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Kari
Master May 2020

Help - Feeling a bit down about lack of involvement of remote family/friends

Kari, on November 30, 2019 at 2:36 PM Posted in Family and Relationships 1 4

So I'll start by saying I don't have any close girlfriends in the area where I live, where I've been for 9+ years. I live about 4+ hours from where I grew up. My mom and childhood best friend still live there. My mom doesn't travel and my best friend works in retail and has a super inconsistent work schedule and limited PTO so it's difficult for her to get away for a weekend. My other close girl friends are from a previous job or grad school and live far away as well.

In the 9+ years I've been here the only time my mom visited was when I finished grad school 7 years ago. My mom has never met my FH's family, never seen the house I bought and have lived in for the past 5 years, etc. She doesn't have a cell phone either, so I had to send her photos of my e-ring and wedding dress via email, which she only checks once a week at her boss's office.

I talk with my best friend (who is my MOH and the only bridesmaid in my wedding) every week and have sent her many texts and photos of dresses and such, but she hasn't been able to participate in any wedding/bridal stuff with me in person.

I ended up going wedding dress shopping with the wife of one of my FH's groomsmen, and am mostly doing stuff entirely on my own or with my FH's help (he's super involved and helping with all of the stuff that isn't exclusively bridal or secret, like my dress) or by texting my best friend for advice. For the most part, it's fine, but my FH and I traveled to where I grew up for Thanksgiving and my mom was too busy prepping food to go shopping with me and I didn't even see my best friend because she was so wrapped up with the holiday and work. I really wanted to just visit a couple bridal stores with them to look at bridesmaids dresses and MOB dresses, but my FH was the only one who went with me. All I was able to do was text my best friend some colors, so she at least has a reference to choose her dress by.

My childhood hometown and mom's house are both super stressful, so my I usually only travel there a couple times a year, and those are the only times I see my mom or best friend, and even then I don't get to spend much quality time with them because they are working or otherwise busy. My wedding is 6 months away, and I'm beginning to feel a bit bummed that I don't have anyone to share the excitement of being a bride with. I'm SO excited to marry my FH and wedding planning stuff with him has been wonderful, but I'm trying to figure out my dress, makeup/hair, and accessories (veil or no veil, bridal hair piece, shoes, etc) completely alone and it kind of sucks. In fact, the part I like the least about wedding planning is all the bridal stuff because they are things I should be excited about but I feel like I can't share them with anyone.

I know my mom and bestie both love me dearly and are super excited for me. I've tried to involve them remotely as much as I can, and I was prepared for the fact that we likely wouldn't go wedding dress shopping together and they wouldn't be visiting florists and hair salons with me and all that. I think what I feel let down about is that they cannot be more hands on with even the parts of the wedding that are about them. Even my FH's groomsmen are going to do a city trip with him to get fitted for suits together.

4 Comments

Latest activity by Alejandra, on December 1, 2019 at 11:14 AM
  • Nicole
    Master September 2020
    Nicole ·
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    You have every right to feel bummed out. I can imagine it's difficult to have the two closest women in your life to be so far away and busy with their lives. It doesn't sound like you have any unrealistic expectations of them, just more so feeling sad that they can't be more involved (due to location, work schedules, etc.). If you're looking for suggestions, can you set up an online showroom through Azazie or something similar and then a phone call to talk about dresses with your friend? Or maybe have a Facetime call when she goes to try on dresses? I'm sorry that they are unable to be more involved with the more traditionally bridal aspects of the wedding; it can really put a damper on the excitement leading up to the big day.

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  • Kari
    Master May 2020
    Kari ·
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    Thanks. I know it's no one's fault, its just kind of a bummer. I'm more low key anyway so I definitely never wanted an entourage to go dress shopping with or to have a shower with lots of presents, but I do wish I could have more in-person quiet moments with my mom and bestie. I'm a bit worried about my mom being totally clueless with finding her outfit on her own, but my MOH will be fine. I think I just dislike going to my childhood home so much that I was hoping there would be a bridal highlight to this visit, and I ended up feeling even more bummed when we didn't even get to do that.

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  • Nicole
    Master September 2020
    Nicole ·
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    I totally understand that. Is there any time that you can schedule another trip up there between the holidays and the wedding to go shopping with your mom? Maybe have her set aside a day?

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  • Alejandra
    Super November 2021
    Alejandra ·
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    I’m so sorry that’s the case. I can’t imagine doing all those things on my own like you have. While it’s not even remotely the same, you definitely have WW for help!
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