CNN iReport

I think all weddings have some mishaps, but I have some odd ones that served to either raise the stress level, or break tension.

We didn't hold the rehersal dinner at the ceremony site, because the evening before the wedding, someone else's wedding was happening at the wedding site.  I had sent out separate maps and info for the rehersal dinner, and where it was, and explained that we'd reherse as best we could at the house where the dinner was.

So an hour after the dinner started, my parents and brothers still hadn't shown up, and given that my father was giving me away, and my brothers were in the wedding party, this was a bit of a problem!  They had gone to the ceremony site instead.  When we figured out that my family had gone to the wrong place, I threw a fit - as far as I know, it was the only time I turned into Bridezilla.  I let out some expletives, then burst into tears. My husband, who hates public displays of affection just walked up to me, pulled me into his arms, and let me cry on his shoulder until I could get my composure.  Looking back on it, I really don't know why it was such a big deal to me - so what if the rehersal was delayed a bit until they could arrive?  I guess I was a little tense.

So then on the wedding day, my youngest brother -- who was about 10 or 11 at the time, was serving as an usher, and also standing up with me -- fainted during the ceremony.  He crashed right into a vase of flowers, and his nose immediately started bleeding from the impact. Someone shouted "Oh, my God!" and it seemed like everyone converged on him (in reality, it was only my parents, my husband-to-be, and the family doctor).  He came to, with his head on my husband's leg, with my parents, and the family doctor all crouched around him. He saw them looking down at him, and his eyes got wide with horror, as he tearfully wailed "oh, no!" and started to cry.  My parents helped him up, and took him over to one side, and sat with him on a bench while we resumed the ceremony. 

I then had a fit of silent, rather hysterical giggles, and my husband kept sending me quelling glances (I think he was the only one who knew about my giggles, but I couldn't help it - it was an involuntary response. I didn't actually think it was funny). I got myself under control after a minute or so, and everything went without further hitches.

After the ceremony was over, my brother came up to me in the receiving line, and wailed "Oh, Cathy, I'm so sorry I ruined your wedding!"  After behaving like a royal b**** the evening before, I am happy to say that I was much better this time around, and I just hugged him tight and told him "oh, honey, you didn't ruin my wedding!"  My husband said "hey, man, you did me a favor - I was really, really nervous before you passed out, and after it happened, I wasn't nervous anymore - you took my mind off myself!" 

My little brother had hit hard when he passed out - his mouth was bruised and cut, his nose was swollen and scraped, and he had a bit of a black eye.  He quit crying soon after, and then was hoping someone had gotten it on camera, so that he could sell it to America's funniest home videos.  I personally didn't think it was very funny - I mean, the poor kid got hurt! And he obviously felt utterly embarassed and humiliated. But no one had filmed his moment.  We all (including my brother) laugh about it now.

And finally, when my husband and I went on our honeymoon a few weeks after the wedding, I sprained my ankle on the second day!  My husband asked if I wanted to go back home but I just sobbed "No, we have non-refundable reservations!" Sigh... I just bound up my ankle, and we hobbled up the easy trails at the national parks.   And actually we had a great time, limping and all.