My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
A wedding day is supposed to be about the couple. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell Mom.
In this episode, Kristen Knutson joins me to talk about wedding guests who can’t resist stepping in with their own cameras, plus the unhinged wedding gift stories she brought to the episode. It simply answers that sometimes the best way to support a couple is to simply let them enjoy the moment.
We react to a photographer’s wild submission about a mother of the bride who couldn’t let go of control. After crashing the engagement session, she continued taking over the wedding day, creating chaos for the couple and vendors. And just when they thought they’d seen it all, the best man collapsed before the ceremony.
Together, we talk about where support ends and control begins, and why protecting a couple’s experience sometimes means setting boundaries with the people closest to them.
Join me on Patreon and get bonus content every month!
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Boomer Mom Origins – Kristen explains how becoming a mom in 2021 sparked her viral “Boomer Mom” skits, starting with the now‑infamous almond‑for‑lunch story.
- Snack Culture Mirror – Christa and Kristen laugh about kids copying their parents’ constant snacking, realizing that the quirks they poke fun at are the same ones they pass down.
- Unhinged Wedding Gifts – Kristen brings in jaw‑dropping stories from mothers and mother-in-laws in weddings.
- Generational Parenting Shifts – They reflect on how past generations raised kids with one “right way,” while today’s parents face information overload and endless choices.
- Reception Speech Meltdown – Mom gave a child‑sized ’90s backpack, and passed around childhood bathtub photos to the entire room.
- Hijacked Engagement – The bride’s mom showed up uninvited, lurking behind trees and criticizing her daughter’s appearance
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “Everyone knows who the moms are. You’re gonna wear a beautiful dress, and it’s gonna be special. You don’t need a big spotlight on you for people to recognize.” – Christa Innis
- “Don’t change that about yourself.’ I think it’s great, and I do think that we’re all products of our generation.” – Christa Innis
- “We’re gonna have our thing that when they’re older they’re gonna complain about.” – Christa Innis
- “You’re scrolling through different people’s talents, and I think it’s really beautiful in that way ’cause it creates this community and creates this excitement for different kinds of talents and people kind of coming together.” – Christa Innis
- “Maybe it’s not meant for you. That’s okay.” – Christa Innis
- “Ultimately, your parents are responsible for their own feelings and their own day.” – Kristen Knutson
- “When our boomer parents were raising us, it was just like there was one way of doing things, and that was the information that they were fed.” – Kristen Knutson
- “You gotta go with your gut.” – Kristen Knutson
- “Today there’s like thousands of different ways of doing one thing in parenting.” – Kristen Knutson
- “It’s been fun ’cause I’ve been able to find my voice and just find my passion by just trial and error on my own.” – Kristen Knutson
*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 Kristen
Kristen Knutson is a digital creator, storyteller, and comedian who became known for her “Boomer Mom” skits after starting content creation in 2021, when she became a mother. Her first viral video captured the generational clash between her own baby‑boomer mom, who could go all day without eating, and Kristen’s need for regular meals. That relatable humor set the tone for her work, which focuses on family dynamics and motherhood.
Kristen rediscovered her childhood love of making skits through social media. Today she continues to grow her audience by turning everyday parenting chaos and generational differences into comedy that resonates across generations.
Follow Kristen Knutson
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A Team Dklutr Production
Blog Transcript:
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Christa Innis: Hi, Kristen. Thanks for being here
Kristen Knutson: Hello. Thanks for having me.
Christa Innis: Of course. So we were just talking before we jumped on, but you do like the infamous, boomer mom, like, funny skits, and I just think you’re hilarious. So kind of just jumping right in, what started these skits, and like Do you remember, like, what your first skit was that, really took off?
Kristen Knutson: Yes, I do. So what started it was me becoming a mom. I had my first kid in 2021, and that’s when I really started to notice all of the quirks and, like, the weird tips that my mom had. I have a mom who’s a baby boomer. I’m a millennial, and I see a lot of differences in our generations. So the first skit that I posted that went viral It was about, this is something that I still deal with my mom to this day, where, like, I’ll spend the entire day with her, and I swear to God she doesn’t eat, or she’ll eat, like, one almond the entire day. And I’m, like, the k- type of person who needs to eat, like, actual meals, like breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
The Almond Mom
Kristen Knutson: And we’ll be together, like, we’d be, like, out with the baby or whatever, and I would need… And I was, like, breastfeeding too, and I’m like, “Hey, should we go get lunch?” And she’s like, “Oh, you’re hungry? Oh my gosh, you’re hungry?” Like, she kept, being shocked that I’m hungry. I’m like, “We haven’t eaten in, like, six hours.
This is insane behavior.” So I remember posting that, and that was the first one that went viral. So it, was- Oh my God … like, therapeutic to me to see that a lot of other people dealt with that.
Christa Innis: It’s so funny ‘my mom’s very similar to that too. I’ll be like, “Oh, I’ve gotta eat.” And she’s like, “We just ate.”
And I’m like, ” Mom, that was hours ago.” I need at least, a bar in my purse at all times so I can have some kind of snack. that is- Yeah … so funny. I feel like I saw that one. I was like, “Yeah, that’s very relatable.” We’ll have, like, holidays- For sure … and she’ll be like, “Well, I don’t wanna serve anything before because you guys will get full.”
And I’m like, ” But then we won’t eat for the first, four hours that we’re there.”
Kristen Knutson: Right. What is that? Like, I need, emotional support snacks on me- Yeah … at all times and for whatever reason. People do say that your appetite decreases as you get older, but I haven’t experienced that in my life yet, so.
Christa Innis: Yeah. So we- We’ll see.
and it’s so funny. I don’t know if you find this as a parent too, is what we, like, talk about our daughter, and we’ll be like, All she wants is snacks. All she wants is snacks.” And then I’m like, literally as I’m saying it, I’m, like, shoveling, like, chips and salsa in my mouth, and I’m like, “Okay, well, I know where she gets
Kristen Knutson: it.”
Okay, that’s actually a really good point. I need to look inward more because my kids are the same. They snack all day. I’m probably the problem. They’re just watching me eating all day.
Christa Innis: I know, and then I try to explain. I’m like, “No, it’s dinner time.” And then I’m like, I just off, a call- Yeah
or something, so I’m, like, shoveling, almonds in my mouth, and I’m like, “Oh, well, whatever.”
Kristen Knutson: Right, that’s true. They’re sponges. They’re just watching us.
Christa Innis: We’re gonna have our thing that when they’re older they’re gonna complain about. They’re be like, “Well, my mom says, this, and she’s always snacking.”
I’m like, “Yeah. You need to have a snack.”
Kristen Knutson: Totally. Yes, that’s true, and I think that’s, one of those things in parenting that’s very humbling because you tell them to do a lot of things, and then you do them yourselves, and you notice that a lot more where it’s like, “Shoot, I actually do this.”
So –
Christa Innis: Oh, yeah. I know. It’s kind of funny. we’re in the toddler stages right now. Uh, my daughter’s three, and it’s like she’ll do something and I’m like, “Oh, that was straight up from me.” I literally did that gest- or I said it. this new thing is, if she kinda has, an attitude, I go, “Excuse me?”
And now she uses that against me. I’ll be like- … “Hey, don’t do that,” or She’ll look at me and she’ll go, “Excuse me?” And I’m like- … “Oh, no.”
Kristen Knutson: It’s like looking in a mirror. It’s like looking in a mirror. It’s so great.
Christa Innis: Oh, my God. It’s great. okay. So kind of backtracking for everyone listening, can you just tell them a little bit- Yeah
about you and what you do? I know we talked about, like, how you got into this, but, just more about your content
Meet Boomer Mom
Kristen Knutson: Sure. So I’m a digital creator, storyteller, comedian. mostly all of my content is focused around comedic and dramatic skit content, which is around family dynamics and motherhood.
so most people know me as Boomer Mom. That’s, my signature character, and I always say if you’ve ever had a conversation with your mom and you’ve needed to recover afterwards, then you’re my target audience. my content is for you.
Christa Innis: Love it.
Kristen Knutson: So I’ve been doing it since 2021, so that was since my son was born, so it’s been about five years, and there’s endless content.
So I’m still going strong, and I love it. It’s tons of fun.
Christa Innis: I find so many- Yeah … people I’ve talked to and met through here started, either maternity leave or when they became moms themselves, ‘ cause that was, like, for me too. It was, like, during mat leave I was like, “I wanna start making some kind of content,” and that’s, when I started making it.
But, so I find that really interesting. And you’ve also featured your actual mom in some of your skits too I’ve seen, right?
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. So Yeah, she’s such a good sport.
Christa Innis: Yeah. so she- She’s funny.
Kristen Knutson: She’s- … she likes
Christa Innis: it?
Kristen Knutson: She likes it. Yes, she likes it. she’s funny. She has a good sense of humor, and I think similarly to me, she’s very self-deprecating, so she recognizes herself in the content, which is…
I appreciate that. I do have a Boomer audience who actually follows me, and they bond with their kids and their grandkids over it, and I’m like, these are the more, the people that we need in this world.” And I’m the same way. I’m also self-deprecating. I have a lot of quirks. It’s not meant to be, like, this, super serious, “They need to fix themselves.”
I actually find a lot of these funny, silly quirks that my mom has really endearing, and I’m like, “Don’t change that about yourself.” I think it’s great, and I do think that we’re all products of our generation. I think she recognizes that.
Christa Innis: Absolutely, yeah. I know. I feel like every generation, is able to, like, reflect or, like, learn what maybe their challenges were or why they are that way.
‘Cause I feel like the generation- Yeah … even before that, like my grandma’s generation, my grandma always tells me, like, it was very common to be, like, smoking while you were pregnant, that’s just, a very generalization- Yeah
thing. But she’s like, It was all about, like, you wanted to look thin, all the time. it was just, more about, like, appearances and, so I feel like they probably- Yeah … grabbed that. Like, our parents’ generation probably grabbed some of that from them, and then we’re like, “We’re gonna change this a little bit.”
We’re gonna learn more about our health-”
Kristen Knutson: Totally … “and not do that stuff.”
Christa Innis:
Kristen Knutson: totally. And it’s true that in a lot of ways they didn’t know any better. we live in in the age of information almost, our detriment. it’s like information overload, and things that we do are wrong and right or whatever, and there’s all of these debates, whereas like I feel like back then, even when our boomer parents were raising us, it was just like there was one way of doing things- Mm-hmm
and that was the information that they were fed, whereas like now there’s like 12 different ways of doing one thing in parenting, or now you have like thousands of different ways.
Christa Innis: I think it was simpler times.
Yeah. No, I agree with the information overload, because yeah, they didn’t have-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah
Christa Innis: internet to log on and be like, “Wait. Should I do it this way?” And then be fed with, you know- Yeah … so many different options. Before it was like a neighbor or their own mom or an aunt, to be like, “This is how you do it,” and that’s it, you know?
Kristen Knutson: Exactly. Exactly.
Christa Innis: So I feel
Kristen Knutson: like- Yeah, that’s true.
they talked to their neighbors.
Christa Innis: yeah, exactly. And talking back about what you’re saying about people enjoying your content and not getting, offended by it. Because I feel like- Mm-hmm … there’s times where I, like, share a mother-in-law skit. And again, yeah, for the most part everyone likes it, but then you get those people that are like, “Oh my gosh, not all mother-in-laws are like this.”
I’m like, ” Yeah, I know that,” because I have a great mother-in-law. This, these are not after her. People send me in stories, and it’s their own experience. But,
Kristen Knutson: not getting, offended by it and just being like, “There are some people like this. There are some people that act like that.” And finding the humor in it- Yeah
Christa Innis: is, I feel like, you said before recording, it’s very therapeutic
Kristen Knutson: Exactly, yeah. I see it as, we’re making a movie, and so you don’t watch a movie and say, “Oh, I’m not like that. How dare you make a, movies like that?” Because it depicts a certain personality that’s not necessarily the exact, archetype that you’re dealing with, right?
Yeah. So that’s how I always see it. I’m like, sure, you can watch this and not relate to it, and that’s fine. You can just go ahead and move on. and you’re always gonna deal with that. I’ve seen the trend of, like, the what about me-ism, right? Where everyone’s like, if it doesn’t exactly fit what you wanna see, then people get mad about it.
Like, the bean soup theory- Yes … where, like, a person, put, a recipe up about bean soup, and someone’s like, “Well, what if I don’t like beans?” “What are you gonna make for me?” And it’s like, well, then just don’t make the recipe. You can just go ahead and move on. Not
Christa Innis: for you. Yes.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, exactly. this doesn’t need to be for you, then.
Christa Innis: I know. That is, one of the things with social media where people think, “If it’s on my feed, I have to comment and tell them I don’t like it.” And it’s like- Yeah … maybe it’s not meant for you. That’s okay.
Kristen Knutson: Exactly. Oh, my God. And I’m okay with it, too. It’s like, fine, I’m, open to criticism. open to your feedback.
Go ahead and leave it there. It’s engagement for me regardless, so go ahead and, drop it. I have my own, critiques, that I’m giving myself behind the scenes. Yeah. So I’ll take it or leave it depending on, the type, the tone of the comment.
Christa Innis: Yeah. So did you have, experience in acting or, writing or comedy beforehand, or just this kind of, like, bring it all out- No
yeah?
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. No experience in any of that. I followed, the traditional corporate route straight out of college. I got my degree in marketing but ended up in finance, so I had a career in finance, which made zero sense for me. but it was fun. but no, I really had no experience. I’m passionate about making content.
I was, like, always that kid in, middle school when we had our camcorders back then-
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm …
Kristen Knutson: making skit content with my friends. And, I remember asking You could buy, a software. Even we, those, massive computers, you could buy editing software.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Kristen Knutson: So I would edit our videos.
I would, like, make ’em slow-mo and try to make them funny. So I remember that’s always been a part of my personality, but I grew up in the Midwest, and so I didn’t really have access to, like, become a comedian or become an actress. So it just wasn’t really something I ever imagined doing, and I think, we live in the age of social media and being able to create our own content, so it’s been fun ’cause I’ve been able to find my voice and just find my passion by just, trial and error on my own.
Christa Innis: Yeah, I love that. Yeah, I know, and that’s, like, the- Yeah … positive side of social media where so many people are getting opportunities to share. I kind of think of it as, like, a talent show in a way. You’re, like, scrolling through, like, different people’s talents, and I think it’s really beautiful in that way ’cause it creates this community and creates this, excitement for different kinds of talents and, people kind of coming together. you really, unlocked something when you said, like, creating, skits when you were a kid. I don’t know, did you ever use, iMovie- Mm-hmm … as a kid? Like, the first, I remember when iMovie came out and I was like, ” This is amazing.” Like, you can do, movie magic, remember my dad showing me that stuff, and takes me back.
Kristen Knutson: Yes, I totally remember that, and then you could add, special effects. Yeah. I thought it was, like, the coolest thing I’d ever seen, and if you would look at it today, it was, ridiculous looking.
Christa Innis: I know. I know. It’s so funny. It makes me think- Mm
like, I don’t know if you ever, like, when you’re filming, you, like, think about, looking back to, like, now, like, 10 years from now and being like, Oh my gosh, we used to hold our phones like…” You or whatever that looks like. what- Yeah … changes are gonna be in the next 10 years when it comes to, like, creating content or doing skit content and how it’s gonna evolve?
Kristen Knutson: Totally. I just think, even in, more recent memory, like, I have my phone right here. Like, how how weird it is or how weird it was to hold your phone and talk to it. Mm-hmm. even, like, 10 years ago where we were like, “Oh, how awkward.” we’re talking to nobody.
Where I feel like now this next generation is like this is, a person to a lot of people, where, like, talking to the phone is a really natural thing. it’s become, almost like a member of the family, which is, so sad and crazy to think about because- Yeah … we all wanna experience the ’90s and, be more present.
But yeah, I think technology it’s evolving constantly. Yeah. Right, right in front of us.
Christa Innis: I know. I said before, I was like, “Oh, yeah, I’m super introverted.” And someone’s like, “How? you make content online.” I was like, “Well, when I make content, it’s me.” I’m, like, in a room- Yeah
by myself. I would never be out, in public doing it. not eventually holding my phone, but eventually doing something.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah.
Christa Innis: do you feel
Kristen Knutson: similar? Like, on a stage or something.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Like, do you feel similar? Um- Are you looking to take your career to the next level of, doing stand-up comedy or acting?
Do, have you ever thought about that?
Kristen Knutson: I’ve thought about it, but not in a way of “Let’s start doing this tomorrow,” because the thought of it is, terrifying, especially stand-up comedy. That terrifies me. That’s, the hardest job in the world. I don’t think comedians get enough credit for that.
Crazy Moms and MIL Stories
Christa Innis: but it’s true. it’s a much different art, like, making something in your house is so much different than in front of an audience. Mm-hmm. So yeah, I don’t know. I think it’s a different type of art. I think it would be fun, but it’s just, it’s a different type of muscle that I think I would have to, practice,Oh, yeah, for sure. Okay, so I know- Yeah … you, reached out to your audience, ’cause I kinda wanna jump into those ’cause I feel like those will be fun to read.
Kristen Knutson: Let’s do it.
Christa Innis: You reached out to your audience and asked them if they had any crazy… Did you say, like, crazy mother-in-law stories or crazy stories around weddings?
Kristen Knutson: I said around weddings with emphasis on moms and mother-in-laws.
Christa Innis: Okay.
Let’s hear some of those ones that your audience sent you
Kristen Knutson: Okay. Maybe I’ll start with, like, one of the shorter ones. I got a lot of, crazy gift stories. So like wedding gifts that they received from either an in-law or their own mom.
Like endless amounts- Oh my God … of content there. But this one I thought was particularly crazy. So it’s, ” As a wedding gift from my mother-in-law and her friends, I called it the baby-making kit. Inside the box was an all-time greatest love album, a candle, an ovulation test kit, and pregnancy tests. Yes, all wrapped up and given to us at our wedding.”
Christa Innis: Oh, an ovulation kit is wild.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, that’s next level. A candle. And I like how they, like, tried to, set the vibes, too- … with, like, a love album and a candle. it’s-
Christa Innis: They’re like, “Here, this is how we
Kristen Knutson: made
Christa Innis: your husband.” That’s- “
Kristen Knutson: This is how.” Yeah. And it’s…I didn’t catch this when I first read it.
From mother-in-law and her friends. So she went in with her friends to get that for them? That makes it almost, creepier. Yeah. It wasn’t just, her own gift.
Christa Innis: So they were like… What can we do so you can have grand babies faster? Let’s set the tone.” it’s so icky in general.
Uh-huh. Like, when you go to a wedding or, bridal shower and you’re like, “When are you gonna have kids?” Yeah. You gonna hop o- like, get ’em, quickly?” It’s, like- Right … such, a archaic thought to me now. I don’t know.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. It’s just way TMI. Because, there’s only one way to make a baby, right?
Or, like, there’s one picture that you have in your head, right? Right. About when you, like, traditionally make a baby. And, like, having that type of conversation with my in-laws, shoot me. it’s the last thing I wanna talk about with my mo- mother-in-law. this is just, take it to next level, about, like, getting you ready to have a child.
it’s
next level. And by the way, like, not everybody wants kids or wants them the day you get married, you know? Yeah.
Christa Innis: I know, like, let them enjoy their wedding day at least. I know, I remember- Right … I was at a shower years ago, and you know, the traditional thing where it’s like if you break a ribbon, that’s how many kids you’re gonna have.
Have you heard that?
Kristen Knutson: Oh, I’ve never heard that.
Christa Innis: I don’t know if that’s- No … like, where that came from. But that was always, like, a thing. Like, my family was always like, “Oh, it’s a… If you break a ribbon, that’s how many kids you’re gonna have.” And I remember my sister at her wedding, who now, ironically now has three kids, like, at that point, she was like, “I don’t know if I want kids.”
she was, like, so carefully trying to, like, not break ribbons. But we were at this other shower years ago. And the parents were, like, geeking every time a ribbo- “Oh, they’re gonna have another one.” I was like, “Guys, can you just open these things?” Oh,
Kristen Knutson: that is… Wait, and what do you mean by breaking a ribbon?
Like, I mean, out of the bow?
Christa Innis: So basically like- Is
Kristen Knutson: that what they mean?
Christa Innis: No, like if you open it like the normal way, like untie it or whatever, it’s fine. Yeah If you’re like, pop it, if you’re unwrapping it and the ribbon like pops or like breaks where like it shouldn’t, that meansyou’re gonna have a baby
Kristen Knutson: or something. I’m, I’m so glad that nobody in my family knows what that is, and that we weren’t tracking that my shower.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I know.
Kristen Knutson: It’s so funny. So it’s
Christa Innis: behind us now, so. And it’s weird too, because it’s at the bridal shower too, where it’s like you’re like trying to celebrate the wedding and all that, but they’re just like…
I don’t know. It probably started in like the ’50s or something, where it was like a baby, like get the babies going.
Kristen Knutson: That’s true. That’s true, and it’s like I would wanna talk to someone who, got married in the ’50s or ’60s, because I do feel like it was such a different age where it was like, “You need to have five to six kids, and in order to do that, you need to start having babies immediately.”
Whereas, like, when I got married, I never really felt the pressure necessarily. I was like, “Okay, we’re gonna get married, and we’re gonna have, a couple years, and then start thinking about having kids.” Like, I just didn’t feel that rush, but I do think that, decades ago they were like, “Okay, let’s start popping them out tomorrow-” Yes
and then see just, how many kids that we can have.
Christa Innis: yeah, I totally agree. Which
Kristen Knutson: is, yeah.
Christa Innis: I never felt pressure either and, but I feel like previous generations it was, like, expected of women. Yeah … like, you check a list, right? You find a guy, you get married, you have a baby, and if you weren’t doing that, there was something wrong with you or something, you know?
‘ Cause I remember my mom saying- Mm-hmm … ’cause my mom technically got married late and had kids late, and late was 26. My mom got married at 26, but that was considered late when she got married, and she was like, “I had cousins that called me-” Same … a spinster because I wasn’t married yet.” And she was like, “Yeah-” Are you kidding me?
so I just had to, like, brush it off. Yeah. she had her first kid at, like, 29, and that was, considered old, you know? And so I never felt pressure ’cause my mom never put the pressure on me, but a lot of my friends, like-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah …
Christa Innis: they would be like, “Oh, my mom had me already at this age.
I need to get going.” I’m like, “No you don’t. calm down. It’s okay.”
Kristen Knutson: For sure.
Christa Innis: And-
Kristen Knutson: Exactly. I think it’s just like there’s no right or wrong age to do it, right? until you get to a certain age where, like, it’s like there’s, health issues, but everyone finds the right time for them, and I think that’s, just…
And society has become a lot more accepting of, people just trying to navigate things on their own timeline. I personally don’t think I was mature enough in my 20s. I truly feel like I was, like, too selfish. and I’m sure, once you have a baby, like, your brain actually does rewire itself, so I’m sure I could have surprised myself and been a really great mom in my 20s.
But I just think through, like, the type of person that I was then versus the type of person that I am today, and I’m like, ” I’m glad I had my babies starting in my 30s, in my early 30s.” I feel like that was the perfect time for me.
Christa Innis: Yeah, 100% I agree, too. I look at my 20s and I’m like, ” I was still a child, like a baby.”
Like,I can’t. I’m sure, yeah, you figure- No,
Kristen Knutson: I was so immature …
Christa Innis: yeah. I’m sure you figure it out- … but I’m just like, this was a good time for me.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Christa Innis: Okay, what’s another one someone sent you?
Kristen Knutson: All right, let me see. should I do the longer one? It’s a little-
Christa Innis: Sure
Kristen Knutson: chatty, but I’ll do it. It’s two paragraphs, so… wedding story. My mom yelled at me in the middle of my reception because she didn’t get a moment with me after I had asked her if she wanted to do a reading during the ceremony or sing a duet with me, we’re both singers, during the reception, and she refused both.
She was apparently feeling not included when I did everything possible to include her. She didn’t want to be included and wanted to hold it against me instead. And then she didn’t want to drive home after, or drive home alone in the dark, early in the dancing mind you, but we had a shuttle. She just didn’t wanna take it, so she tried to get my brother to go with her.
He told her he wanted to stay at his sister’s reception. Oh,
Christa Innis: my. she could not have been happy no matter what they did is what I’m getting.
Kristen Knutson: Yes, that’s exactly it. It was like victim mode. I think she like, there’s something about this woman who wanted to be a victim somehow, some way, and she was gonna find a way-
Christa Innis: Yes
Kristen Knutson: to do it, ’cause this woman clearly was inviting her mom to be included. Like, sing a duet with her. Yeah. She couldn’t have been more involved by doing it. Like, what a nice- Like- … special thing. And they both are singers. Somebody asked you to sing at her- They’re the best. Like, I didn’t ask my mom to do that.
that’s so special. And so then she says no, and then is like, “I’m not being included.”
Christa Innis: It’s
Kristen Knutson:
Christa Innis: like, what do you
Kristen Knutson: want? Like, what else she- You wanna walk down her red carpet? … she’s included on? Yeah. Right? did she wanna be the bride? it almost feels like she wanted to be as special as the bride that day or something.
I don’t know. It, something seems a little off.
Christa Innis: I’ve weirdly heard- Yeah … a lot of stories where the mom expects to be walking down the aisle with the bride. I know, like, you can do that now where you walk with both parents. I see that a lot of times. I know, like, in our wedding, my husband walked down with both parents.
But,
Kristen Knutson: Mm-hmm …
Christa Innis: I’ve seen ones where, like, the mom expects it, and then when the bride’s like, “No, I’m just gonna walk down with Dad,” they get, offended. They’re like, “Oh, well, I was planning on walking down with you.” And then they get, like, a weird way. I’ve read a couple, a few stories like that now where I’m just like, “That’s so interesting.”
Kristen Knutson: Yeah … ‘
Christa Innis: cause that, wasn’t the norm, so I don’t know if, they saw one bride do it, and they’re like, “Oh, they have to include me now to walk down,” or I don’t know. It’s very odd.
Kristen Knutson: Right. And that’s where this, the whole thing of, tradition gets a little See both sides there in a way where it’s like, we did it really traditional.
actually most weddings I’ve ever been to where it’s like the bride will walk down the aisle with her dad. and that’s what I did. But I’m like, why is that the tradition? I guess it’s like the dad giving them- their daughter- Daughter away … away. Yeah. I guess it’s like special and sweet.
It’s such a weird thing to- But then again, yeah, it’s kinda weird, is it not? Like, it kinda is. Like, why
can’t my mom be included on that? Yeah. But then again, I don’t know. I feel like default is like you have your dad walk you down the aisle. Yeah. It’s ultimately, like it’s up to the bride, right? If the bride says, “You’re not, you shouldn’t give me away,” like she gets to decide- Yeah … not the parents.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I know.
I think I de- ba-ted having both my parents, and then like with timing I think brother just walked my mom down the aisle, so she was like a part of like walking down, and then with the grandkids up front it was just kinda worked out better that way. it’s weird, like when you look into like- That’s really
Kristen Knutson: sweet
Christa Innis: yeah, it’s like when you look into like the history of why they did it, it was the father like not selling, maybe it was selling the bride, I don’t know. But like giving the bride to like, his person of choosing and ba- Yeah … basically like one man to the next, which I think is kinda weird if you like think about it.
Kristen Knutson: Right. yeah, that’s why I’m like, okay, I’m not opposed to breaking those traditions.
I’m like, you know what? Like Iit’s not abnormal for somebody to wanna walk, to have their mom join them, or just have their mom do it, just have their dad do it, or have somebody else that’s special, or just walk alone.
Ultimately it really, it’s like up to the bride in my opinion. Yeah. the part that’s not okay in my opinion is for the mom to be like, “You better walk me down the aisle as a part of- Yeah … your wedding day,” ’cause it’s not her decision to make- Yeah … unfortunately. And
Christa Innis: the thing is too, like in this particular case saying like, “Oh, I wasn’t included enough,” you’re the bride’s mother.
Yeah. Everyone knows who you are. You’re gonna wear a beautiful dress, and it’s gonna be special. Like you don’t need a big spotlight on you for people to recognize, like, “Oh, she’s here. It’s her day.”
Kristen Knutson: Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And I feel like, we said, like she’s just trying to find something to complain about or something to make, the bride feel bad about on her day, and it’s like, no, it’s not gonna work.
Kristen Knutson: Yes, and then her wanting to leave early, they got them a shuttle, so they were nothing but accommodating. they clearly thought ahead, and then she just didn’t wanna do it, and was like, ” Nope, I’m leaving. Brother has to go with me” I think she was entering that day in victim mode.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Kristen Knutson: It appears.
based on what I’m reading.
Christa Innis: Yeah. It’s like something happened early on, like someone said something, and she’s like, “That’s it. I’m gonna hold onto this and it’s gonna go my way” or-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, and I, it’s, you feel for the bride, ’cause then it’s like you know she was tiptoeing around her feelings- Mm-hmm
and probably feeling guilty the next day when it really wasn’t her responsibility. ultimately, like, your parents are responsible for their own feelings and their own day, so- Yeah … I feel for the bride.
Christa Innis: No, totally. Okay, let’s do a little, before we get to this week’s story submission from-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah
Red Light, Yellow Light, or Green Light?
Christa Innis: someone, okay, I’m gonna do, it’s called Red Light, Yellow Light, or Green Light. I’m gonna read something- Okay … and then you tell me, red light is like awful, bad, green light is good, and then yellow is maybe in the middle. Okay.
Kristen Knutson: Okay.
Christa Innis: using your real-life family dynamics as inspiration for your characters.
Kristen Knutson: green light, obviously.
Christa Innis: I think inspo is fine, yeah.
Kristen Knutson: I think I could like- Peter, between yellow and green on that. I think if you are, roasting your family on the internet and just, tearing them apart, that’s not appropriate. But if it’s in a playful, like, really sweet way, like my content, obviously nothing but nice-
Christa Innis: Yeah
Kristen Knutson: then I’d say, green light.
Christa Innis: Yeah. And your mom’s involved and knows about it too. It’s not like you’re, like, secretly, bashing her on the internet or something. I did a skit one time, I can’t remember which one, but it was based on one that someone sent me. So it had nothing to do with, me or my family.
But I think when, like-
Kristen Knutson: Mm …
Christa Innis: some people see it, like a different generation, they see it, they assume, I’m airing out my dirty laundry. And Yeah … this, woman left this super long comment and was like, ” How dare you bash your husband’s family like this and air your dirty laundry? No wonder, this is happening to you.”
And, going off. And, everyone was like, “This is a skit. This is not based on her family.” Right. It’s like, “Hey, yeah, this has nothing to do with me.” Right, again, yeah. But I feel like if people just see it, and they, assume the worst or something.
Kristen Knutson: Totally. Yes. I have my drama series too.
I’m writing a movie, right? Like, none… I don’t know these people. These are people that I’ve created inside my head, don’t worry about my in-laws. They’re great. They’re good. That’s just what I say. It’s just like, “I’m writing a movie, so this is fictional.” Of course, it’s, loosely based on some real experiences of other people,
Christa Innis: Yes
Kristen Knutson: yeah.
Christa Innis: Yeah, of course. I feel like everything’s a little bit of inspiration. You grab stuff from all kinds of things, and that’s- Yeah … how you get inspired.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, exactly.
Christa Innis: Let’s see. comparing your parenting to what you grew up with
Kristen Knutson: hmm. I’d say like yellow light Yeah Because there’s some things that are so dated and probably not appropriate. And then there’s other things, we keep saying, “90s summer, 90s summer,” because I felt like my upbringing was so great in so many ways because we were unplugged and no TV. So there’s so many different things that I, hope to bring into my style of parenting that my, mom did, but I’m sure there’s a couple.
I mean, it’s not all like rainbows and butterflies. There’s some things in there that are borderline unsafe for kids. Right So I’d say red or yellow.
Christa Innis: Yeah. There’s a lot… I was just telling some moms that, like some of my mom friends, and we were talking about like the survivor’s bias of like their moms being like, “Well, you guys didn’t use a car seat after one years old.”
And they’re like, “Yeah. we’ve learned a lot since then.” Like, “Well, you guys were fine.” Yeah. “Well, yeah, we survived.” just because we survived doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep our kids- Yeah … in a car seat till they’re four, five, si- you know? we’ve learned a lot.
Kristen Knutson: Exactly. Yeah. Or like, safe infant sleep has evolved so much.
I’ve seen so many pictures of me in a crib, and it’s like bumpers and 30 stuffed animals and 100 blankets piled up on top of me. And I’m like,a nine-pound infant just like sleeping. And I survived that, thankfully.
Christa Innis: Yes. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Okay, last one. let’s see. Calling out toxic family behavior patterns, publicly or subtly through content
Kristen Knutson: like, so toxic behavior patterns that you’re actually dealing with in real life?
Christa Innis: No, I would say just, in general, behaviors-
Kristen Knutson: Oh …
Christa Innis: like toxic families
Kristen Knutson: Green light to that,and we kinda talked about this before westarted recording, but I think it’s, good for people to see that. I think sometimes you’re in it, and you don’t know because you’re in it, or you grew up a certain way with a certain parent, and you’re sort of raised to, not recognize toxic behaviors.
So I think it’s totally fair game to display that in content or skip content because if anything, it’s just a tool for people to recognize, what they, things that are problematic, and maybe it’s a way to give them the tools that they need to get out of it or have really structured conversations with the people that need to hear it.
Christa Innis: Totally. Yeah. I think, like you said, it’s so therapeutic to be able to, like, see something online, being like, “Wow, I’m not alone in this,” or Wow, I dealt with that too.” Yeah. “I’m not crazy.” And I’ve heard so many people that send me in stories that are like, “Even if you don’t use this story, it was so therapeutic for me to type out and, understand my feelings.”
so yeah- Yes … I feel like it allows people to see, like, “Oh, wait, that wasn’t okay the way they treated me,” you know, vice versa.
Kristen Knutson: Totally. a lot of people, they don’t even see it or know that it’s happening, and then all of a sudden they see it, and it’s looking at a mirror, and they’re like, “Oh, I notice patterns,” or, “I’m seeing these little traits that are, yeah, that’s actually not fair to me.
Maybe I should speak up for myself or say something or start recognizing those patterns.” So I think it’s good.
Christa Innis: Yeah. All right. Let’s get into this week’s story submission. so- All right. I’m ready … this was sent to me, and let’s, see what we got here. Okay. here we go.
Engagement Session Crash
” I’m a wedding photographer, and do I have a s- crazy story for you.
it all started during this couple’s engagement session at a local park. Everything was going great. We were getting beautiful shots and having a fun, easy time until I noticed someone lingering in the background behind me. I turned around to see what was going on, and the bride just rolled her eyes and said, ‘Oh, that’s my mom.'”
Gosh. I’m already, like, picturing this woman, like, behind a tree. Oh, no. I’m
Kristen Knutson: sorry. is she hiding? Like, what do you- If anything, like, just, like, be there, you know? I
Christa Innis: know, like, why is she, like-
Kristen Knutson: Oh …
Christa Innis: 15 feet behind? her mom had literally crashed their engagement session, so she wasn’t invited. Not only that, but she immediately started criticizing the bride.
At one point, she told her word for word to pick her chin up because she looks fat. I would be like- Mm … “Can you leave please?” Oh my gosh.
Kristen Knutson: Mm-hmm. “
Christa Innis: I was honestly shocked. The poor bride had a big scarf on and kept trying to use it to cover her neck and chin after that.”
Kristen Knutson: Mm. “
Christa Innis: Eventually, I had to step in and politely tell her mom that we needed some space so we could actually focus on taking their photos.”
Fast-forward to the wedding day. I arrived at the venue and went to start photographing the bride getting ready. We had a very detailed timeline planned out, including the first look before the ceremony, but her mom kept interrupting. She made the bride change her lipstick at least three different times, which ended up setting us back an hour.
Okay, that’s-
Kristen Knutson: Mm-hmm …
Christa Innis: wild behavior. this makes me think that she has, tried controlling her daughter so many times over the years. Because if the bride just was like, “Okay, yeah, I’m gonna change it,” then she’s so, you know-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah …
Christa Innis: she’s like, “Oh, well, I can tell her what to do and she’s gonna just follow my lead.”
Kristen Knutson: yeah. It’s almost like she’s trained to just say yes and just do it, because- that tells me she’s probably been dealing with that her whole life, which is, that’s sad.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Kristen Knutson: Makes me sad.
Christa Innis: I know. ‘Cause I feel like if someone told me to change my lip, I’d be like, “Yeah, okay.” Like-
Kristen Knutson: No, on my wedding day I was so mean.
I’d be like, ” No. Like, this is literally perfect.” Yeah. everything I picked is perfect.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Kristen Knutson: No, that makes me so sad. And then the chin thing with the scarf, like, that’s horrifying. That makes me, like, just sad because I see content all the time where it’s like, my first bully was my mom.
Mm-hmm. And that’s, like, tells me that she was probably, just saying those things and then that becomes the voice in your head, So it’s not just her wedding pictures and her wedding day, but she’s probably been doing that to her whole life.
Christa Innis: Yeah, and it makes me wonder, like, think about, like, they’re trying on the the wedding dress, ’cause I’ve heard stories of that too, where they make comments- Mm-hmm
wearing the wedding dress and making comments about their body and it’s like, can you just let- her enjoy this moment.
Kristen Knutson: Yes, and then it’s making her focus more on her appearance when she shouldn’t be focused on that. I mean, of course- Yeah … you wanna look beautiful feel beautiful, and that’s all that matters on your wedding day.
So I’m sure it just, like, she gets in her head, and then you can’t even enjoy the day. That’s, ugh.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I
Kristen Knutson: don’t like that.
Christa Innis: No. it says, “We finally managed to squeeze in the first look, but there was no time left for portraits before the ceremony. Side note, completely unrelated to the mom, but just adds how insane the day was, the best man literally passed out right before handing the rings to the officiant.
The other groomsmen dragged him off through the trees, and the ceremony just kept going.” I just saw a video- I don’t know, on maybe TikTok or something, and the best man passed out, … I think Madison Humphrey- … mainly did it, and I was like, “This can’t be real.” Oh, that would be- And it literally happened.
the best man passed out, and they just, tried to carry him up, and they were holding him, and he was, like, swaying. obviously, like, drunk out of his mind. I’m just like-
Kristen Knutson: Oh, that’s so bad. I guess if he was drunk out of his mind, so it was one of those things where, like, self-inflicted, as the best man, wouldn’t you want them to keep going?
You know, where I’m like, “Just don’t look at me,” even though it’s, like, the only thing that people- Yeah … are looking at. It’s so humiliating, but in a way I’m like, “You know what?” Yeah. “I probably would want them just to keep going.”
Christa Innis: Yes. Oh, yeah.
Kristen Knutson: But The thing I’m worried about is, a health concern.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Kristen Knutson: You know, where they’re, like, dragging their, limp body through the trees. Like, I’m a little worried about- Just
Christa Innis: hide him through
Kristen Knutson: the bushes … the guy. Yeah, it’s like that’s what I’m worried about. does he need some medical attention?
Christa Innis: Right, ’cause this doesn’t say, what the reason is for him passing out.
Like, was he drunk? Was it really hot? Yeah. Did he not drink any water that day? Maybe we should be
Kristen Knutson: a little more
Christa Innis: concerned.
Kristen Knutson: Right. That’s what I’m worried about. Like, I want everybody to be, like, leaving the wedding ceremony alive, that’s like my number-one goal above and beyond, like, the perfect ceremony.
So that’s the number-one thing. If it is like, oh, he’s just drunk, then it is… it’s like, okay, go, just go, like, sit down in the corner and, like- Yeah … drink some water, and we’re gonna keep this going.
Christa Innis: Yes, and think about what you did.
Kristen Knutson: yeah. And you better, be thinking about it, and make it up to us at some point.
Christa Innis: Yes. Just thinking about the groomsmen dragging him through the trees, I’m just like, “Oh my God.” Yeah,
Kristen Knutson: that’s… I’m imagining this, limp body, getting, dragged through, and everyone just, like, ignores it. That’s- I’m a little concerned for the guy. Yeah. Hopefully he was okay.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I’m hoping if they did that, they just know, like, “Oh, it’s just Josh again.
He just passes out. Like, he’s good.” Yeah.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. God. Like, that’s just a thing he does.
Christa Innis: Whatever. It’s fine
First Hijack and Bully Was Mom
He’s just kind of quirky. after the ceremony, we were supposed to move quickly through family photos so we could focus on getting the portraits of just the bride and groom since we had missed it earlier.
The bride had made a very clear list for family photos, and I was following it, but her mom kept jumping in, adding more and more group combinations. Then she started pulling her own friends into the photos without the bride and groom even being in them. Oh, my gosh. See, that’s where also like- Oh, no … I know it’s not in everyone’s budget, but, like, having a planner or a coordinator or someone there that can, direct things is so helpful- Yeah
because, to have some, like, a mom come in and being like, ” I’m the boss now. You go there, you go there,” I would just be, like, losing my mind.
Kristen Knutson: That’s so bad. That’s so bad. you only get so many photos, and I don’t know, I just feel like the photo part is such a drag.
So just to, like, have her take it over and get all these photos of people she probably didn’t even know, and she’s probably paying for it. I mean- Yeah … maybe the mom was paying for it. I guess that’s, like, a detail we don’t know, but
Christa Innis: Yeah …
Kristen Knutson: that’s a disaster.
Christa Innis: That’s pretty bad.
Well, ’cause you know, too, maybe I’m making assumptions, but based on, like, a lot of the stories that I read- Yeah … and since this is coming from the photographers, we’re not getting it, from the bride where I would maybe get more details. You know- Mm-hmm … this is the kind of mom that controlled the wedding guest list, is like, “Oh, we’re inviting these 50 people.”
Yeah. ” You haven’t seen them since you were a baby, but they’re my friends,”I feel like she probably- Totally had some… And the fact, again, that the,… bride so quickly changed her lipstick, not once, not twice, but three times. Mm-hmm. The mom’s definitely- Yeah … had some push and pull in this wedding.
She probably picked the venue- Totally … you know, made things her way.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, I think that’s a fair assumption just based on everything else we’ve heard about this mom.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Kristen Knutson: I wouldn’t put it past her.
Christa Innis: No.
Kristen Knutson: You know what’s interesting is, on my wedding day, my mom, this isn’t, an evil thing, it was just her being her chaotic self.
She, loves her camera. She has this, really nice camera. She doesn’t totally know how to use it all the time, and she brought it to my wedding. And, I have the photographer taking photos of us, and my mom would come in and, try to snap photos too. So then my photographer would have to, like, wait for her to, like, get her photo.
so there was a moment in there that I kept reliving over and over again where I just had to, tell her pretty, firmly, “You gotta stop with the camera.” The camera has to go away.” I’m like, “I’m paying so much money for a professional to do this. it’s fine for us to get, like, iPhone photo.”
I’m totally cool with, like, photos.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Kristen Knutson: But I’m like, “The, big professional camera just, isn’t it for today.”
Christa Innis: Yeah, like, you’re off the clock today. Let’s let the professionals- Yes … do their job. Yes.
Kristen Knutson: Yes. I wanted her to be in them, and she kept taking her camera out, and she just, like, doesn’t know it.
She was, like, trying to, like, figure out the settings. She’s, like, learning how to use it- … on the spot. And I’m like, “I want you to be in these photos. put the camera down. I want you to be in these photos. I don’t want your camera, anywhere near this day. Like, you can take it out any other time but today.”
Christa Innis: That’s so funny.
Kristen Knutson: Oh. It makes
Christa Innis: me think of, like-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah …
Christa Innis: when they’re like, no photos during the ceremony, and you always see, like, an Uncle Bob or something, standing there with his iPad. Yeah. And it’s like, “Uncle Bob”- The
Kristen Knutson: iPad, yeah … “
Christa Innis: we got a photographer.”
Kristen Knutson: you always see the down the, you know, like, they try to get, the aisle ones with, the audience or whatever, and, you see, the big iPad in the way or, and, like, right to the left covering somebody, like, one of, the bridesmaids or something, and you’re like, “Oh, no.”
Christa Innis: No, I saw-
Kristen Knutson: Uncle Bob is gonna be in trouble.
Christa Innis: I saw one where it was literally covering the bride. The bride and, Oh … the groom were walking back down, it was planned, and there was literally, someone in the front standing with their iPad, it was the photographer saying, “This is why we say, no phones, no iPads.”
Yeah. and it’s so funny- Yeah … ’cause, you’ll hear a lot of times they talk about, older generations will be like, “Oh, the millennials and Gen Z, they’re always on their phones,” but then a lot of times at those kind of events,
Kristen Knutson: Mm-hmm …
Christa Innis: again, it’s a lot of generalization, so apologies to people listening- Yeah
if you’re offended. But, a lot of times at those events then you see, older people are the ones with their phones and iPads, and it’s like, “Put them away.”
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. “
Christa Innis: Okay, we got a photographer.”
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, or in my mom’s,case with her giant, I don’t even know what it is, like a Canon or something, that she doesn’t know how to use yet, that she’s trying to snap a couple.
But, I’m like, “Maybe, like, one or two, go ahead.” But it was, like, got to a point where she would, like, my photographer would have to pause for her to get her photo, and I’m like, “What are we doing?” Like, we’ve gotta, put it away, ‘ we just don’t have the time to, like, get you trained into how to use your camera on a day where I want you in the photos.
… we’re not doing this. That’s
Christa Innis: so funny.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. No.
Christa Innis: Okay, so she says, ” At that point, I had to step in again and explain we were on a timeline and had to stick to, this list. I told her we needed to move forward so we could get photos of the actual couple. She stormed off in a huff.”
She’s probably never been told no before. Yeah. ” Then came the reception.” But honestly,
Kristen Knutson: thank God.
Christa Innis: Yes. I know.
especially, I feel like wedding professionals that work a lot of weddings have to have a strong backbone to say no to people. Yeah. Like, my photographer was really good at, like,getting people together and be like, “Nope, it’s time for this.
Okay, we need to get mom,” or, “We need to get, you know, whoever over here.” ‘ Cause they probably deal- It’s true … with a lot of unhinged people, or people that are just kinda like- That
Kristen Knutson: is true …
Christa Innis: not listening.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, that’s a good point. it’s a good personality type to be, like, super, like, keep it, things in, be in charge, don’t be afraid of people’s feelings.
Just, keep it moving forward.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I was saying, like, I’m typically a pretty introverted person, but when I’m hired for, like, day of coordinator, which I don’t do too much anymore, but here and there- Yeah … you give me a schedule, I will make sure… I’m like, you need to be here. Okay, put the water down.
Get in this photo.” ‘Cause I’ve had, like, younger s- like- Yeah … siblings that’ll be like, “I don’t wanna be in this photo.” Not, I’m not talking kids. I’m talking, like- Yeah … adults that are, like, complaining. Like, “I don’t wanna be in this photo.” I’m like, ” Put your food down.”
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. “
Christa Innis: Get in the photo. We only got 10 more minutes.”
Yeah. “And then you gotta put your dress…” You know, whatever. Yeah. Or people that change out of their dress- And every minute counts … before. Yeah.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, every minute counts. It’s a crazy, crazy day.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. it’s a crazy job. I am, impressed because I feel like I would be immediately, like, everyone would be behind schedule.
Yes. Be like in the corner, like, talking to the guests. Yeah.
Reception: Deeper in the Iceberg
Christa Innis: Right. she said, “Then came the reception, which was easily the most unhinged part of the day. There was only one speech scheduled, and it was from the mom.” Oh, no. ” That alone should have been a red flag. She got up with a manila folder- Oh, no … and a gift bag.
Immediately started crying- no … and launched into a story about how, as a child, the bride always wanted a backpack from some ’90s pop group. She then handed the, the gift bag to the bride. The bride pulled out a child-sized backpack.” What?
Kristen Knutson: Oh, no. Then the mom- It keeps, keeps getting worse.
Christa Innis: I’m just picturing this.
Like, she’s like, “This is my grand moment to make my speech.”
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. “
Christa Innis: Then the mom opened the folder and started passing around childhood photos of the bride to the entire room, including pictures of her in the bathtub.”
Kristen Knutson: Oh, no.
Christa Innis: Why?
Kristen Knutson: Like- I feel bad for this bride …
Christa Innis: I need to know how many people were here, and, like, how she’s walking around. Like, take one and pass it, you know? Like…
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. it’s like show and tell.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Kristen Knutson: Like, oh, this is so bad. That would be weird. Okay. Maybe
Christa Innis: not.
Kristen Knutson: can we pause on the backpack for a second?
Because, what, did she wait, like, 20… she said no for how many years? And she’s like, “I’m gonna say no to the only thing you want in your entire childhood and give it to you when you’re, like, 25 or 30 years old?”
Christa Innis: When you no longer care about
Kristen Knutson: the backpack. Like, I don’t know, I would just be, like, offended.
I would be. Yeah, I would just be offended. I’m like, “So you’re saying you want to say no? You held this over my head for 25 years?”
Christa Innis: yeah …
Kristen Knutson: you could have given it to me, could, when I could have actually used it.
Christa Innis: Right.
Kristen Knutson: You know? I don’t know. Or maybe I’m, like, not catching. what was the point she was trying to make with the backpack?
Christa Innis: that part seems very odd to me, ’cause I’m like-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah …
Christa Innis: did he finally think, her wedding night was the moment to give it to her? ‘ Cause I’m also like- Yeah … the whole, like, gift thing, if you wanna make a gift sincerely about the person, you don’t need an audience, right? So I feel like if she actually- Yeah
was, like, sentimental of, like, something you wanted when you were a kid, and the night before the wedding or, like, they went out to dinner the week of, I feel like that would be sweet. But the fact that she did it- Yeah … she was like, “Here’s this ’90s backpack. Open it up,” that seems weird to me.
She wanted this whole audience.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah.
Christa Innis: I don’t know. That’s weird.
Kristen Knutson: Very strange. No, I agree with that. Gifts should just be… sentimental gifts, that’s a, one-on-one situation.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Kristen Knutson: That didn’t need to be a part of the speech. Yeah, that’s interesting. Okay.
Christa Innis: so she goes, “I went home thinking, what did I just witness?
But figured at least it was over. Nope. After I delivered the gallery, the mom called me furious. She complained that there were only 127 photos of her and the bride.”
Kristen Knutson: I could throw up.
Christa Innis: 127? What? With the bride and the mom. That is a lot. I don’t even think I. Oh my God, what are you even doing for money?
No, seriously.
Kristen Knutson: What? That’s so many photos
Christa Innis: What is she gonna do with all those? give them out
Kristen Knutson: at her- Yeah, that is… Or maybe she was just, so mean that she, like, didn’t like any of them, she seems to be very picky-
Christa Innis: Critical …
Kristen Knutson: mother, so maybe she, didn’t like… Yeah, critical. So she maybe didn’t like the angle or, they just weren’t good enough for her.
Christa Innis: Yeah. It
Kristen Knutson: seems like nothing’s good enough for this woman.
Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, that is, ugh …
Christa Innis: wild behavior.
Kristen Knutson: Ugh, that would be a hard customer.
Christa Innis: Yes. I know, ’cause that’s the thing, too. It’s like she probably wasn’t even hired by… Maybe she was hired by the mom, I don’t know. But to, like- Mm … mom come in and sabotage all these things and, try to make it her own.
so she ends- Mm … with saying, “To be clear, I knew she would want a lot of photos, so I’d already gone out of my way to take plenty. But apparently a quarter of the entire gallery wasn’t enough. I finally had to tell her very directly that she was not my client, and that she needed to take it up with her daughter.
Hands down one of the most chaotic weddings I’ve ever worked.”
Kristen Knutson: That’s really bad. I feel bad for the daughter.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I feel like that
Kristen Knutson: would be so- That’s really bad. And, like, the daughter would be… Like, I would be, as the daughter, horrified even knowing that my mom reached out to the photographer to, critique her.
Yeah. That within itself is, like, so horrifying-
Christa Innis: Yeah …
Kristen Knutson: to me.
Christa Innis: And it makes me think that
Kristen Knutson: was- Ugh … not the
Christa Innis: only vendor the mom reached out to. You know she had other
Kristen Knutson: companies.
Christa Innis: Yeah
Kristen Knutson: Oh. And I feel like that’d be so- I’m just, I’m just thinking about all the admin that the daughter has to deal with. This is a lifetime-
Christa Innis: Mm
Kristen Knutson: of, tiptoeing, listening to all of her complaints. That is just so draining on somebody, and this kids aren’t even involved at this point. Yeah. I feel like once kids get involved, then it’s 10X as bad as it was. I, yeah, I just feel bad for her.
Christa Innis: Yeah. For the bride.
I feel like that would be so hard as the wedding vendor to, like, have a client you’re working with, and then having a parent come in and be like, “No, you need to do it this way.
Ooh … Do it this way.” And you’re like, “Well, you’re not my client. Sorry.”
Kristen Knutson: Totally …
Christa Innis: that’d
Kristen Knutson: be- Yeah. I’m sure they see it enough, like what she said was a perfect thing to say, which is like, “You’re not the client. Your daughter is my client. I listened to everything she needed, so take it up with her.
Like, Too many cooks in the kitchen- Yeah …
Christa Innis: at this point.” Yeah. You have to just, cut it. ‘ Cause I think the mom’s been used to, like we saw in the beginning, she’s been used to, like, being catered around. if things are not,
Kristen Knutson: Yeah …
Christa Innis: the way, she can’t control a certain way, like, she’s gonna make it go this way, and the daughter’s gonna bend backwards for her.
And so I think the fact that the photographer- Mm-hmm … was like, “No. I can’t do anything else. You’re not my client.” Also, what does she want her to do, go back in time or, like, give her a refund? She’s like, no, she did her job. It’s not in the contract- Yeah … to get 500 photos of the mom and the bride.
It’s not your day.
Kristen Knutson: Right. Right.
Christa Innis: Wild.
Kristen Knutson: That is wild. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh,
Kristen Knutson: my. Ugh. I wonder if she’s an only child or if she had siblings, or, maybe an only daughter. It feels like it’s, only daughter or only child.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Kristen Knutson: Maybe.
Christa Innis: Yeah. ‘
Kristen Knutson: Cause that woman’s got a lot of energy for one day.
Christa Innis: Yes …
Kristen Knutson: I don’t know.
Feels like there’s a lot of build-up to that.
Christa Innis: Yes. Oh, man. If you are the bride that received a backpack on her wedding day and you wanna reach out with more details, please do. my hope is that never surfaces-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. Yeah, where are you now?
Christa Innis: I know. Where are they now? ‘Cause it’s like whenever I get to reach out- Yeah, are they okay?
to vendors, I love hearing from their perspective, but it’s so different than, the bride perspective because, there’s a lot of missing details, and I’m like, “I need to know more.” Like,I wanna- Like,
Kristen Knutson: I bet we don’t even know the, like… I bet it’s, like, just the tip of the iceberg with this lady.
Yes. You know? Like, I bet there’s so much more behind that. I
Christa Innis: know. We need to know about the planning process, the post-wedding. What was that? Yeah. The call after the- Yeah … photographer told her no. What did the mom call and
Kristen Knutson: say? Oh, man.
Christa Innis: Gosh.
Kristen Knutson: 100%, yeah. Even the backpack. let’s learn more about this backpack.
more.
Christa Innis: Yes. What was the ’90s band, first and foremost?
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. And-
Yeah …
Christa Innis: yeah. Oh my gosh. Okay. So I always like to end these with confessions that people send meon Instagram. it says- Okay … a compromise you made for your wedding that you now resent a little bit. This person said, “A photographer my mother-in-law knew.
We never got the full pictures, and he sucked.” I always say- Mm-hmm … the photographer is one that you have to be so careful about. I’ve heard people hiring family friends or, like, a cousin, and-
Kristen Knutson: Yeah … this
Christa Innis: is what happens.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, and you can never get that day back. you can never get the photos back, so it’s definitely worth the investment.
Christa Innis: Yeah. that time we held a wedding and didn’t elope
Kristen Knutson: Oh, they wish they eloped … wish they eloped. Mm. Mm-hmm. That’s fine. That tells me someone convinced
Christa Innis: them or
was like, “You have to have a wedding.” Yeah. And I always feel like- Yeah … when you’re so, like, convinced in the beginning that it becomes someone else’s day, you wanted to- Yeah … have a big wedding and they said elope, or they wanted, you know, vice versa, You’re gonna look back and be like, “Oh, I should’ve done it the other way,” because then it becomes their- Totally
decision. You gotta
Kristen Knutson: go with your gut.
Christa Innis: Mm-hmm.
Kristen Knutson: Totally. You have to go with your gut and do what’s right with, for you. And yeah, you hear that a lot where it’s like, “We just wanna be married. We don’t wanna have the day,” Yes. But, if that’s what your heart wants, you should just go do it. Who cares who you piss off?
Christa Innis: Yeah. this person says- I
Kristen Knutson: know it’s way easier said than done.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I know. I always try to say, I’m like, “I know I’m not in the situation. This is just an outside- No … perspective.”
Kristen Knutson: Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
Christa Innis: Oh, okay, and this person says, “Inviting people my husband insisted on, but we don’t like them that much.”
Oh, why would you invite people you don’t like?
Kristen Knutson: Oh, right. Ugh. Wait, her husband wanted them- Yeah … to come? ‘
Christa Innis: Cause he insisted on inviting people. Okay.
Kristen Knutson: Why would he want… Wait, why would he want them there?
Christa Innis: Right? That’s so odd to me. So you don’t like people, but you want them at, he insisted on having them at your wedding.
Kristen Knutson: Unless there’s some weird, family tie. You know, it’s, like, childhood friends that they just feel like they have to have for formality sake maybe. I don’t know.
Christa Innis: Yeah, they’d feel bad or something.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah.
Christa Innis: All right. Last one, “Not speaking up about my guest list.” I hear that one. Mm.
Kristen Knutson: Mm-hmm.
Christa Innis: Yeah.
Kristen Knutson: Mm-hmm.
Christa Innis: ‘that’s another one I hear- Yeah, that’s
Kristen Knutson: a lot of emotions.
Christa Innis: Yeah. I feel like there’s a lot of control when it comes to guest lists. again, that was one thing I was really lucky, like, I did not have anyone coming and saying, “Oh, you have to invite this person.” It was kinda just like I went to, like, my parents and my in-laws and was like, “Hey, tell me if there’s people- Yeah
you want invited,” and, that’s kinda what we did. But I hear so many stories- Yeah … about people being like, “You have to invite Marsha.” And it’s like, Marsha was our neighbor when we were three years old. I don’t know Marsha. You know, like-
Kristen Knutson: Totally. Yeah. It’s true. I think it’s,can get so heated and it’s so emotional, and it deals with money because with every seat, isn’t it, like, I’m sure it’s, way…
I wonder, do you know what, like, the numbers are now? average cost per seat is, 200 bucks per head or something. Oh, yeah. Like- It’s so insane … which is crazy. So then you’re like, why am I bringing Marsha into our special day when I haven’t seen this woman in, 31 years?” It’s, yeah.
Yeah. It gets chaotic. I was lucky, too, where I didn’t, I don’t remember any specific drama. But when it’s like, oh, my, somebody’s dad is paying for it and then the mother-in-law is, inviting half the wedding, it just feels like this game of, fairness, and yeah, it just gets super awkward. Very awkward.
Christa Innis: Yes. No, totally agree. All right. Yeah. Well, that was a wild, wild story, wild confessions. Thank you so much for- Yeah … coming on. It was great officially meeting
Kristen Knutson: you. Thanks for having me. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Kristen Knutson: You, too. I’ll look out for some more skits, some more drama skits.
Christa Innis: Yes.
Kristen Knutson: I love your content.
Christa Innis: Thank you. I know, I love yours, too.
I was saying, like, I, your, humor always, cracks me up because I feel like it’s, relatable and, like, it reminds me of people I know, and I’m just like, this is pretty funny.”
Kristen Knutson: Yeah.
Christa Innis: so tell everyone again- Thank you … where they can follow you, find your content, and then anything fun you’re kinda working on.
Kristen Knutson: Yeah. call me Kristen Marie on every single channel, so Instagram, TikTok, YouTube. oh, and Facebook. So those are, like, my drama hub, and then, Instagram is all, exclusive comedy for the most part. So yeah. I’m working on mostly right now just my fun drama series, which is sort of, like, the antidote to my comedy.
and just lots more drama to come through the rest of the year. So hopefully people can come, find me on any of those channels.
Christa Innis: Awesome. I love it, and we’ll, link it
Kristen Knutson: all. Yeah.
Christa Innis: Oh. Well, thanks again.
Kristen Knutson: Awesome. Thanks, Krista. It’s nice to meet you.
Christa Innis: You, too.