Hey everyone! So my wedding day didn't go as planned. My Grandmother had, what we now know to be, a mini stroke in the church after the ceremony and receiving line had ended and we were preparing to take portraits. From there she went to the ER with my Mother. I, the bride, tried to go to the ER with them, but due to covid wasn't allowed in. My Mother didn't want me to be alone as I was very emotional and asked that I go to the reception to try and eat. I really just wanted to sit in the parking lot or go home which is closer to the hospital. My Grandmother and Mother are my only living immediate family and we are very close, so it was horrible not being with them. I tried my best to eat, but I was a mess and cried throughout my time there. I kept checking my phone worried about my Grandmother. I didn't allow any party music at the reception because it just felt wrong. I just wanted people to eat, since the food was made and guests were already on their way when everything happened. In the ER my Grandmother bounced back a bit and called and asked that my husband and I do our first dance and cut the cake. We did this and live streamed it for her to watch. Again I cried and was so sad during my first dance. During the dinner my Grandmother had a massive stroke. My husband pulled me aside to tell me and I immediately informed my guests and asked us to pray before leaving in my gown for the hospital. They were transferring her to a new hospital for surgery and this hospital would allow me and my Mother in. I have no formal portraits with my Grandmother and Mother from my actual wedding day and the portraits with my in-laws, I look horrible as I had been bawling on and off for hours. Honestly the day feels like a sad and horrible memory and not a joyous one that everyone envisions for their big day. I worked so hard planning and I look at pictures of the reception and just want to cry. At the same time, I am truly blessed because my Grandmother is alive and there is a chance she will recover. Our wedding day saved her life, which is such a gift. I have been searching for support groups for brides who had these types of experiences, but can't find anything. I'm also hoping my insurance will help cover another reception as it wasn't what we planned, numerous people didn't come or couldn't after my Grandmother's ministroke (my flowergirl was traumatized) and I wasn't there for a good part of the night as I was either trying to get into or going to the hospital to be with her, or on the phone with the hospital trying to relay different guests accounts of the first medical episode which we now know was a ministroke. But I'm also struggling thinking about another reception and retaking of portraits. Is it strange to redo the original reception since it isn't going to be on our wedding day? Can I include all the normal wedding traditions or is that strange? I really want to have some joyous memories of celebrating our wedding and I want my Mother and Grandmother to be there. I have so many thoughts going through my head and so many emotions. If anyone has gone through something similar I'd love to chat and hear what you did to cope.
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