We've seen our fair share of mothers-in-law behaving badly at weddings. But the following story is the stuff that horror films are made from...
A rehearsal dinner turned into a nightmare when the groom's mom took a sick joke a bit too far. She had matching t-shirts made for about ten of her relatives. While it may sound cute, it was anything but. The crazy MIL and her entourage burst into the dinner shrieking, and wearing their 'Bride of Chucky' tops. While the couple and their guests were horrified, the woman claims it was all in the name of fun.
We've heard our fair share of wedding horror stories but this one takes the cake...
Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
A rehearsal dinner turned creepy when a crazy MIL burst in with a group of people, all wearing 'Bride of Chucky' t-shirts
Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: NewBet7377
Image credits: FBO Media / Pexels (not the actual photo)
How to deal with badly behaved wedding guests, according to experts
The worst wedding guests come in all shapes and sizes. Maybe they’re friends, parents, in-laws or even members of the wedding party. Many experts have seen it all, and they say there are ways to pre-empt drama or deal with it on the day without losing your sanity.
One of the most common problems is the drunk guest. Aka the one who becomes besties with the bar and doesn't know when to call it quits. If you know beforehand that this person might misbehave when under the influence, you should inform your wedding planner or a friend, bridesmaid or bestman.
“We have actually provided a watered-down bottle of the preferred liquor just for pouring drinks for that person,” says Alex Alexander of Alex Events.
Charley Izabella King, a wedding planner from Bluebell Events, also has a few tricks up her sleeve. She reveals that she usually finds the person’s plus one and asks them to help in limiting their alcohol intake. King adds that she’ll also let the bartender and banquet captain know if there are any guests they should keep an eye on.
Katrina Otter, an award-winning wedding planner, agrees.
“If you’ve got guests who you know are big drinkers, tell your caterers or bar staff in advance and ask them to stop serving the guests in question when they deem it’s necessary,” says the expert. “Make sure that there’s plenty of water and non-alcoholic options on hand right through the day and remember that evening food is not only great for giving you a boost of energy later in the day, it’s also very useful for soaking up a day of drink.”
Otter adds that you shouldn’t give any heavy drinkers a big role in your day.
“It’s also helpful to nominate someone who can keep an eye on things and help if things do go awry,” she suggests. “A parent or an uncle is usually a great choice here because these people automatically carry respect. Brief them ahead of time and try not to let someone’s drunken behaviour ruin your day.”
“If they get particularly rowdy, I would ask them to leave,” King told Inside Weddings.
But sometimes, even stone-cold sober guests can create wedding chaos and drama. For example, the entitled mother or mother-in-law who catches main character syndrome and thinks she’s the bride.
Experts suggest gently setting firm boundaries during the wedding planning process. So if your mother or mother-in-law insists on choosing your flowers, Alexander advises saying something along the lines of, “It is so lovely of you to want to pay for and surprise me with the flowers, but I have always looked forward to planning my wedding and especially the flowers! Having you there with me as I choose the look of the wedding means so much to me. Thank you!”
In addition, it may help to give your mom or mother-in-law a dedicated role to keep them busy, and make them feel included. This ideally would be something you’re willing to loosen your grip on.
Don't hesitate to enlist the help of your wedding planner, or a friend to smooth things over.
“We have diverted many a situation by being fully aware of peoples’ feelings,” says King, “and being comforting to them by understanding the situation and helping to resolve it.”
Image credits: Rothemba Vele / Pexels (not the actual photo)
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