversee several planners, events operations managers, and a full crew that really help the magic kind of come together on a wedding day. So that helps me not have to take on the brunt of everything, which helps a lot. I usually just at the History Center have anywhere between 8 to 12 couples that are specifically mine. Um, So that makes it a little bit easier to manage.
Christa Innis: Yeah, yeah, definitely. Wow, that sounds awesome. So I bet like, which we’re going to talk about today, I bet you have a lot of wedding horror stories. I’m sure you have good and bad stories. Yes. we always talk about, I always make sure, and I’m sure you have to say this with your People on your channel as well as like there are so many amazing wedding stories. I get some comments Sometimes it’ll be like, oh, thank god Like I saw this because I never want to get married and i’m just like no I don’t want my channel to like make you not want to get married or have a wedding because there’s like so many drama free Weddings, but the drama ones just really heighten when they’re so crazy,
Cassie Horrell: right?
And I feel like i’m the same way I go on my channel like every so Often, and I’m like, hey, just a reminder. A lot of the stories are dramatized and bad things do not happen at every wedding. Every single wedding has the happy moments. It has these beautiful moments, and none of the stories I tell, I never want them to veer somebody from getting married. Like, obviously, I’m in the wedding industry, as you are. Like, we love weddings. we like to see the big weddings. And I see a lot of people like, I’m eloping because of this. And I’m like, please don’t jump to that conclusion. These stories just like, I feel like our audience thrives on them and it gives them a little bit of drama in their day. So that’s why it’s fun to post and connect with people.
Christa Innis: Yeah, absolutely. And I think the other side of it too is like, teaching people like, boundaries to have. Like, some of the conversations that you post is like, it’s helping someone on whether they’re like, quote unquote villain of the story or quote unquote like, protagonist.
Like, seeing these like, conversations take place can help. I’m know what to say in certain situations or how to set boundaries with someone that maybe is overbearing.
Cassie Horrell: Exactly. And I get a lot of people, I know your channel does too, where people will say, oh my gosh, I’m the mom in this situation. Or I need to say this to my mom, I need to say this to my sister, because it puts into perspective that other people are going through a similar situation or something that’s pretty applicable.
And how we are responding shows them how they could respond.
Christa Innis: Yeah, absolutely. So jumping into kind of crazy stories and wedding hot takes, what is like one of the craziest stories that comes to mind when you’re asked about it?
The Wedding Planner Who Walked Great Grandma… Or Did She?
Cassie Horrell: so this one, it’s one of the funnier ones, but it’s a little bit heartfelt.
And I have shared it on my page two different times. but I had a couple that was just, Like elite vibes, you know when you like bond with a couple everybody in the family is like so fun There was zero drama. So I go into the wedding weekend and we run rehearsal. Everything’s great The next day I check in on the couples we had where I was working at the time. There was like two Villas so one for the ladies one for the gentleman check it with the ladies. Everything’s good I check in with the gentleman and they all the sudden are like, oh my gosh We forgot to tell you our great grandma Has to be in the wedding ceremony and I’m like, oh my goodness, like, I can’t believe we didn’t go over this.
So I logistically go into planner mode, like, what song does she want to walk to? Does she need an escort? Is there a walker or a wheelchair? Where are we reserving her a spot? And they’re like, yeah, we’d love if you would walk her down the aisle and as long as she has a seat in the front row, that’s all good. So me, I’m like, great. Just let me know when grandma gets here and I’m looking around like no grandma in sight. And one of the groomsmen, who was the brother, is like, Hey, Grandma’s already here. I already have her. And I’m like, Oh, well, do you need me to go get a wheelchair to, like, pick her up? And he’s like, No, let me go grab her.
And brings out a Tupperware container of her remains. And, like, they have, they have drawn, like, this little smiley face on it. And me, like, I was just surprised, like, whatever, if that’s what your family does, and like, this is how you bring great grandma to things. And they just hand her over to me, like, yeah, here she is, like, if you don’t mind, like, before it starts, walking her down and, like, putting her on the chair so her face is facing us. And I’m like, her face? A joke? So, I literally have this little Tupperware container that I’m, like, walking down before the real processional starts. I place her on the chair, like, make sure the little Sharpie face that they drew on there is, like, facing front. And to me, I found it, like, hilarious, but also, like, a little sentimental and special, like, this is how their family’s, like, including their great grandma, and they told me after that their great grandma has been to, like, all the cousins weddings, she comes to the holidays, and it’s, like, kind of a joke, but also not, and to me, that was, like, One of those crazy stories that you like go into a wedding day and you don’t Expect for that to happen and you just kind of got to go with it and keep everything light hearted So yeah, that’s one that I share quite frequently because it’s not too drama filled but just a little surprising.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my gosh Because it’s like one of those things where I think They probably got so used to in their own family, just saying, Oh, great grandma, bring great grandma, but forgot to mention to you, like, great grandma’s ashes. Like, you know, so you’re expecting this, like, person and they just were like, let’s see what she, how she reacts to that.
Cassie Horrell: Yeah. And like, luckily I’m very, like, go with the flow. So I was just like, okay, great grandma’s going to hang out with me for the next hour. I’ll make sure she gets down the aisle.
Christa Innis: Oh, my gosh. Okay. So kind of going into that, but I want to talk about wedding hot takes and I kind of want to angle it a little bit differently since you’re so involved in the wedding industry.
Cassie Horrell: Okay.
Christa Innis: This first one’s about a guest or someone wearing white to the wedding. How would you handle that? And like, what are your own takes on when someone tries to wear white to a wedding?
Wearing White to a Wedding: Just Don’t
Cassie Horrell: Okay. My own personal take is absolutely not. We are not wearing white to a wedding. Only reason you should be wearing white to a wedding is if the couple, like, specifies, hey, the dress code is all white. Because there are weddings that do that. And I think in that case, of course. But if it has not been specified to wear white, it is reserved for the bride, typically. I have had brides get married in blue. I’ve had brides get married in black, but typically, if you’re going to take a bet on something, most likely the bride is wearing a shade of white.
So, personally, that is my take. I have only had this happen twice, where I’ve had people arrive to a wedding and they are wearing white. one time it was a child that was like a guest, maybe like middle aged school age. So I didn’t really think that was an issue. It didn’t become an issue. But there was another time where a girl was literally wearing a white dress. It had like very teeny weenie tints of like blush flowers, like very light, looked white. And in this case, I basically went to one of the bridesmaids. And I said, how do you think the bride is going to react to her wearing white?
And the bridesmaid was like, she needs to change. So I approached the guest, and I’ve actually done a, I did a story on this on my page. Approached the guest and I just let her know, Somebody in the wedding party has noticed the white dress. Do you have any change of clothes? Are you coming from out of town? Luckily, she was like, I thought people might think this was too white. Which I’m like, did you look in the mirror? She was staying at the hotel that was like a mile away. She had arrived at least 20 minutes before the ceremony. So she’s like, I will go back now. I’ll change. She actually ended up not making it back for the ceremony.
And she was there at cocktail hour in a purple dress. So to me, if. Someone wears white and I’m not sure how the couple would respond. Maybe we haven’t chatted about it. I will approach somebody that’s close to the bride. mom, sister, I typically don’t like to bother the bride with it. and if they think they need to change, I have no problem. Approaching somebody letting them know.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my gosh. That was handled so well, because it’s like, you never know how that person’s gonna react either. but yeah, like, PSA is like, if you think it’s too white, or when you’re looking in the mirror getting ready, and you’re like, mm, no people think it, then it probably is too white.
Cassie Horrell: Yes. If it crosses your mind, is this too white, or you’re texting a group chat, do we think this is too, has too much white in it, then like, just put it back on, in your closet and wear it another day.
Christa Innis: Yeah, yeah. Oh, my gosh. Okay. What are your thoughts on the bride and groom seeing each other before walking down the ceremony, like doing a first look as opposed to at the end of the altar?
First Look vs. Aisle Moment: The Ultimate Wedding Debate
Cassie Horrell: So, as a professional, I’m a huge fan of the first look. Just logistically, it makes your couple’s day, I think, a little bit more relaxed, not as rushed. obviously, you can get all those pictures before. And if I know my couples are super emotional, I sometimes recommend that because it takes the pressure off of, like, having that moment when you walk down the aisle.
So, personally, as a or as a professional, I would 100 percent say first look. Now, personally, I am a sucker for, like, the traditional, see each other when you walk down the aisle. That is what I did with my husband, but I do have to say we were both like happy crying the whole wedding because it was so overwhelming. And that is one of the reasons that I’m like, man, if I went back in time, I might have done a first look.
Christa Innis: but
Cassie Horrell: that was like eight years ago. So I’m like, first looks were not as popular then.
Christa Innis: Right, right. That’s so funny. That’s like such a, that’s like the very common thing I hear. It’s like, Logistically, when people are like planners or they work behind the scenes, they’re like, yes, do a first look.
But for brides themselves, a lot of times they’re like, no, I love that, like, moment because I was the same way. Like, I loved having that first moment down the aisle. But I’ve been a part of so many weddings where they did a first look, so. It’s kind of interesting to see, um, do you have any wedding hot takes or unpopular opinions that you can think of far off the bat?
Otherwise, we’ll jump into a section called unpopular opinions from other people.
Why Open Seating at a Formal Wedding is a Nightmare
Cassie Horrell: Okay, well, one opinion that I always share very frequently on my page and it always is like I get so many like comments is I do not believe a formal wedding. has, should have open seating. Like, absolutely not. It should be organized seating.
I don’t care if you’re doing seating assignments or table assignments. Open seating at a formal wedding is just not it. And I always talk about like the repercussions of choosing that and people in the comments are like Oh, I did open seating for my 300 person wedding. It was no problem. And I was like, you probably just didn’t see it cause it was your wedding day. But when I tell you there’s repercussions to that choice, there totally is. So that is like my number one opinion that I have on seating.
Christa Innis: Yes. No, I love that. I, I’m such a planner myself, type a, I love a good seating chart. Like nothing makes me happier than being as a guest and on the other side of things.
I love being told where to sat, where to sit because, It kind of brings back like, Oh, we have enough room or, Oh, I don’t know anybody at this wedding. So where are my husband and I, or where am I going to squeeze in and it’s just makes things less awkward if you’re like, you know what, that’s my seat. Don’t need to think about it.
Cassie Horrell: Yeah, literally from like a timeline standpoint. Guest comfortability and then even the host comfortability, knowing everybody will be taken care of. It’s the best route to go.
Christa Innis: Yes. And I loved, I don’t know about you at your own wedding, but I loved putting together the seating chart of like, Oh, this person would get along with that person, but I’m going to put them here.
And like, my husband would laugh at me because I had so much fun. Like every night I’d be like, okay, I think I need to move these people. He’s like, it looks good. I’m like, well, how about this and this? And like, I loved like. The final, like, I don’t know. It was so much fun for me to put together.
Cassie Horrell: Yeah. Me and my husband got married.
We were 23, 24. So like pretty young. So I felt a little bit like matchmaker. Cause like we were invited a lot of our single friends after college. Oh, we could sit these people together and these people together. Uh, but no, that’s definitely a fun part of it.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. I love that. Okay. So here’s some unpopular opinions that people sent me on Instagram.
So let’s kind of see what they had to say. Um, this person says. Take. Okay. Take wedding parties, individual budget into consideration when planning wedding events. What are your thoughts on that?
Cassie Horrell: Make wedding parties, individual budgets. Okay. So when I, if you’re in the wedding party, I am on board. I do have to agree.
I am on board with like getting a general sense of like where people are at monetarily. Usually in a wedding party, like people are all over in their life. Like some people may have kids. Some people may be in eight weddings that year. So I do think it’s important to kind of get a general sense of what people can spend when it comes to like bachelorette.
And those types of things. I think when it comes to the actual wedding, no, um, that should be up to the couple. Um, when it comes to attire, you 100 percent should keep in mind people’s budget, especially if they’re buying all of their own things. If the bride or groom are paying for wedding party things, then I don’t think it truly matters.
Um, but yeah, I am on board on that for the most part.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And I think too, an important thing to say is like, It should never be a requirement. Like, if someone wants to be in your wedding, like, but they’re like, I can’t make it to the bachelorette party, it’s out of my budget, it’s okay to say no to those things.
Because I see so many times in comments like, oh, the bride’s selfish for wanting to do a bachelorette party trip to Florida or wherever it is. And it’s like, but as a bridesmaid, you have the free will to say No, like, I will be in your wedding, but I can’t afford this. Um, so it definitely goes both ways for sure.
Yes. Um, this person says, Her unpopular opinion is doing something for tradition’s sake is unnecessary, i. e. the bouquet toss and garter toss.
Cassie Horrell: I agree with that one as well. Um, I feel regardless of the tradition, the couple should always be choosing things that make the most sense for them and their partner and, like, are going to enhance their day.
And if you are getting forced to do a cake cutting, the guard, or the bouquet, and you don’t want to do it, like, it’s the worst thing. Like, nobody should be forcing you to do anything on your day just because it’s tradition or mom did it, dad did it. Um, and I always tell people that there is no Nothing is mandatory at a wedding when it comes to the formalities.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I love that. Yeah, I feel like so many times people fall into the trap of like, well, they did it so I have to do it too. Or this is like what’s expected of me. And I feel like when you start going that way, then you either have regrets about your wedding or you’re uncomfortable on your own wedding day.
Right? Yeah, I totally agree. Okay, I want to jump into this week’s wedding submission because it’s a little. A little long. Um, so here we go. I’ve not read this, so we’ll see how this, how this one goes. Um, and feel free to stop me anytime if you want to add something or react to it. We’ll just kind of react as it goes.
The Monster-in-Law Who Tried to Take Over the Wedding
Cassie Horrell: Let me pull up on my screen here and make sure I can see it all. Okay. When my husband and I met online, or sorry, when my husband and I met, it was online. I knew before I ever met him, it was. He, in person, he was the man I was going to marry. We talked for a long time via messages and FaceTime before ever meeting.
We met and it wasn’t long before he had hinted that he was going to propose to me. It finally happened a week before one of my closest friends was to be married. So I kept the news to myself until we got through that and then I announced it, which props to her. That’s very nice.
Cassie Horrell: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Um, my, my parents had already knew it was going to happen.
As he sat down and spoke with them, my older brother also knew it was coming as well. I guess he had covered all the bases with my family about asking me to marry him, but he hadn’t said anything to his family at all. Which What? Interesting. Excuse me? Yeah. When we announced that we were engaged on Facebook, oh gosh, everyone seemed very happy about it.
Then I started to see angry faces and a lot of negative comments. My mother in law commented saying, how effing, the actual word, effing dare you announce this without asking my permission first? Oh, not on a public face.
Cassie Horrell: This is terrible.
Christa Innis: So bad. Uh, then it only got worse from there. She proceeded to call me names and tell me that I wasn’t good enough to marry her son.
Oh my gosh. Uh, all while she was commenting, my sister in law was commenting and yelling, Oh, calling and yelling at him about how they should have had a family meeting about allowing a woman with kids into the family.
Cassie Horrell: What?
Christa Innis: I felt sick and unwanted. That is terrible. Family meeting.
Cassie Horrell: No.
Christa Innis: Oh, my gosh.
Eventually we get to planning the wedding and his mom had made it very clear that she did not want any part of helping plan the wedding. We tried to include her many times, but she would just keep saying rude things about how my wedding didn’t need to be the center of every conversation. So my husband is from a really small town and we went there for the Fourth of July.
This was the first time I would be meeting his dad and step mom, his brother and sister. Yes, the same sister that was calling and yelling at him. It was a good time, and they were very interested in all the things that we had planned for the wedding. Okay, so it seems like some family member was like,
Cassie Horrell: this is turning around.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Cassie Horrell: Maybe.
Christa Innis: Maybe. His dad told us that we had an allotted amount of money to use, and that if he needed anything beyond that, um, his mom would have to help us. So his ex, the dad’s ex wife. Um, so it was the day we went dress shopping and because we had so many bridesmaids, the place was a full house.
Everyone was having the best time. Then we felt a shift in the energy and my mother in law walked in just the gray clouds.
Cassie Horrell: Here we go.
Christa Innis: She was extremely upset that no one picked her. Picked her up to bring her to the bridal shop. She sat down and shouted, Let’s get this thing over with. I don’t want to be here all effing day.
Cassie Horrell: She seems nasty.
Christa Innis: Yeah, why even invite her? Like, I would be like, No, you’re not coming. Cause I wouldn’t even want someone’s opinions like that. My mom looked over at her and asked her to leave then if she didn’t want to be there. Yeah. Then she said, She’s been married before, so I don’t know why she even needs to buy a dress.
Cassie Horrell: That is terrible.
Christa Innis: I hate that. She could have gotten one at Goodwill.
Cassie Horrell: No.
Christa Innis: Okay, that is terrible.
Cassie Horrell: This lady’s a witch.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I ignored the comments and started trying on dresses. There wasn’t a dress I tried on that she didn’t have a rude comment about. I would be telling her to leave at that point. That is, yeah, that’s so like unenjoyable.
I finally found the one and loved it and it made me happy. Later that evening at dinner, she tells my husband. I found the dress that hides my arm flab the best.
Cassie Horrell: No, this is bad. I don’t know who this woman is, but this is bad.
Christa Innis: This is bad. This is like one of the worst stories I’ve read. Oh my gosh. The night of my rehearsal, my mother in law sat there complaining the whole time how she had to sit at the same table as my father in law.
She kept saying he better not talk to me. Then finally my brother in law shows up late and my mother in law demanded that I allow my brother in law’s wife in the wedding as a bridesmaid.
Cassie Horrell: Excuse me?
Christa Innis: At the rehearsal dinner? Okay. She was supposed to be my bridesmaid and then they broke up and I guess they got back together the week of the wedding.
Surprise. Okay. They called me many times that week and never said anything about it so I was a little taken aback by this. My mother in law told me that she was told to bring the dress and that she would make me let her be in the wedding again.
Cassie Horrell: This is the mother in law said that again said that the
Christa Innis: oh told me to bring her dress with and she and to make her bring.
Okay. Wait, I need to say that again. Sorry.
Cassie Horrell: I’m like, wait,
Christa Innis: my mother in law told me that she told her to bring the dress with her and that she would make me let her be in the wedding again.
Cassie Horrell: Okay. So force this girl into the wedding.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And make her and make my other bridesmaids sit out. Wait, so that’s even worse. Like, we’re just going to swap you right in there.
Cassie Horrell: This is terrible.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. I told her I wouldn’t allow my other bridesmaid who paid money for the dress to sit out and they would both have to walk down the aisle together. That didn’t make her happy and she told me to just tell my bridesmaid that we would reimburse her for the dress and she could sit down and enjoy herself. I again told her absolutely not. She got upset and called me a spoiled witch. I
Cassie Horrell: I’m a little taken back by this woman.
Christa Innis: Yeah, it’s hard because it’s like I’m not in that position, so it’s always different when you’re in it, but I’m just like, I could not stand to be around someone like that that’s constantly mean like that and just like trying to control everything.
Cassie Horrell: Also, I’m a little confused. Like, why isn’t the partner standing up to his mom or like being a little bit more supportive here? Because it wasn’t like one instance. This is like 20 instances.
Christa Innis: Yes. Like he needs to be like. Like, guarded security at this point, like, blocking her, because yeah, that’s, that’s too much.
We finally get to the rehearsal, we finally get the rehearsal done and everyone left to go to my brother’s house where we were gonna have pizza. My sister in law made rude comments about how we could only afford pizza and not a real meal.
Cassie Horrell: Oh
Christa Innis: no. Let me tell you, we had pizza at our rehearsal dinner and it was still expensive.
Everyone loves pizza. There’s no problem with pizza. Exactly. No one complained. At least not to our face. Um, My parents shelled out over a thousand dollars for this meal. It’s what we chose as it feeds the most. And it was easy as my husband was having his bachelor party the night before the wedding.
Cassie Horrell: Yikes. Sewing
Christa Innis: scrims, man. Yeah. No, I don’t know if people still did that. Yeah, no, no,
Cassie Horrell: no.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. Um, uh, yeah, so he had his bachelor party. It was a terrible idea, by the way. But that’s a story for another day. So we all had pizza and us girls all left. We told my mother in law three times before we left what time our hair and makeup appointment was the next morning. And we were almost done when she and my brother in law’s wife showed up to get ready. She said, how dare I get ready before the mother of The groom. What? I cannot believe the audacity here.
Cassie Horrell: Yeah, she’s out of line. Yeah.
Christa Innis: When everyone was ready to go to the ballroom and get ready for pictures, she was mad that we were leaving her. Well, you should have been there on time.
Cassie Horrell: Yeah.
Christa Innis: We were on a strict time frame. We told her that my sister in law needed to be there by a certain time for pictures. She never got there in time for pictures and it snowballed from there. My mother in law ruined our first look, not surprised, by accidentally getting mud all over the bottom of my dress. Oh. Accidentally. Yeah, how did that happen? She wouldn’t smile in any pictures. Oh my gosh. Um, so later that night I heard someone say that my mother in law was telling everyone that my wedding was unclassy and tacky. And that clearly we didn’t have any money to buy real things. Why do people feel the need to make comments like that?
Cassie Horrell: Right, keep it to yourself.
Christa Innis: Yeah, like, come on. Oh, and yes, then the arm, arm flab comet came up again that night. I’d slap her. I’d slap her. Oh my gosh, that is terrible. Like, never, never comment on someone’s body, but especially not a bride on her wedding day. Exactly. Like, that is not okay. And that night she walked by and pinched my arm and said, You should really work on that. It’s gross.
Cassie Horrell: No. This could be like a whole series. This is like the series of Unfortunate Mother in Law. I don’t know what this is.
Christa Innis: Literally, I’m like picturing like, uh, I don’t even know, like, what’s that movie? Like, Monster in Law? It’s like literally something like that. Like, if someone did that to me, I would literally be like, you can leave right now. But I would’ve, I feel like I would’ve said that so many times. I don’t know. Same. Um, I wish I could have made that up, but I didn’t. My mother in law to this day is still not a nice woman, doesn’t speak to me, my brother in law is not married to that woman anymore, and my father in law is still the coolest. Well, at least the father in law is cool. Here’s to 10 years and crazy in laws.
Cassie Horrell: Wow. I can’t believe she put up with that on her wedding day.
Christa Innis: I, yeah, I feel like once I saw those like rude Facebook comments, I would be like, okay, we need to fix this now or you’re not invited to anything because like the wedding dress thing, I would not want to put on and try wedding dresses in front of someone like that.
Cassie Horrell: No, I mean, I did dress shopping with just me and my mom and it was like perfect because it was like little opinion and like I could really try it on. I can’t imagine like having my whole wedding party, my mom, mother in law, especially somebody that like, You get the vibes. They don’t like you. It’s like they’re trying to sabotage your whole experience, which is what this woman did.
Christa Innis: Exactly. Yeah. And like kind of going back to when people are like, Oh, these stories make me never want to get married or something. It’s like someone like this. You have red flags ahead of time. Like you’re not going to just also have a you. Um, wedding dress shop and the person that’s been so nice to you is always going to be like, Oh, that looks terrible, you know, like, so I think a lot of times you’ll have those red flags about people. And if you don’t, I don’t think it’s going to automatically just change.
Cassie Horrell: Right. I think the thing that just like surprises me about the story is that the husband was seeing this happen and like she doesn’t share the husband might have had conversations with his mom like she didn’t share that part of it but I’m like, that truly shocks me that like he would allow.
His mom to speak to his wife like that and I’m like, I just I can’t imagine that happened Like you said like we’re not in that in the situation. You’re reading it from a one sided story But like that’s what shocks me. The most is that like they let her get away with it
Christa Innis: Right. Well, yeah, and it’s and I find it interesting She says and she doesn’t speak to me which makes me think she still speaks to the Sun which And I, again, don’t want to make assumptions, but if I was being treated that way, and my husband was still talking to his mom, I would be like, no.
Like, you need to back up your wife. Right. So, it sounds like she’s, like, still talking to The son, but just not the wife and the wife, like the brother’s like wife so much and she was like trying to pull her in. I’m like, what’s the difference? Like, wow,
Cassie Horrell: and they’re not even married anymore. So it looks like the son picked a very great partner. We’re like, the other son didn’t have as great of a match. So that’s a little weird too.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah. I feel like when I hear these stories, it has to do with like some kind of like jealousy or like appearances or like, like she wants to look a certain way. I don’t know. Yeah.
Cassie Horrell: That’s it always surprises me because like I have the world’s best mother in law that she’s just like an angel and like Our families get along, and there’s just like never really issues, and in the planning process it was like so easy, so when I hear these stories, I’m like, I can’t believe someone would act like that, or like, treat somebody like that, especially in like, the era of being engaged and planning your wedding, like it’s such a sentimental time, and something that you think about like for the rest of your life, and like for somebody to ruin it, because of their poor attitude, I’m like, how unfortunate, Is that that happens to people.
Christa Innis: I know. I know. It’s so funny because when I post these stories, people always assume it’s because, I have a terrible mother in law too. And I’m like, no, my mother in law is amazing. Like, like I could call her up any time of the day. She’s so sweet. Like we get along great. Our family’s going on great. And so then when I hear these stories, I’m like, I could not imagine having to, like, feel like you have to, like, walk on tiptoes, or get super anxious when you have to go see his family or something, like, That’s terrifying.
Cassie Horrell: Yeah. And like, I’m sure you get this in your comments as well, but I am also sometimes surprised by how many people are like, I have this, like, this is the situation I’m in with in laws. And I’m like, hundreds and hundreds of people that like can relate to that. I’m like, that is shocking to me.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
And even when I dramatize things, like, and I’m like, Oh, this is like a really crazy character. I’ll do this. And someone will comment and they’re like, That’s almost word for word how my mother in law talks to me. And I’m like, girl, I’m so sorry. Yeah. Because I’m also someone like I hate confrontation. I’m so bad with stuff like that. So when I hear this stuff, I’m like, my stomach drops. I’m like, how do you deal with that? I would not be able to.
Cassie Horrell: No, no.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. Well, that was a good story. Bad story, but a good, great,
Cassie Horrell: great story. A great story with a lot of drama.
Christa Innis: Yes. I’m very sorry for this, Bri, but thank you for sharing your story with us and I’m glad you, sounds like you’ve set up some boundaries. Where you don’t talk to her, but let’s get that husband on side. Yeah. Okay, so to end, I’m just gonna read a couple of confessions that people sent to me. People are sending me confessions on Instagram as well. I love
Cassie Horrell: this.
The Nine-Hour Road Trip Request: Mother-in-Law Madness
Christa Innis: And then we’ll just share, our takes on them. Okay. I was having some guests before kind of rate them as like mild tea or chaos, but it’s kind of more fun just to kind of react to them. okay. So this one says. My mother in law wanted us to travel nine and a half hours to her while I’m 36 weeks pregnant.
Cassie Horrell: No, absolutely not. I have two kids. No. Nope, nope, nope.
Christa Innis: Same. Yeah, I’d be like, no, thank you. I barely wanted to travel, like, to the store when I was 36 weeks pregnant,
Cassie Horrell: so. Yeah, and you can’t, like, you would have to drive. You can’t even get on a plane at that time. Exactly. Like, you would have to drive there, and like, how uncomfortable, and what if something happens, and you’re nine and a half hours from home, like, that’s where you have to go to have your baby. Those aren’t your doctors. Crazy. That’s crazy. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Like, you can come to me if you really want to.
Cassie Horrell: Exactly.
Christa Innis: This person says the bride and groom shouldn’t set invites to family members who they don’t have a relationship with.
Cassie Horrell: Now, I’m like, I’m pro that. Like, I kind of support that. I’m always like, and I see it from the other side, like, just because your family doesn’t entitle you to an invitation, I do.
I think that if you are curating a guest list that is like, you want to be surrounded by people that are supportive of you, involved in your life, then like, why are you sending invitations to your fourth cousins that you’ve never met?
Christa Innis: It can look
Cassie Horrell: a little bit like a money grab, but then I also see it on the other side, where I’m like, people just have big families, they’re not close with everybody.
that doesn’t mean they don’t want to come and support the couple.
Christa Innis: So.
Cassie Horrell: I see it both ways.
Christa Innis: I know. I know. It’s hard. It’s like, I feel like traditionally it was like, invite everybody that like, your parents, friends, your parents, second cousins and stuff. But now I feel like people are getting better about, okay, well, what can we fit in our budget? or do we want to be surrounded by people that we personally know? And I think it just goes down to like, as the bride and groom, what do you two want and go from there? I guess that was more of like a. Opinion, Alyssa Confession. Okay, this last one, at my oldest brother’s wedding, my cousins and I secretly bet on how long it would last.
Betting on the Marriage: Wedding Guests Gone Too Far
Cassie Horrell: I think that’s a little bit funny, but also I’m like, hopefully your cousin’s picking like a good imagine you would wish for a lifetime of happiness. But I’ve had friends in this situation where like I go to the wedding and I’m like, I don’t know if this is it for them. In the back of my mind, I don’t say it out loud, right.
It’s in the back of my mind.
Christa Innis: I know, that is a little bit of a hot take there of like going, but I mean I’m sure like it’s, you kind of think about it because you’re at a wedding and you’re like okay, here’s to like forever. I’ve definitely been to a wedding and Spoiler alert, they did get in a divorce, and I’m not friends with the girl, not because of that, but it’s a whole other thing, but at the wedding I was like, this is doomed, and I hate to say that, because never thought that other than this wedding, I was like, this is, or no, I’m sorry, there’s been two, and they both I have
Cassie Horrell: two.
And so did mine. They ended in a divorce or separation. So I’m like
Christa Innis: Well, and they both, both of them had red flags before. Like, literally, the bride was crying to us at her bachelorette party. And we were like, if you need to get out, like, tell us what you need. Like, we’ll help you. No, no, no. It’s fine. Day before the wedding, after the rehearsal dinner, sobbing in the car. I don’t want to do this. We already spent so much money.
Cassie Horrell: And that happens, like, there is people that that happens to, like, they go through with it because they feel like their parents or themselves or whoever’s contributing have already paid all of this money and it’s like, we don’t want to cancel it, like, but at the end of the day, it’s like, it’s canceling your wedding because you know, it’s not the right match better than a divorce one year later.
Christa Innis: Exactly. And that’s going to be costly too, so, just turn it into a big party. Everyone’s traveling in. Have a big party. Exactly. Exactly. I mean, I know it’s easier said than done, but right, definitely. all right. Well, that was the last one. Well, thank you so much for coming on. This was, yeah, this was a blast. can you tell everyone where they can follow you? Any other projects you’re working on and all that good stuff?
Cassie Horrell: Yes. So, you could follow me. Wedding podcasts. I am mainly on TikTok, but I’m starting to branch out. Instagram, I am getting a couple things in the works for YouTube. I do not have it in me to do a podcast, but I love being a guest on the podcast.
So this is amazing . a couple projects I’m working on. So I have created. And a lot of people find me in for this is I’ve created planning courses that are very cost effective for people that are self planning and cannot afford a wedding planner. So I have always offered these to my wedding my way and three to four months till I do, which are specific to like certain timeframes of your wedding.
I am currently working on a membership, which will be like an alternative way of planning where you basically have like a video vault and constant courses and things being uploaded. And I just wrote two children’s books that are specific to, like, Flower Girl and Ring Bear, and about the ABCs of weddings. So, I am in the phase of illustrating those, and hopefully those will come out sometime early 2025.
Christa Innis: Oh, that’s so cool! How awesome. You, like, you do it all. You’ve got a lot of projects. My brain doesn’t stop.
Cassie Horrell: It’s like I have an idea and I’m like, yeah, I’m just going to go for it. have no clue what I’m doing out here.
I’m just having fun and going with the flow.
Christa Innis: I love it. It’s that like planner mindset where you’re just like, okay, let’s just do it. Let’s get busy and find something. I love that. well, when those are available, definitely send me links and stuff and we can get it in the show notes. Well, thank you so much for coming on.
That was so fun having you react. Like I said, had some people tag you in like comments and stuff and now I follow your stuff and I like I love your content because you’re so involved in the wedding stuff that you’ve got stories for days so yeah
Cassie Horrell: but I feel like we have a very similar audience because we’re storytellers and like my whole page isn’t storytelling but Usually one a day, I try to tell stories and I get the same, like, people will be like, Did you see her story? And they’ll tag me, and I’m like, Oh, I saw it. That’s a juicy one. Yes.
Christa Innis: Yeah, it’s so good. I, can’t stop watching the, drama stories. They just, those ones just get me. Like, I love it.
Cassie Horrell: I feel like they’re like, a little bit of, like, reprieve from people’s everyday life.
Like, they come and they watch our stories, and it’s like, a minute and a half of like, totally Drama that they’re not in.
Christa Innis: Yes. And they get
Cassie Horrell: their little fix for the day, and then they’re like, Okay, I’ll come back tomorrow, like, see the next part, or whatever’s going on.
Christa Innis: Yes, yeah, it’s a good little, little break from reality, I think.
Yes. Awesome. Well, thank you so much again for coming on. It was awesome chatting with you. Thank you so much.
All right, guys, that was my interview with Cassie. I love chatting with her. It’s so fun to hear from someone that is so involved in the wedding industry. She’s got a lot of hot takes and she has. Honestly seen it all. So, thank you, Cassie, for coming on. Just a reminder, guys, if you love this episode or loving this podcast, please leave a review on Apple podcast.
It really helps more people hear the podcast. And helps me create more amazing content for you. so I really appreciate all the support that this podcast has gotten so far, and I can’t wait for more people to hear it and to create some more content. If you also have suggestions of who you want to see next on the podcast, feel free to send me an email, send me some submissions.
I cannot wait to share more stories with more people. All right, guys, thanks so much for tuning in and I will see you next time.
Wedding Demands, Ultimatums, and a Disney Honeymoon with Liz Fleming
Think weddings are all love and laughter?
In this episode, Christa spills the tea with Liz Fleming, life coach and founder of The Small Town Social, on setting boundaries and surviving wedding drama. From hosting epic events to managing moments that make you go “Did that really just happen?” Liz brings her A-game with hilarious stories and savvy advice.
The pair dives into juicy listener confessions, from overbearing in-laws to cringe-worthy pre-gaming fails at dry weddings. Liz breaks it all down with tips for staying cool, calm, and collected while keeping the good vibes rolling.
Whether you’re tying the knot, hosting a bash, or just here for the gossip, this episode will have you laughing, learning, and maybe even rethinking that bouquet toss.
Episode Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction
01:26 Career Pivot and Life Coaching
03:13 Setting Boundaries and Event Hosting
04:43 Wedding Stories and Hot Takes
22:07 Wedding Day Drinking Dilemmas
24:08 Biggest Wedding Regret
27:10 Story Submission: Wedding Planning Woes
39:01 Weekly Confessions Game
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Liz shares her journey from PR to life coaching and her passion for personal development.
- Discussion on the importance of setting boundaries in weddings and events.
- Juicy listener stories about overbearing in-laws and dry wedding dilemmas.
- Wedding speech disasters and how to handle unplanned drama.
- Liz’s advice on creating meaningful, joyful events while maintaining personal boundaries.
- Insights into the cultural expectations of big weddings versus intimate gatherings.
- Hot takes on viral wedding trends and why authenticity matters.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “Boundaries are so crucial—they not only set the tone for your gatherings but also let everyone, including you, have fun.” – Liz Fleming
- “The most satisfied people are the ones who follow their gut, set boundaries, and stay true to their vision.” – Liz Fleming
- “It’s okay to involve your audience in events, but always have a plan—otherwise, it can totally spiral.” – Liz Fleming
- “If your wedding day puts such a financial strain on you that you’re going to enter your marriage with such a level of stress, it’s not worth it.” – Liz Fleming
- “I think it’s really important to respect people’s choices for their wedding, whether it’s big, small, or something in between—it’s their story.” – Liz Fleming
- “Boundaries are the name of the game—respectful no’s are a form of self-care.” – Christa Innis
- “It’s your wedding, not an entertainment reality show. Stay authentic to your relationship.” – Christa Innis
- “Weddings are so personal, and I feel like when couples stick to what makes sense for them, that’s when the magic happens.” – Christa Innis
Mentioned in the Episode
- The Life with Liz Podcast
- The Small Town Social
- GLOWcon: An annual women’s conference organized by The Small Town Social, focusing on personal development and community building.
About Liz
Liz Fleming is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, life coach, and founder of The Small Town Social, a personal development community focused on empowering women. With 20 years as an award-winning PR professional, Liz pivoted her career to help ambitious women step into their power and live joyfully.
Through coaching, hosting events, and her annual gathering, GlowCon, Liz helps women gain clarity and confidence in all areas of life. As a military spouse and mom, she brings a relatable, results-driven approach to guiding others toward transformation.
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A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi, Liz. Thank you so much for coming on.
Liz Fleming: Hey, Christa. It’s so nice to see you.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I know. I feel like we were just talking before recording, but I feel like time has gone so fast, and also feels like the blink of an eye. It’s like, time is so weird now.
Liz Fleming: Yeah. Time’s weird, but we just move on. We move through.
Christa Innis: We do. It just flies by. I’m so excited to have you on. Like I said, I thought of you right away because you are the host of your own podcast. You host events. You are so multifaceted. And so I thought you would be the perfect person to have on here and share your own hot takes.
And we’re going to play some games as we kind of go through. But first and foremost, can you kind of just share a little bit about yourself and what you do?
Liz Fleming’s Journey
Liz Fleming: Sure. Yeah, of course. I’m so excited to be here. This is going to be so much fun. It’s been a while since I’ve done a podcast interview, so I’m getting my juices flowing again, and the reason for that is that I have been in the thick of a total career pivot.
So as you know, Christa, because we used to do a lot of fun projects together, I was a publicist for 13 years. And I was presented with an opportunity to kind of slow down in my career, and I saw that as an opportunity to totally pivot and become a life and success coach.
So right now it’s just been amazing. You know, when you get that full-body feeling that you’re doing what you’re supposed to do. So I help women realize their purpose on purpose and realize their worth. And we can cover things from career, life, relationships, love, finances, whatever.
But the core of what I teach is really just helping women come back to wholeness so they can live more joyfully. And I have a set formula and a way that I do that. But, yeah, I’ve been in the thick of getting my certifications. So, I’m coming out on the other side of that and I’m just hitting the ground running. It’s just been amazing.
Christa Innis: I love that. I love that because I feel like what you said about when you find that purpose, that thing that really excites you, that is just like, cause it doesn’t feel like work. It just feels like, Oh, I get another day of doing this exciting thing and helping people and having a full impact, which is amazing.
Liz Fleming: Yeah, yeah, totally. And I forgot to mention too, like The Small Town Social, which you’re very familiar with, which is my women’s personal development group that kind of inspired the whole pivot to coaching because I host an annual gathering for women to focus on their self-healing. It just felt like coaching was my natural next step. So I have a lot of experience in event facilitation, which is going to make our conversation here really fun today. Yes. Yeah. It’s been awesome though.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Well, and as you’re talking too about what you do and your, like, how you kind of pivoted, that is perfect too because, and all these kinds of skits and stories that I share on my channel, it’s all about setting boundaries.
So many times these women have to deal with very difficult relationships or hard situations when growing up, they were taught to just be a people pleaser, just say yes, or just do what they tell you. And as we get older and we say no to things, we’re either told we’re difficult or we’re the B word.
So part of sharing these skits is like, you can do things respectfully. You can say no respectfully. So I feel like this is, you’re the perfect match to be talking on this podcast because you can share your take when it comes to setting boundaries and following your path of like, okay, that doesn’t serve me anymore. So let’s go this way.
The Power of Boundaries and Crazy Event Stories
Liz Fleming: Yeah, of course. And that’s so spot on. And it’s so funny you mentioned that because I just did a whole podcast episode about setting healthy boundaries, specifically around the holiday season, but they really apply to life in general.
And especially when you’re hosting an event, whether you’re a bride, you’re hosting a birthday party, or someone like me who hosts large-scale events. Boundaries are so crucial, and they really help not only set the tone for your gatherings but also set you apart and allow everyone, including yourself, to have fun. So important.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I love that. So with that being said, let’s jump into my first segment here, which is any crazy stories, and then we’re going to get into wedding hot takes.
So right off the bat, I know we were kind of talking, and you said just like leading events, you kind of have different, you’ve seen different things, or you’ve seen it all just being at different things.
Do you have any crazy stories that come to mind or anything you’ve heard that you were kind of like, kind of shocking or like, oh my goodness?
Event Hosting, Wedding Speeches, and Hot Takes
Liz Fleming: What’s sticking out for me as an event host is I love to involve my audience in my gatherings as much as possible. I don’t like to stand on a stage all day and talk to the audience. I’ve done that before, and, you know, it works for everyone. They learn a lot, but it was just like—so over the last 6 and a half years of doing these events with The Small Town Social, I have really involved my audience, but you have to be cautious with that.
So things like passing around the microphone and doing group shares—you guys can totally apply this to wedding speeches and stuff—be so cautious about doing things like that. Have a plan. Don’t just go free for all and start doing the group share or letting someone have the mic and do a speech because it can really get away from you.
There’s not really one instance; I mean, it’s happened loads of times for me, which is terrifying. Someone is either too scared to talk, the microphone’s pressed into their face, and there’s not much you can do about it, or they’re nervous to start talking, and then they talk and don’t stop talking.
That’s a really big one where you’re just kind of like, “You need a game plan for that.” I have kind of a seasoned approach now, but for anyone interested in hosting events, or you have an event on the horizon, that’s like my number one thing: totally involve your audience so they have fun, but proceed with caution.
Christa Innis: Yes. Oh my God. I’m so glad you said that because that was something I shared. I don’t remember where I shared it now—it might’ve been in a story somewhere—but I was at a wedding once. I was a bridesmaid, and at the last minute, I want to say it was like a few weeks before the wedding, she brought on another bridesmaid. They had a falling out and then became friends again.
And the girl right off the bat was like, “Alright, I’m giving a speech,” like didn’t wait to be asked, just told her, “I’m going to give a speech,” and this bride was so nice, and she was just like, “Okay,” just accepted it. And after this bridesmaid made her speech, she goes, “Anyone else have anything to say?” which I was just like, you know—no.
Lines started forming of siblings of the bride and groom, cousins—we were sitting there for probably 30-45 minutes just listening to these unplanned speeches. And they were, like, not—you know, like, there are certain things you say and don’t say in a speech, and they were just saying everything. They were talking about sibling fights growing up, how they had a terrible falling out growing up, and why they did, and it was just like, “Is this really happening?”
Liz Fleming: Oh my gosh. That’s so bad.
Christa Innis: That was so bad.
Liz Fleming: That’s like my nightmare. Actually, that is giving me flashbacks to my wedding because, yeah, more people made speeches than we knew. It was just kind of like, “Okay, all right.” It’s a boundary between respecting people, but also like, “I paid for this. This is my day,” kind of thing.
As long as you have a plan—like with how I run my events, I have outs. I have certain phrases that I say, and I’m very well-versed in how I present my body language. There are ways you can do that to change a conversation and change a vibe. You send the signal, right? The bat signal.
I have an amazing team helping me with these events, who are also well-versed in that. It makes it a lot easier to just kind of be like, “Okay, we’re going to take a pause here.”
The other reason why that’s scary is probably the most obvious—we live in a very sensitive time right now where everyone has different opinions, views, and thoughts on everything, and you just never know what someone’s going to say. I’m not trying to scare everyone away from the group because it is so powerful. Keep doing them. Just have an anchor—keep people focused.
Even, I mean seriously, for any event, you can do this. For weddings, keep it positive, keep it light. Focus on one thing, one memory. Don’t go down the rabbit hole of everything. And the same goes for more of a life-business-related event like what I do.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And I want to get to hot topics in just a second. But what you just said reminded me of this thing I saw—when you said there’s so much going on, like, we’re very opinionated, right?
I saw this TikTok where someone was sharing—and again, I don’t know what things I should say or not say yet—but in the bride’s father-of-the-bride speech, he talked about the election. He was so happy and came out wearing a hat, and I was just like, no, no, no.
And I guess she knew she had feelings that he was going to do this and was like, “Do not do it.” So she had already told him, “Do not do it.” And he still did it and made this about the election and not about her wedding, which I was like, “Come on!”
Liz Fleming: So that hurts. That hurts. It hurts a lot.
Christa Innis: Oh yeah. So that being said, let’s jump into some wedding hot takes. So I’m going to ask you a couple of questions here that are labeled as some kind of hot takes and tell me what you think.
Okay, let’s see. What is one wedding trend that you think needs to be retired for good and why?
Wedding Trends, Big Day Decisions, and Boundary Battles
Liz Fleming: Oh my gosh. I think—oh, am I going to get canceled for saying this?—I think it’s like the elaborate aisle stuff. Like, can we just get down the aisle? Does it have to be an elaborate dance thing or, you know?
Christa Innis: Choreography, like a choreography dance or something?
Liz Fleming: Yeah, and maybe those are already over. I haven’t seen them in a while, but I just remember there was a time when they were the thing. And, I don’t know, how long have I been married? Seven years? Six years? Five years? I remember when I was planning my wedding, I was like, that’s not happening.
I feel like it’s more about the extreme displays of entertainment going viral. Because everyone’s recording people at the wedding, and I just miss when it was intimate and personal. Now it’s like a reality show sometimes, and I think that’s what needs to go. That’s what I’m trying to get at.
Christa Innis: Yeah. No, I totally see what you mean because I think we’re losing sight of what makes sense for our relationship and our wishes instead of going viral. You totally hit the nail on the head with that because I was just talking to someone about how we’re so caught up in what everyone else wants for our wedding day that we lose sight of it, like, “Wait, that doesn’t make sense for me.”
Like, I would never do that. Or when parents come in, they want to invite 500 people. It’s like, “Well, I’m very introverted, so that’s really uncomfortable for me.” The same way it’s like, “Oh, let’s do this viral dance so that maybe we have a chance of blowing up on TikTok.” Why? Why do you ask yourself, why do you want that?
Liz Fleming: Yes, exactly. It’s like the gender reveals—they’ve gone too far.
Christa Innis: Starting forest fires in California. Like, let’s not do that, people.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: We can just do it the old-fashioned way—bite into a cupcake or something. If you really need to, just have the baby and move on.
Liz Fleming: Just have the baby.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. Okay, that was a good one. Do you think big weddings are worth the expense, or would you recommend keeping them small and intimate?
Liz Fleming: That’s totally subjective. I don’t want to crush anyone’s dreams. If someone wants a huge wedding, I think that’s awesome.
I personally feel that if your wedding day is going to put such a financial strain on you that you’re entering your marriage with a level of stress that takes away the joy, then it’s not worth it. I’m an advocate for small and intimate weddings that are messy, joyful, and true to the couple.
I think it’s really up to you, obviously, and your budget. Weddings have gotten so expensive. I know people who’ve done destination weddings for that reason. They’re like, “Well, if we’re going to spend big money, we’re just going to go overseas and do it.” That often makes it smaller and more intimate because fewer family members can go.
So, there’s this hybrid segment of weddings now, which I love. I’m like, that sounds fun. Maybe for our 10-year anniversary, we’ll do something awesome like that. But yeah, I’m all for being small and intimate at the end of the day.
Christa Innis: I think you make a really good point. It kind of ties back to people trying to impress others and not staying true to themselves.
If it’s in your budget or always your dream to have a big wedding, do it. Go all out. But if you’re going to be in $50,000 of debt, maybe rethink it. At the end of the day, the wedding is about celebrating your love, not pleasing everyone else.
Liz Fleming: You also have to consider cultural perspectives, right? In some cultures, big weddings are the norm, and there’s no other way. Like, that’s what you do. Conversely, some people don’t have big families, so they compensate by inviting all their close friends.
For them, a big wedding is worth it to bring all the people they care about together. So many variables go into the why behind someone’s wedding size. I’d love to see more people being respectful about it. You never know someone’s story or their why.
Christa Innis: A hundred percent. I always find that people who tune out the noise when planning and do what’s true to them are the most satisfied with their wedding.
So many people listen to everyone but themselves, then say, “I wish I could have a redo. I hated that it was so big, or so small.” Listen to your heart and plan for you.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Boundaries. Yes. Boundaries are the name of the game. Okay, next topic.
Christa Innis: The next segment is called “Pick a Side: Wedding Drama Debates.” So, I started asking social media to send me their unpopular opinions. I’m going to read a few, and we can debate them.
The first one says, “I don’t like the idea of a first look. My husband had to wait to see me until I came down the aisle.”
Liz Fleming: Well, I am all about shock and awe, so I don’t love the first-look thing. It’s really like, I don’t know, it feels like it kind of defeats the purpose. I get it, it’s nice to have that one-on-one moment. But to have that moment together, like, in front of everyone you care about, it sends out an energy that cannot be replicated. It’s like next-level good vibes, and I feel like the world needs more of that, so I’m in the camp of no first look.
Christa Innis: Yeah, if I had to pick one, I would say no first look, too. We didn’t do a first look because I was like, I always pictured that first walk down the aisle. It just seemed more climactic for me. But I get it—like people that have done it for timing purposes or scheduling, or maybe they were really shy and just wanted to get it out of the way.
Christa Innis: Okay, this next one says, “I hate the bouquet toss after 25. Nobody wants to be fighting for a bouquet.”
Liz Fleming: Oh, I don’t know. Twenty-five? Twenty-five? Holy crap. So young. I love the bouquet toss. I think it’s a great way to gamify your day. At that point, you’re more than halfway through the day. Your people have eaten, your guests have eaten, and the dancing is starting to happen. It’s just fun and fast, quirky, and doesn’t take up a lot of time. Do it.
Christa Innis: Did you have anyone push people out of the way, elbowing others, or maybe you didn’t see it as the bride?
Liz Fleming: Not aggressively. It was just a kind of jockey. Everyone was a little tipsy. I’ve been pushed out of the way at weddings I attended—it’s been like a mosh pit sometimes—but at my wedding, it was tasteful.
Christa Innis: Some people get really into it. I was scratched once, and it was so intense. Like, guys, it doesn’t mean you’re actually gonna get married next!
Liz Fleming: Yeah, you know your people best. You know your audience. I think that’s something you can pull out of the bag as you see fit. If your guests are likely to get drunk and belligerent, maybe it’s not something you want to do. There are ways to modify those age-old traditions.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And if you’re not athletic like me, maybe don’t do it either. I always worried I’d throw it wrong and knock someone out!
Liz Fleming: Also, if you skip it, you save money on that extra bouquet—like a hundred bucks saved right there.
Christa Innis: Okay, this last one says, “Pregaming a dry wedding is disrespectful to the bride and groom.”
Liz Fleming: Yes. I think that’s super rude. If the bride and groom made that decision consciously, it must be for an important reason. Respect it, then go drink afterward. It’s their day, not yours. Grow up and show up for your people.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I’ve never been to a dry wedding, but if I knew it was dry, I wouldn’t pregame—it’s just weird to me.
Liz Fleming: Yeah, let’s do shots in the parking lot. No thanks. Also, I think it’s weird when people get blackout drunk at weddings. The pictures are ruined, it’s a safety issue, and someone always ends up taking care of them. Alcohol is not the cornerstone of why we’re here.
Christa Innis: So true. I hear stories all the time about someone being so drunk they can’t even walk down the aisle or finish a speech. Let’s just hold off a little if you know you can’t handle it.
Liz Fleming: That was a hard line for my husband and me on our wedding day—no pregaming. I think I had one glass of champagne, and he maybe had a beer, just something to shake the nerves. It’s okay to have a little touch of that, but it’s not about taking away from the day or everything you’ve planned.
Christa Innis: Honestly, I thought I’d have more champagne the morning of, but I didn’t even finish my glass. I was running around so much with hair, makeup, and checking on things. The guys, meanwhile, just had to put on a suit and shower!
Liz Fleming: Same here. I wasn’t even drunk at my wedding—there was just no time. But can I share my biggest regret from my wedding?
Christa Innis: Yes, please do!
Liz Fleming: My biggest regret was putting the bride and groom’s table near the buffet entrance. Why did we do that?
Christa Innis: Wait, so your food table was where you sat?
Liz Fleming: Yeah, it was, but it was spaced out enough that I thought it would be fine. So, we were in a ginormous barn, and it was very elegant, and we had this beautiful, long buffet-style line of food. Our table was on the edge of the dance floor, and there was probably a 10-foot gap between where people went to get the food and our table. I think in my head, I was like, in this way, we’ll:
a) Be able to eat.
b) Get to see more people without having to go around the room so much.
It was a giant event, and because we tried to do that, we only made it to four tables. People just kept talking and talking, and you only have so much time. But then when we sat down to try and eat, it was just like one person after another coming up to us, saying, “Congratulations, we love you guys.” And it’s like, I think I took one bite of food.
I mean, that’s a big expense, and we were so hungry and thirsty. Our cheeks hurt, our hands hurt. That was my biggest regret—not being more mindful of our placement and where we sat.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Liz Fleming: …Our placement and where we sat.
Christa Innis: That’s such a smart thing to say because I’ve never actually heard someone say that before, but it’s true. You get very drawn into conversations.
I know my husband actually had to stop me because I wanted to go up to everyone. I’m that person who feels guilty and thinks, “Oh my gosh, I didn’t say bye to so-and-so, even though I said hi to them earlier.” And he was like, “It’s okay. There are 150 people here. If you don’t say hi to one person, it’s going to be okay.”
I was like, “Okay.” But yeah, we did this thing called Mission Impossible, which was really cool. It was our photographer’s idea. They played Mission Impossible music, and the DJ announced that we were going to go to each table and take a picture with everyone.
It allowed people to feel like they saw you, and we just quickly moved. One side of the table gets behind the other side, so we could easily just get in there. It made everyone feel like they hung out with the bride and groom for a little bit.
Liz Fleming: Oh, I wish we did that. I feel like there were more than half of the people I didn’t even get to talk to. We had about 152 guests, and I truly thought we’d get around to everyone.
I mean, we tried, and I would have loved to have talked to everyone. Some people I hadn’t seen in years or ever met before, but you can only do so much.
Christa Innis: It’s—
Liz Fleming: …So hard.
Christa Innis: It’s so hard, but as long as you’re having a great time on your day and your guests are also benefiting from that, you’ve won. You’ve won the lottery in terms of the wedding day.
Helicopter Parents and Wedding Hijacks
Christa Innis: Yeah, absolutely. All right. Let’s jump into this week’s story submission.
As a reminder to everyone listening, I get regular stories sent to me all the time. I probably have like 300 that I haven’t even touched the surface on. So, this is a random story that I’ve not read yet. We’re just going to react together. And if you’re listening, thinking, I have a story to submit, you can submit it through the link in the show notes. We’re always taking new submissions.
All right.
When my husband and I got engaged, we were so excited. We were dating for a long time, so we didn’t want to wait too long to get married. We got engaged on May 1st and were talking about getting married around the end or middle of June.
Oh wow, that’s fascinating.
So then my husband could go to some family events with me as a couple at the beginning of July. We sat down with my then fiancé’s parents, and they were asking if we had picked a date for the wedding yet.
I told them we were thinking about June 22nd. They said, “That’s only a month and a half away. We want to have a lot of time to get everything done.”
I told them I knew where I was going to get my dress, and I knew from other family members that getting a dress would be no problem as long as I was going to rent it. I was also going to have fake flowers and make bouquets and boutonnieres myself, so we didn’t need to ask a florist in advance.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Okay.
We were also not going to have our reception at an event center. We were planning on using a church for the reception, so we didn’t need to look for venues.
My father-in-law said, “That isn’t enough time to plan the other things that need to be done. And if we do it on July 22nd, then your fiancé’s older sister and her family, who live in Ohio, might not be able to attend since her husband is in the military. It would be hard for her to leave and come to the wedding.”
My fiancé and I had already talked about possible people who wouldn’t be able to attend the wedding. We came to the conclusion that it was our wedding, and if people couldn’t make it, then they couldn’t come.
My fiancé said, “Dad, we will just give people the date now so they can make arrangements.”
My father-in-law said, “That’s not how it works. You need to have everyone from the immediate family there for the wedding. So why don’t we do July 19th? Then your sister and her husband and family can come to the wedding since they will already be here.”
Why? Because they’re going to Disneyland that week.
Christa Innis: There’s a lot going on here.
Liz Fleming: Oh my God.
Christa Innis: There’s a lot of buildup here.
Liz Fleming: Poor bride.
Christa Innis: I know. Just getting ripped right from her. She knows what she wants. Leave her alone.
Liz Fleming: Yes.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh.
Christa Innis: Okay, here we go.
“That way you guys can have half of your honeymoon at Disneyland with all of us, which we would pay for. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
My then fiancé said, “Dad, we don’t really want to wait that long to get married since we’ve been dating so long. And we don’t really want to spend half of our honeymoon with you guys since it’s supposed to be just us.”
My future father-in-law said, “Oh, well, you’ll be in your own hotel room. You won’t be in the Airbnb with us in California, which I will pay for. You will also have a couple of days to yourself before the Disneyland trip. So you could go to St. George for a couple of days since it’s on the way to California.”
Liz Fleming: Oh my gosh. We should pause there.
Christa Innis: Wow. Helicopter much?
Liz Fleming: Geez.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Like, sure, yeah, that’s a quick engagement, but it sounds like they’ve already talked it through and figured it out. There’s no need to come in and say, “Well, let’s do it this day, and then you can have your honeymoon with us.”
Liz Fleming: Yes, that’s tricky. I’m seeing it from both angles here. The bride and groom know exactly what they want—signed, sealed, delivered. Awesome.
Most parents would be supportive of that. However, I get where the parents are coming from because it’s such a milestone, right? They’ve probably had this grand vision as parents over the last 20 or 30 years of how their child’s wedding would go and how they would contribute. They probably felt totally left out.
Christa Innis: Well—
Liz Fleming: In most weddings, the parents are pretty involved. They love to pay for certain things. It sounds like there was just a massive disconnect in family chemistry when it came to the wedding.
But for the honeymoon thing? That’s creepy. That’s weird.
Christa Innis: Well, and I feel like the weird part of it too is—because I totally get you—it’s like, yeah, they visualize this day and want to help their kid. But it almost sounds like they are catering to the sister and her husband a little bit more.
It’s like, “Well, they have a trip planned to Disneyland, so we should get married right before that.” It sounds like they want the couple to combine their vacation with the sister’s family’s plans to make it more convenient for them.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: It’s kind of weird.
Christa Innis: Yeah, it’s like they’re trying to make sure the sister, like the whole family, can be together. But as a military spouse, it doesn’t matter if you give a month lead time or ten months. The military is the military, and they might not be able to attend anyway. Like, they could just get called up for something.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: So that’s a little weird to me. But yeah, overall, it felt pretty disrespectful to react that way as someone related so closely to the bride and groom. It’s okay to have your opinions privately and maybe have that discussion. But to just insert yourself so directly into that moment? It just felt like she was being shut down at every turn. The poor thing.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh my goodness. And I hope there’s more like—
Liz Fleming: Oh, there’s more?
Christa Innis: There’s more.
Liz Fleming: Oh heavens.
Christa Innis: My fiancé said, “What if we do it on the 27th of June? That’s a weekend, and my sister still might be able to come since it’s a weekend. Then we have two months for whatever other planning we need to do.”
Future father-in-law said, “No, your sister will not be able to come down that weekend either. Ohio is a long way, and it costs a lot of money for her to come down to Utah. July 19th will be best for all of us.”
So again, saying no.
My fiancé then looked at me and said, “We will need to talk about this more than just for a second.” We left the room and talked about what we would want to do.
I said, “I’m really frustrated. I understand if she can’t come, but they are making assumptions that she won’t be able to make it to our wedding. They’re kind of speaking for the sister at this point, not even allowing her to answer for herself. If she really wants to come, I think she can make it happen. If she doesn’t want to come, then she won’t. This is supposed to be our wedding day, not your parents’. I want to get married in June.”
Liz Fleming: Yeah, there’s so much that’s not said in this story. We don’t know the backstory of the bride and groom and why they selected that date. Maybe there was a timeline—financial, career, or health reasons—you just don’t know.
Christa Innis: Yeah, exactly.
Liz Fleming: If anyone in my family ever said something like that to us, I’d be like, “No. What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you high?” I value your opinion, but this is what we decided. Get over it.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Exactly. It almost sounds like a weird control thing because they’re so set in July. And I’m like, what’s the big difference between June and July? To me, nothing.
Liz Fleming: Yeah, nothing. It’s less than a month. And when he said the thing about “I’m paying for it,” that was definitely a power play.
Christa Innis: I hate that.
Liz Fleming: Totally. It’s like, “I’m paying for it, so you’ll do what I want.”
Christa Innis: Yeah, it’s so frustrating.
Liz Fleming: That’s tricky.
Christa Innis: So, after talking, the bride said, “I don’t want to cause drama in your family. And I feel like if we push for the 27th, it will just make things complicated with your parents. I guess we will have to do the 19th and just not make your parents go into a frenzy.”
My fiancé said, “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”
I said, “It’s not what I want to do, but I guess it’s what we have to do to keep the peace.”
Liz Fleming: Ugh.
Christa Innis: They went back into the room and said, “I suppose we’ll do July 19th.”
The bride added, “I have other stories from my wedding, but this is already so long. Message me if you have any questions.”
Liz Fleming: Oh my gosh. That makes me so sad.
Christa Innis: I know.
Liz Fleming: She was a baller about this. She was very clear about what she wanted, set her boundaries, and had the courage to say, “That’s not what I want.” And yet, she’s just put in this tricky position. Imagine if you were in her shoes, up against that mounting pressure from in-laws. Starting off your marriage with that kind of dark energy? Yikes.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I get why she felt the pressure to change her mind, but it sucks that she had to.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: All right. I think I did okay with reading that. I have to be honest—one time, I read a confession on Facebook, and someone commented, “Before you post anything, you should make sure you know how to read.”
Liz Fleming: People are so nice.
Christa Innis: Right?
Liz Fleming: That was a really long read. Way to crush it.
Christa Innis: And I should have probably broken it up a little bit.
Liz Fleming: No, I think it was great. I like that you read it in chunks so that we could talk about it along the way.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I’m learning as I go here. Okay, I know we’re overtime, so I’ll make this next section a little shorter. It’s called the weekly confessions game. I’ll just do one confession, and we’ll rate it.
Okay, so these people are sending me their confessions on Instagram now, and we’ll rate it from 1 to build tea and 10 to absolute chaos. And if you have something to add, feel free.
Okay, this is crazy: “My dad was my landlord and told me to use rent as my wedding gift, then made me pay it back the next month.”
Liz Fleming: People are so weird. What the fuck? I guess. I don’t, like, what? Why are you paying it back? That’s not a gift. That’s a loan.
Christa Innis: Yeah, that’s literally a loan.
Liz Fleming: An interest-free loan.
Christa Innis: Positioned as a gift. People are so strange.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Okay, I’m just going to read this other one real quick, and we’ll close out.
“Yes. In-laws insisted on staying at the hotel and then arrived one minute before the entrance of the bridal party.”
Liz Fleming: That’s making a statement.
Christa Innis: Yeah, that was done on purpose.
Liz Fleming: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh my gosh. This is crazy. Thank you so much for coming on, Liz. I know. I’m like, what other stories can we read? This was so much fun. I really enjoyed having you come on and catching up. Can you tell us again where everyone can follow you, what other projects you’re working on, and all that good stuff?
Liz Fleming: Yeah, of course. Everyone can find me on Instagram—that’s my favorite. So, you can find me at @thesmalltownsocial on Instagram or at @MsLizFleming. I have two accounts.
And then, yeah, all the links are there. I share a ton of content. You can work with me one-on-one in coaching.
I think the biggest thing I have coming up, even if you’re not local to North Carolina, is a women’s personal development gathering called GlowCon on March 20th, 2025. The majority of women are here in North Carolina, but I have some women flying in from as far as Ohio, California, Washington, Virginia, and Vermont.
So it’s really grown. This is the second time I’m doing it, but it’s such a beautiful day of community, connection, getting to know yourself better, and just having some fun on the first day of spring.
So, a lot of stuff going on for little ol’ me, but I would love to connect with you all, and this has been wonderful, Christa. Thank you.
Christa Innis: Of course! Yay, I’m so excited. This is awesome.
