People and their conscience

I would like to think that most people are inherently good. They have wonderful stories to tell, want to do the right thing at the right time, have good thoughts about themselves, and want to strive for a better life.

When I am hired to plan a wedding or to be there the day of the big event to make sure that everything goes smoothly, I try to give it my all. I watch over the catering staff, the venue, make sure that guests are well cared for and the biggie---make sure that the bride & groom and their families are stress-free and having a marvelous day. In short, I will go above and beyond to make sure that the wedding is as perfect as humanly possible; I do what is right.

That is why when I am confronted with a belligerent and unyielding MOB, I am usually taken back and frustrated. After all, I have just worked my tail off to make sure that the wedding was perfect--it was, so what is the problem?

For one MOB of the bride, my asking her daughter and new son in law to quite drinking was a big deal. "They will party the way they want to; my asking them to quit is only upsetting them." Really? Is it normal behavior for the groom to strip at his own wedding? Upset guests are okay?

I asked this same MOB (three days after the wedding) for damages for table linens that the guests stole and lit on fire. (Yes, stole--I watched them!) Her answer? She is not going to pay for the damaged and stolen linens, at least not if the wedding planner wants the MOB to be happy so that she will refer more business to her! I had made enough on the wedding and since her husband helped me unload and load my car, I should have paid them instead of getting paid!

Wow! When I added up all of the damages and subtracted them against what I did make, I worked for less than 9 cents an hour. My response to the above (after the frustration and then the disgust wears off), do me a favor; please don't refer my services to your friends and family that were at the wedding---I can't afford it!