#sadbride

Trying to get back into posing!! I decided to do a couple “sad bride” poses and I think they came out pretty good <3 

For download:  Dropbox (adfly free)

Why does everyone seem to think that disparaging businesses is SO okay these days? It’s so easy to hide behind a computer and bash away! I thought long and hard before posting this, but it’s just NOT okay to write a negative review about a business for something that was completely out of their control. People are getting sued for defamation and that gives me something to think about.

Despite my request for Tom to remove the negative review for something that was out of our control, he didn’t. So since it’s there for all the world to see, I thought that I would share the REAL STORY for the world to see as well. You’re welcome!

Doesn’t the bride look thrilled as she walks down the aisle to see her groom to be? Yeah! I thought so too!

It’s not okay to bash my business because the bride didn’t smile. We are great at our jobs but we aren’t miracle workers! 

Let me set the scene for you. We have a couple scheduled to elope on Jekyll Island and my photographer (who happens to be a professional as well as my son) and I drive in the pouring rain to the hotel where the bride and groom are staying. We meet Thomas in the lobby and he and Robert make small talk while we try to come up with a good back up plan for the inclement weather. He was then handed a camera that belonged to the bride because they thought it would be easy for the photographer to juggle cameras during the ceremony and photo session. Awesome! We are already off to a great start here.

I headed up to the room to meet the bride, Stacie. No ones answers the door so I go back downstairs. I go back up to the room to find that she is nowhere near ready and is still getting her hair and makeup done.

Robert and I wait patiently for the bride. Mind you, in my agreement there is an additional fee if the ceremony does not take place on time. It never crossed my mind to charge them. We just went with the flow of things. I wanted them to be happy and after all, it was raining on their wedding day. We were excited that she was finally ready, the rain stopped and the sun was shining!

Robert escorted Thomas outside while I got the bride ready for her debut. One small problem...she didn’t like her hair and makeup. She said she wasn’t used to it and she seemed extremely uncomfortable. I assured her that she looked stunning and we went outside to begin the ceremony. 

New problem! THE GNATS WERE TERRIBLE! They were literally all over us and we were all equally uncomfortable as they feasted on us for the next 10 minutes while we stood in one spot. 

After a while, they calmed down, Stacie relaxed and she and Thomas seemed to be enjoying themselves. I set their wedding cake up for them outside near the pool so we could have a little fun and capture photos of that too. Just a little special gift that I thought I would add for them. 

After the ceremony and photo session, we had now spent over two hours with them and were scheduled for only one. We didn’t complain, we went up to their room to sign some paperwork and hugged and said goodbye. They seemed SO happy!

Once the photos were ready, I sent them a link to ALL of the digital files. Not once did the couple reach out to me to discuss that they were unhappy. I am assuming it’s because they knew that it was not our fault. THEN I received this review on WeddingWire.

So let me share some of these photos with you so you can see what we had to work with. This was what the ceremony looked like. Unfortunately we couldn’t change that!

She looks SO happy! I guess we should have photoshopped in a smile here.

That kiss! She really went for it here...

Here’s the Disparaging Review that Tom left:

Tom said... The cake was cool and the officiant did her job but the photographer “ her son” was unprofessional, not customer service friendly and unfortunately the end result was poor and disappointing. This was supposed to be a forever captured moment and we are truly saddened with his poor results. We will never have this opportunity again and he captured nothing of value other then his pic of our rings. I️ highly suggest you avoid this duo as we were not made aware the photographer was family Until he said mom! Very Misleading and unprofessional with pitiful results.

Lisa Presnell Productions responded with the following comments: I am truly disheartened to find out about your disappointment through a review about my company rather than you reaching out to me. In my 18 years in this industry, I have designed, planned, coordinated and officiated well over 1,000 weddings and this is the first negative review that I have ever received and I take it very seriously. When we arrived in the torrential downpour and then we waited patiently as your bride delayed us for well over an hour to finish her hair and makeup. I was kind enough not to bill you for the additional $300 as stated in our agreement. It was extremely muggy out, Stacie (as we all did) battled the gnats, was uncomfortable and did not smile throughout much of the ceremony and the beginning portion of the photo session. That is something that unfortunately, Robert had no control of. Robert was asked to carry and take photos with your camera in addition to his own. That should have never happened. It made it extremely difficult for him to do his job well, but he happily and professionally complied with your wishes. Even though the package chosen did not include photo shop, once Stacie relaxed, the photos turned out beautifully! You both seemed as though you were having a great time with Robert. Never once did you complain about his ethics. I apologize that you were unhappy. I wish you would reconsider disparaging Lisa Presnell Productions for things that were out of our control. He did the best he could with what he had to work with. For you to indicate that future clients should avoid us because we are family is truly insensitive and demoralizing. I am not sure why it mattered that he is my son. Robert and I have worked together for over 7 years and his photos are displayed all over my website and I have stellar reviews. Thank you again for your feedback. Warmest Regards!

Just so you know, when the bride relaxed and lightened up a bit, you can see that the photos turned out beautifully and the had a blast! Again, never once mentioning the photographer’s unprofessionalism because that was a complete untruth. I would never allow for my vendors to be unprofessional, son or not. It’s my reputation on the line.

Right now its just 10 weeks out from my wedding and I'm just about over it. It's expensive, time consuming and full of drama. No one tells you this! The movies make it seem like a dream time full of goo-goo eyes with your fiancé, laughing and drinking wine with your girls while planning the wedding and money not being an issue.

Let me tell you...

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

Right now I feel unsupported by everyone. My fiancé works away so he's never here to help, my friends seem uninterested and my mum hasn't even asked how anything is going. Don't get me wrong, I still want to get married and have the wedding but I wish the baggage didn't come with it.

I guess the main thing that's getting me down is the friends thing. I'm the kind of person that would do anything, be anywhere and spend anything to make my friends happy, yet I never seem to get it reciprocated. Recently I've had to change what I wanted to do for my hens party because they 

a) Couldn't afford it (even though they were given months notice to save for it)

b) Thought it was too far away (we had arranged car pooling and it's only 2.5 hours)

c) Just didn't want to do it (sure, I'm really sorry that I want to do for my hens party doesn't make you happy)

So now the plan is changed, trying to accommodate everyone. Should all be peaches now...yeah...rotten peaches.

Even though everyone is accommodated for, only half of the invitees have even responded and only 2 have paid their way.

I love my friends, but I really feel like at a time in my life that I should be supported by those closest to me, I'm being screwed. It just makes me want to run away and not do the 'traditional' wedding lead up and just elope.

But, dammit, I know if I do that I would be even more upset because it just wouldn't be the same without them in my life.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

I never wanted to be the girl who had a whingy blog, but sometimes you've just got to get some things off your chest.

I want to hear from you guys. Who's had the same experience that I'm going through, or any advice? I'd love to hear it!

Now that the rant is over, back into it. Seating charts, schedules and budgets; here I come!

Ciao!

I used to be your bestfriend

You told me who you like, and so do I

I used to tease her to you, I pretend.

I told you I like him, but that was just a lie.

One day you knew my secret

You ask me I could give you a chance

But I refuse it, which make me regret.

Now I saw you with her, with holding hands.

You use to treat her, like how you treat me.

Tears streaming down on my face

I do regret everything, why can't you just see?

Is there anybody who can fill this space?

Is it wrong for me to feel this sad?

because I just can't be happy with her by your side.

You're the best thing I never had.