Rehearsal

Hi Kelly,

Having kids definitely does make scheduling things harder. I think for your case, pick a time that works most for the majority. And for those who can't make it, one of the other attendees will have to fill them in on what to do.

I was part of 1 wedding last year where I wasn't able to fly in on time for the rehearsal. I had already moved to the USA after my wedding and she had originally told me it was going to be on friday. So I planned to fly in on the thursday night. However, after i booked my flight, she told me they had to change it to the thursday night which I would have missed by a couple hours. So that was unfortunate, but since i've been a part of enough weddings, I just had one of the other girls guide me on how to walk (plus, if they are walking with a groomsmen down the aisle, just let the guy take the lead).

If I were you, I'd turn around and tell the bridal party that "this is the time, make it happen!". Maybe wedding planning has just made me bitter, but you can't be too nice to people to work around their time. It's your wedding and you're very busy. It's just an hour and they should all be able to make it work.

I agree just day this is our time and that's it. I have 2 small girls and I can make arrangements to have them looked after so I'm sure she can too.

They don't need to know that the other time slots are still available, so you can just pick a time and tell them to show up. If they ask about the doodle poll, just tell them that it was to get a feel for times, but that ultimately you had to pick what was available.

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Yes absolutely! We wanted to do dinner after the rehearsal as well! I'm hoping she stays and doesn't run off home.

She tends to overthink things haha. Her husband and (by then) 10 month old will survive a couple hours without her.

I would book a time and when it comes close to the date discuss with her that you only need her there and see if she can make it work with her husband watching the baby.

We didn't ask our wedding party at all, we just said that we start decorating the venue Friday @4 and we will be eating at 7 so be there sometime in between and so far they have all managed to make it work.

I would pick a time slot and tell them this is when it will be, you can wait till closer too and as its a year out. she has time to find a sitter or have someone watch it for few hours

We just picked a time with our venue and told our wedding party! No fuss, no hassle since I know if we had a poll people would put their preferences over availability.

I kept trying to be super nice and flexible with everyone's wants/schedules etc., and you can't make everyone happy. Go with the schedule that works with you and FH, and everyone will have to follow along. They agreed to be in your wedding party, and they understand the responsibility.

With the rehearsal, it's really only for the wedding party anyway (none of my party's spouses will be there). We're going for dinner after, and the spouses will be joining us there.

View quoted message I totally would understand if her husband had to be there why she wouldn't want the later slot because that's just a pain with babies (depending on the age) but since he doesn't have to be there then I really see no problem for her.

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Haha, yeah that was my thinking. I did text her and say "chances are good that we'll have the later time slot due to everybody else's work schedules". So at least shes got the heads up and can make plans!

"The rehearsal is at 6pm on May 31st, be there or don't show up to the wedding" That's what I told them.😂 That sounds harsh but I know my wedding party and if I offer them several times they will start going by preference over availability. So we didn't give them a choice and that worked because they all worked their schedules around it. Your MOH with the baby is just using her baby as an excuse. Like you said it's half a year away and her husband can take care of the baby.. I have a 4½ month old and when either on of us needs to do something alone it's not even a question..the other stays with the baby. It's not too late..pick a time and tell them to make it work, clearly a later time is best so your MOH will make it work if she wants to be your MOH..
Goodluck!!

Ughhh I hate when that happens - that almost happened with our wedding social time slots as to who works door, 50/50, and texas mickey at what time.

I would let her know before setting the time at the later time slot and just mention that the baby will be older so the sleeping pattern may be different - or her husband could watch the baby - or if she needed to I would let her bring the baby and just exit the room if the baby starts crying or anything. I'm sure she would understand that it makes sense to accommodate the majority.