Wedding Guests Cancel To Attend Saints Playoff Game

[matcom]

<snip>

NEW ORLEANS -- Tara Chauffe understands she'll have some competition on her wedding day.

She's getting married in New Orleans Saturday evening, the same time the Saints will be playing the Philadelphia Eagles in the Louisiana Superdome.

"I cried all last Sunday," said Chauffe, 26, recalling her reaction when she learned that football would conflict with her real life. "And I feel really, really bad for the people who already bought playoff tickets who have to be" at the wedding.

Chauffe said she's already had a dozen guests who've canceled because of the playoff game. She knows they have tickets and she's trying to be sympathetic. But two bridesmaids and a groomsman who paid $600 for his seats for the game are giving them up to attend the wedding.

Chauffe and husband-to-be Corey Boland said they'll probably have a TV at the reception, so guests can track the Saints' fortunes. But they'll turn the sound down so there won't be any cheering interrupting their first dance.

"That would be nice for the guests, but we don't want to hear yelling in the background while we're having our first dance," Chauffe said. "Maybe we can turn it on after the first couple dances."

http://www.wftv.com/family/10721647/detail.html

[LynneSin]

1. It's a shame all those guests are missing out on what could be a great reception

just to sit and watch the Saint's asses get collectively whooped by my Eagles

[johnnie]

2. Well let's see...

There is a pretty good chance this couple will get divorced and probably remarry, and there is less of a chance the Saints will make it to the playoffs again in the near future. I would go to the game too.

[SKKY]

3. I bet this would drive Rabrrrr Crazy...

...seeing as how people take sports too seriously and all.

[Little Wing]

4. He's too busy fuming about Star Trek

which in itself is a delicious irony

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. Hey - I never claimed to make sense at all times about all issues.

:silly:

Even I have my... peculiarities.

:hi:

[SKKY]

19. And a good sense of humor to boot!

[jakefrep]

5. Nothing special about that....

...it's a weekly occurrence here in Ohio during football season. If a wedding is scheduled on the day of an OSU game, several attendees can be spotted wearing earpieces and listening to the game. And some folks really do get offended if there isn't a TV at the reception.

[underpants]

6. My wedding day was the day that Leftwich was carted off to the hospital

and then returned to lead the Herd to a victory. His linemen had to carry him down the field.

All my family are Marshall alums so they were constantly running out of the reception to talk to people watching it back in Huntington.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Ah, the standard Diva Bitch Bride

"I'm getting married when I want to and people should just be willing to give up their tickets because IT'S MY SPECIAL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I wish I could call her hubby to be and warn him off this dangerous marriage - he's gonna live a life of hell, at least for the first three years until he either gives up or divorces the self-centered psychotic bitch.

[Mad_Dem_X]

9. I really hope you're being sarcastic

IMO, ditching a friend or loved one's wedding for a football game - or, expecting a TV to be on during the reception - is incredibly tacky and offensive.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. No, I'm not being sarcastic. She's a self-absorbed whiner.

To schedule a wedding on the same day that friends and family have tickets, that they spent a lot of money for, and then bitch and moan that they aren't coming - and to expect them to just eat the cost and go to the fucking wedding - is total diva bitch bride behavior.

I'm also thinking that given the number of people who have decided on football over her wedding makes me think that they think she's a bitch, too, and don't really care whether they go or not.

One is never obligated to go to a wedding, and to think that anyone is, is diva bride bitch behavior.

She should have rescheduled her wedding if she's that goddamn upset about it.

[Pithlet]

13. I hate the self-centered bridezilla syndrome, but in her defense

she more than likely did not know the Saints were going to be in the playoffs when she set the date. That's usually the first step, and it's done way in advance of the actual wedding. I think she seemed to genuinely feel dismayed about the conflict and how it would upset her guest, and I don't think she came off as self centered at all. And, I can understand the casual acquaintance blowing it off for the playoffs, but close family and friends should not.

I don't think getting married gives anyone carte blanche to be a selfish asshole. But merely setting a date that happens to coincide with another event, particularly if you didn't know about that event in the first place, and then expecting that people who are supposed to care about you will think of you instead of themselves for just one day is not an example of that. Part of being a social human being is occasionally thinking of others feelings, particularly if you care about them. When a close friend or family member sets a wedding date and then some other event or opportunity comes up after the fact, you cry in your pillow or rant at your mirror, then quietly dispose of the tickets and go. To do otherwise is immature and selfish. The solution to not being bothered by the special occasions of other people and occasionally having to set aside your own plans is to be a hermit. Otherwise, suck it up because life in a social setting is give and take. Sometimes those people you put yourself out for will return the favor.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. I don't think the date was set very far in advance - the story says

that some of the wedding party *already* had their tickets, and are giving them up.

This makes me think that she has recently put the wedding together.

I can't imagine someone being asked to be in the wedding party, agreeing to do so, then buying $600 tickets, and then deciding not to use those tickets.

But, one never knows. Surely, if she set the date many months ago, she has a point.

But I am reading it as the wedding date is a recent phenomena.

[Pithlet]

18. That's true. If she recently set the date, then that's different.

I'm still not sure it makes her bridezilla level self centered if the people who bought the tickets had agreed to be in her wedding before the playoffs were determined. If she isn't a sports fan, then I can understand not knowing that the local team made the playoffs and setting the date for that day. If she knew it was the playoffs, and that her wedding party had tickets and set the date anyway, then yes, that's pretty bad. Bridezilla all the way. But given how bad she feels about it, it seems more likely that she didn't know, and then found out about it after the fact. If she can't change the date, and her wedding party is willing to give up the tickets and be in the wedding anyway, then I think it's jut one of those unfortunate situations, and I feel badly for all of them.

[Zookeeper]

17. You've said it best, Pithlet.

And I agree with the person upthread who pointed out how tacky it is for guests to expect to watch TV at a wedding.

How do these people survive sitting through a funeral?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

27. So what if you, being in Michigan ...

... planned an event on the day of a playoff game ...
... and then, the Lions made the playoffs ...
... er, never mind ...

:rofl:

More seriously - all this planning, priority-balancing, wardrobe coordinating ...
isn't it easier and cheaper to just slip out to Vegas ...?

[Pithlet]

35. I might make an exception in that case.

Considering it's never going to happen, I don't have to worry about it :rofl:

I was married at a courthouse, so I agree with you. I was never interested in a big to do wedding. I'd rather spend the money on other things.

[Crazy Dave]

28. For my second marriage there were only three people at the wedding

Me, Mrs. DTW and the lady (a notary) who married us. We tried inviting some family and a few close friends but this weekend wouldn't work for this person, the next wouldn't for that person, etc. so we decided to hell with everybody. We were the only ones getting married therefore were the only two who needed to be there.

[Gormy Cuss]

10. You know, Miss Manners has retired.

I think that you could fill the void and write a column on modern etiquette. You would need to come up to speed on the proper terminology. It's not diva bitch bride, it's bridezilla. :P

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. I sometimes have used the phrase Bridezilla Godbitch to describe brides

like her.

I forgot about when I made my post, though.

:hi:

[alarimer]

15. I guess she knows who her REAL friends are

Those who would rather celebrate with her than attend a stupid football game.
If anyone did that to me, I'd tell them to go to hell and probably never speak to them again. And it would be much worse if they were relatives.

[Jimbo S]

24. What makes a football game stupid?

[slj0101]

16. Considering a Saints playoff appearance is as rare as a white buffalo,

I don't feel bad for the bride and groom. :)

[AngryAmish]

20. Move the wedding, you fools

Problem solved.

[Phillycat]

21. Exactly. Why have your wedding date the same day as a playoffs game?

I live in Philly and if I was getting married this weekend, I'd be screwn. :D Nobody cares when you're in the playoffs. And I wouldn't blame them either. When the Skins make the playoffs again, everyone else can go POUND SAND!

[jmm]

22. Did they plan this wedding last week?

I could see this couple being upset if they had sent out invitations over a year ago and people are now cancelling but if the guest already had the tickets before the wedding date then the couple planned the wedding knowing it would conflict and shouldn't expect them to drop their plans and lose hundreds of dollars.

I have family members who pull stuff like this so they can be the center of attention and it's annoying.

[jakefrep]

23. Is it possible....

...that these folks bought the playoff tickets thinking that the playoff game in question would NOT fall on the wedding day? I thought a lot of teams sold their playoff tickets before the regular season was over.

[Jimbo S]

25. Planned our wedding in the spring

Didn't set a fall date fot that very reason - family and friends with Wisconsin tickets. A fall wedding would have been a clusterfuck.

We didn't want a winter wedding, so April it was!

[matcom]

26. it BETTER not be during The Masters!

or *I* won't be there x(

:D

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. Or hockey or basketball playoffs

Or a good Nascar race, marathon, dirt bike competition, beach volleyball tournament.

Elope! It's less hassle.

Give the parents some grandkids and all will be forgiven.

[matcom]

30. NO, you can wed during hockey OR basketball

and CERTAINLY during NASCAR

i'll be there. what time does the bar open? :D

[Hosnon]

32. I agree:) (Born and raised in Augusta). nt

[KingofNewOrleans]

31. Just move the wedding to the Dome

They've got banquet rooms inside the Dome. A quick ceremony at half-time and back to the game. Problem solved.

[matcom]

33. and miss PRINCE?

:D

oh on edit: he is playing the Super Bowl BUT i'm sure the entertainment will be good during that halftime too!

[Missy Vixen]

34. It's nice of them to even offer to bring in a TV

I don't think the bride's being a Bridezilla. I think that those in the wedding with the playoff tickets needed to make a decision -- would they go to an occasion that's the biggest in their friend's life, or would they go to a sporting event? I love sports, too, but a close friend (and they'd better be close to be bridesmaids/groomsman) or family's special day is always going to be more important. Rescheduling the wedding really isn't an option, especially if the couple invited more than a few close friends and family. In a city the size of New Orleans, the bride probably started planning months ago. She'd have to find a new venue, she'd still have to pay for all the food, cake, flowers, etcetera and work with the schedules of all vendors involved.

All that being said, my cousin got married in 1991 during the University of Washington Huskies' undefeated season. Most of those attending the wedding were in the parking lot listening to the game on car radios throughout the reception, including her new husband.

Julie

[madinmaryland]

36. I got married the day before the superbowl.

We spent our second night together on our honeymoon on Cape Cod (in Jan!!) at a bar watching the super bowl. I had a great time, though she hates football!!!

[Bill McBlueState]

37. to those who think she should have scheduled around the game...

New Orleans fans didn't know when the Saints would be playing until last Sunday evening, so it's not like anyone knew well in advance that there would be a game on Saturday night.