When I attend a wedding, I’m usually too trashed to really gauge what’s going on. Obviously I know people are dancing, cakes are being cut and someone is probably crying in the bathroom. I also naively assume that, because I’m attending a very expensive event solely dedicated to the everlasting love two people share, said people are happily now-married and will live a long, lovely life together.
But those who frequent weddings far more often than I do — and are also sober for the duration — claim they can sniff out whether or not a couple is doomed on the very day of their union.
In a recent TikTok, user Shayla Herrington shared the three telltale signs of an ill-fated marriage she heard from a wedding photographer who’s been in the business for more than 10 years.
The first indication that the wedding was a giant waste of money is if one of the spouses takes more than three family photos without the other spouse. “This one kind of makes sense to me just because you know you might get a few alone with your mom and dad, but to kick them out of more than three photos just seems a little suspicious,” said Herrington in the video.
The second, according to her unnamed veteran wedding photographer friend, is whether the bridesmaids or groomsmen avoid talking about the spouse when they’re getting ready for the wedding or during toasts. “That’s typically because they don’t like them,” notes Herrington.
Finally, if one of the spouses spends more time with friends or family at the reception instead of with their new spouse, the marriage is basically dunzo.
TikTok users have mixed opinions about these doomed marriage theories.
“Yep. My EX husband didn’t spend time [with] me at the wedding and his groomsmen didn’t even say hi to me at all,” agreed one divorced TikTok user.
“The last one is hard because you’re supposed to also be a good host. I spent my whole wedding running around making sure everyone was having fun,” countered another.
“Married 30 years. Hardly saw him at the wedding. We are confident in each other. No need to cling,” said one user, while another joked, “I guess my almost 23[-year] marriage to my husband isn’t going to last. Should I tell him now?”
Obviously, these tidbits aren’t one-size-fits-all, and as Herrington had to remind viewers, every couple is different. Just because a couple isn’t joined at the hip during their reception doesn’t mean there’s trouble in paradise.
“Every couple is different and no two weddings are the same,” she said in a comment. “That’s exactly why I wanted to see everyone’s opinion.”
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