The Center Of Attention
After the formalities of the ceremony, we moved to the family photo session. The photographer and I coordinated to direct different family member combinations for the pictures. My family structure is slightly complex: my grandparents and parents are divorced, and we still have great-grandparents around, along with a fresh batch of in-laws from my husband’s side.
Anyway, I rallied all my grandparents for a special photograph. My grandmothers, grandfathers, and one great-grandparent happily posed, completing the image perfectly. Content with the grandparent group photo, my husband and I snuck off to an old cabin on the estate for more intimate pictures.
By the time we finished, we had had enough of photos. While we were away, our bridal group and family had already begun the festivities. Shortly after we returned back to the central area, I realized my step-grandmother (my mom’s stepmother) was upset.
We held our wedding ceremony at her residence and she felt left out of the photos. In a bid to retain the good mood, my mother suggested we return to our photo spot with the disgruntled step-grandmother and the photographer. But there was no satisfying her, she wanted all the wedding party people or nothing.
Eventually, we had to convince the bridal squad and my mother’s extended family members to retake some photos with my step-grandmother. Almost half an hour later, we had more photos starring her than any other relative.
Unfortunately, even after the additional photo session, she continued her negative streak, criticizing the music, food, decorations, and unfamiliar guests. Eventually, she just straight up left. That said, the mood lifted significantly after that.
In addition to all that, at our rehearsal dinner, my husband’s sister stole the spotlight to announce she was pregnant with second child.