Here Comes the Drama with Christa Innis

The Good The Bad and The Unbelievable with Dominic and Serena

• Christa Innis • Season 1 • Episode 8

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When the bride says no country music, but the groom’s father demands it… what could go wrong? 

Wedding chaos is inevitable, but when parents think the day is about them, things can spiral fast. Dominic and Serena, the husband-and-wife team behind The Wedding Duo, share their wildest stories from behind the scenes of wedding planning and DJing.

Should parents get a say if they’re paying? That’s just one of the controversial takes we tackle, along with strict dress codes, surprise weddings, and over-the-top in-laws. In this episode, they break down how to set boundaries while keeping the peace.

And what happens when an uninvited guest catches the bouquet? From family feuds to DJ battles, this episode is packed with unforgettable moments, wedding hot takes, and plenty of laughs. 

Don’t miss the drama—tune in now!

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

  • How Dominic and Serena built The Wedding Duo and started planning and DJing weddings together
  • The power struggle between couples and parents—who really gets the final say?
  • When wedding dress codes go wrong—should guests have free rein or follow strict rules?
  • DJ nightmares: Dominic’s worst experience with a father-of-the-groom demanding country music
  • The growing trend of surprise weddings—fun ideas or absolute disasters?
  • Why weddings without kids are such a hot debate—do kids add to or ruin the experience?
  • Wedding guests behaving badly—uninvited guests, bouquet snatching, and family feuds
  • The unexpected backlash on social media over a bride cutting her hair mid-reception

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A Team Dklutr Production

Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies

Christa Innis: Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of here comes the drama. I'm your host Crista from Party Planning by Christa this week. I'm joined by the ultimate wedding dream team, Dominic and Serena from the wedding duo. They are a husband and wife team. Dominic is a DJ and Serena is a wedding planner and together they have seen it all and are the Ultimate wedding experts.

We dive into some hot takes, some that are quite controversial, talk through some interesting audience confessions, and unpack a jaw dropping story featuring a wild mother in law and three meddling aunts. So without further ado, let's just jump right into this episode. Hi guys, thank you so much for coming on today. 

Dominic: Thanks for having 

Christa Innis: us. Yes, 

Serena: we are excited to be 

Christa Innis: here. Yeah, I'm so excited. I've been seeing your content for a while and I love what you guys do. I love that you guys are both in the industry. So starting off, can you just talk a little bit about who you guys are, what you do, and then how you got in the industry?

Serena: Well, we are the wedding duo. So we're a husband, wife, wedding planning, wedding DJ team. we originally started out in San Antonio, Texas, where we still own a company there that does, entertainment and planning services for weddings. But we now travel the country, do weddings all over as the wedding duo.

we recently moved to Columbus, Ohio in February of this year and bought a 20 acre property with the hopes. of starting our own event space, in the future, near future. So that's a little synopsis on who we are and how did we get into this? 

Dominic: Well, it was weird during COVID things changed. Surprise, surprise, right?

Like a lot of things, just a little bit. Yeah. So we were, she said, Hey, I started a tick tock account. I go, okay. Cause that's kind of what blew us up initially. And we're on all the formats, but, and I was like, we did. Okay. And she goes, we're going to be the wedding. Do I go, what are we, what wedding do?

Okay. Cause you know, that's not the name of our company, obviously in San Antonio. And so we just started like doing tips and tricks and you know, how social media works, you start throwing stuff against the wall, see mistakes. Thanks. yeah, we started getting a little traction and then we started getting better at it.

Some people had mentioned, Oh, I went back and watched all the videos. And I go, not all you didn't go to the beginning. Those are like, I look back at that and I'm like, cringe, delete, delete. But it was all part of the process. And we always say when a bride gets a ring on her finger, she's like, Oh my God, I'm engaged.

Like, what the heck do I do now? There's just so much, so many decisions, so many little nuances. And they just. Ideally, they've never done it before and hopefully they never do it again. So it's like They don't know what even began. So we started just doing tips and tricks and it just really, people really were like, 

Christa Innis: yeah, I love that.

 I've heard the story so much about like when COVID happened, it was like, TikTok, like, let's go to social media. How can we think outside the box of like, expanding our business and people want to see, I feel like who they're working with now, They want to like learn more in just different ways.

Then it's not that old fashioned just like go to a website and just scroll. It's like they want to see firsthand like what they're going to get and learn. 

Serena: Yeah. And that's something too, I've talked before, about how trust has changed in the industry over the last five, six years.

And there are a lot of couples who don't necessarily trust wedding vendors initially. And so that's part of it. Two is they wanna see who you are. They wanna know you're reputable, they wanna know you're gonna show up and there are horror stories right out there. Yeah. And they're so visible now with social media.

So I think it's important that you put a face behind a company and. A trustworthy thing for 

Dominic: years. That first call because I'm a DJ, right? I would have that first call where I'm trying to, it's consultation, right? It was always like, Hey, let's get to know each other. See if I'm the guy for the job. Now they mentioned like, I feel like I already know you.

I'm like, oh, okay. Well, am I available? And is it in the budget? I mean, cause they already have such a heavy dose of my personality and our personality when they want to plan her as well. It's really, it's almost so easy. 

Christa Innis: It 

Serena: changes it. 

Dominic: Yeah. I'm like, Just sign here. Yeah. 

Christa Innis: You're like right here.

Yeah. You're able to showcase those different areas of yourself where like before you weren't really able to. And I feel like that's what people are looking for. They're someone like they can relate to has a personality that's going to do the job that they want them to do. and a little bit more.

So I love that. So did you guys meet doing weddings or did you guys start doing weddings after you guys got married and started dating or? 

Serena: And we get asked it all the time. So he introduced me actually to the wedding world. he, was DJing when we met and I was looking for a part time job and he.

Got me an interview at a country club as an event assistant. 

Dominic: And knew that she mentioned to me, like she was, if I can just find somebody to help and I go, Oh, I actually have somebody that might be outgoing and people always look at me and my personality, but I go, she's really good with people.

And she's really good at. Keeping things like calm, all the scenarios you talk about, she would diffuse that like that, right? Yes, 

Serena: you need that. It's necessary, but yeah, so I started working in the event space, he was working separately, this was out in California. it wasn't until we moved our little family to Texas that we started working together, though.

Christa Innis: when 

Serena: we built our company there. 

Christa Innis: Oh, very cool. I love that. And, you talk about you being able to diffuse those situations of the skits that I share. It's like, so many of the stories that are sent to me, if they had, like, a planner or a day of coordinator or someone that was there, like, on their side, I feel like so many of these Helped out because I feel like there's so many like communication issues and I get some of the family stuff you can't really like, I don't know if no one can help that.

You just have to have good boundaries, I guess. but like day of stuff like you need someone there that's going to be like on your side and, with you every step of the way for sure. 

Dominic: And that's one of the reasons we talk about. it's not in the budget for everyone to have wall to wall professionals, but that's what you get.

You get people that. No, where the issue is before it even happens and they headed off of the past, they let people know, like, that's no, is the people like, we've had this conversation a hundred times before, before you can get to the next thought, which I know where you're going. Like, we can already say, 

Serena: well, and it's, it's super helpful to have someone who's not emotionally attached to the situation too.

Right? Like, yeah. I've had to play that role so many times where I'm just a calming voice in a room of chaos, right? So, I think that is super helpful, especially on the actual day of the event. 

Christa Innis: Yes. Yeah, absolutely. that's like the bride I'm working with right now. She was like, I just need someone to like, keep me calm.

Cause I know my nerves are going to be really high. You just need that exterior person, like you're just talking about where it's like, you're not going to be involved in the drama. You're not going to have a bias against, someone or something let's just stick on our timeline.

Let's, make things flow. So it 

Dominic: works well. Cause she gets everybody calm. And then I come in the bridal suite, like, Oh, great. We had everybody calm and here I come in like, Oh, like a wrecking ball. That's what I do. I bring humor into it a lot. And I try to get people to like, cause I always say like, how are you feeling to the bride shoes?

I'm nervous. I go nervous on your wedding day. And they're like, I know. And so it's just a little thing that little dad jokes that she's so tired of. If they're still getting their hair and makeup done, I'll make a joke about my hair, of course. 

Christa Innis: You need that to kind of like loosen up the nerves. And I have 

Serena: learned that it is.

As much as I roll my eyes, it is a valuable tool that he brings. To the party, right? It's just that interjection of humor and a sense of calm and like, oh, okay, let's not all take ourselves so serious. And they 

Dominic: forget that it's supposed to be a celebration. It's supposed to be fun. But before you start, oh my God, everybody's just puckered up so tight.

And they're like, everybody's taking a breath. 

Christa Innis: Yes, absolutely. So Getting into the reason why people love hearing these stories, the hot takes, the drama, being in the industry, do you guys have any crazy stories that you would like to share, that you've witnessed, heard, what have you?

Dominic: So, like we mentioned, like, the scenarios you talk about, I think, are few and far between, but when they happen, it's just, that's what you talk about, right? It's almost like, A morning after. Oh, how was the wedding? Oh my God, the cake fell over. that was one tiny thing that happened, but it's the first, they want to tell what happened, what was the drama, right?

 but I did have a scenario where, I'm really good with people and I'm really, like I said, I'm good about diffusing. I'm very professional. I'm, an adult. I try to be adult and I don't drink. And that's what, came into this one. Father of the bride, we're in Texas. He was a good old boy.

He wanted nothing but country music. The bride, which was not his daughter. That was his now daughter in law. So he's the father of the groom wanted country. Did I say bride? Father of the groom wanted country. His new now daughter in law said.don't want any country. So here I am in the middle with her being my client, right?

She signed the contract. He is so mad at me because I will not. So I even went up to him. I'm like,would tell him repeatedly, the bride doesn't want it. I go, when I went to the bride, like, can you please let me do a couple of country songs just to get him chilled out. And I did not enough. He was literally walking in front of the DJ booth at one point.

Points at me and says worst effing DJ ever. I'm like, me are you kidding me? I, mean, I care so much. I'm so in the weeds about making sure everything goes perfect. and he's sitting over there on the side like this. And so I'm like, again, I'm an adult. I walked up to him saying, can you appreciate my position?

I'm between the bride and it's her day, right? I know you're the father of the groom. You think it's all about you hire me another day and I'll do your country playlist all night, but she hired me. It's her day and her and her friends want to party. It's not you and the boys at the country club playing your country.

 he literally like bowed me up and kind of like bumped me a little bit. I'm like, You're joking. Are you joking He was well into the booze at this point. So i'm like I'm, just gonna remove myself from this guy, but it was like one of those moments and it's still like Those memories are what sticks in your head.

Even though I've had a thousand parents above me, he's stuck in there. 

Christa Innis: Because especially you can put so much care into your job and what you're doing. And you're like, I'm literally doing the best job I can do. And they can't see past that. Like you are helping your client first. That's like her day.

 oh my gosh. 

Serena: Yeah. And it's, also, We do a lot of planning prior to the event, obviously, right? But even with the music piece, he sits down and has meetings with the client. So it's not like he's just going off the fly and playing what he wants to hear, right? This has all been planned out and set up prior to the event.

So I don't know. 

Dominic: And people are weird about their music. I mean, people's taste in music is just as personal as their taste in food or whatever, right? Like, so when they come up and somebody be like, turn this off. This, nobody wants to hear this. And I'm like, Maybe the crowded dance floor would speak differently, right?

Cause I'm like, you're not see plus. When they come up and like, Hey, can you play this song? And I go, no, it's not your day. Random guests. Like it's the couple have given me music to play and I'm going to play their music as a priority. Plus whatever. It's just usually gets the crowd going. So it's the whole thing.

They don't, get it. Sometimes, you know, the people that don't get it, the people you do your skits, they don't get it. Right. 

Christa Innis: They don't get it. I know it's hard. Cause I feel like. That father of the groom, it's like, they see it as their day to like present to their friends or, you know, whoever's there and it's like, Oh, these are my, like you said, like my country boys, we love this.

And it's like, get that out of your head for a little bit. And just like riding groom day. 

Serena: Yes. There's a time and a place for that, right? Like for your group of friends and your music. This is not it. 

Dominic: You have a cowboy hat? Easy. Father of the groom, put the cowboy hat on. 

Serena: There you go. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. Oh my gosh. That's crazy.

 I've never heard of someone getting so like you said, people get like very into their music, but I can't imagine someone just going up to a DJ and saying that knowing like the dance floor is busy. People are enjoying music. It's just you, sir. 

Serena: It happens a lot, honestly. I mean, because not to that extent, but, we have a team of DJs like in San Antonio and they talk about, you know, they get flipped off by a guest because they wouldn't play a request, but alcohol is also like big factor, right?

People get really upset. 

Dominic: And again, it's the exception, not the norm, but, and then when it does happen, if it's a random guest, like I have no problem saying like, you didn't, the only reason you're here is because they decided to get married. They hired me to be here for this party.

They're giving you booze, they fed you just enjoy the party. Right. But they're like, but they get mad that they won't play their song. but a random guest is easy, but when it's a parent, a father of one of the couple, that was where I'm like, okay, now I have to tread a little lighter.

You know, it was just, and again, it was really random, but I want dibs. You mentioned me. You mentioned Jesus story. 

Christa Innis: Yes. No, I will totally give you a credit if I do that. and I'm wondering too, it's like, cause the story that I'm, I just did like a skit where the mom was like, talking about like an open bar, the bride didn't only want to like wine and beer.

And the mom was like, well, we're paying for it. So I'm wondering too, do you ever get people that are like, well, I'm paying for the DJ or I'm paying for this portion of the wedding. So I should get a say, and they don't understand like, no, your client is still the first person. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

Dominic: It's the worst.

The minute they drop that exact line. Well, I'm paying. I know. Okay. So the logic is out the window. Yeah, you're just the 

Christa Innis: string is there. Yeah. 

Dominic: Nothing else matters. Well, I wrote the check. Okay. All right. It's the worst. But yeah, it comes up a lot. 

Serena: It does. I mean, they pull that card and it's really unfair, right?

Because yes, that's true. But we look at the event as a whole, right? Like we're trying to please everybody as much as we can, as best we can, but the couple is our target audience. and so just because you're paying for it, I mean, that happens so much too throughout the planning process with parents because they're like, they contributed to a certain portion of the day.

And so they want to be able to have like more say in what that happens with that, whether it be decorations or cake or something. Right. and it puts the couple in a weird spot because what if they don't, that's not their vibe or that's not what they had in mind, you know, they're strings attached and it's, difficult.

Christa Innis: Yeah, that's still one of the most controversial things I see when I like make a video about something because I do longer like YouTube videos and I'll like talk about it. I'll like read a story someone sent me. And still in the comments, people are like, well, if someone's paying, they should have every right to change something.

No, they shouldn't. Like if the bride wants to include the bride or groom wants to include the parent, that is their choice. get opinions. Absolutely. Bring them along to a tasting. Sure. But to go over their head and change something or feel like they have authority over them is just wrong. In my 

Dominic: opinion, I just watched the one that you're talking about with the alcohol.

The first thing I thought of was like, usually it's. When the alcohol comes to somebody who brought it in, like they have a flask, they have a bottle, there's a surprise, they have it at the table, and that doesn't go, and then the bartenders or the staff or the wedding planner will literally be like, can't have this, and takes it, and they're like, and 

Serena: they get so upset, yeah, and 

Dominic: it's not just that it was expensive, but it's like, you just took the party, like, that's like, we're doing shots at the table, you, most actual establishments, you can't do that, or you can't have it in the broom suite, you can't have, you can't bring your own booze in, that's like, Should be obvious, but you get some people with the good old boys that bring it.

I don't want to say guys, girls do it too, but I mean, it's, boozes. Yeah, you got to have it, but it's like it brings a lot of drama with it, right? So 

Christa Innis: yeah, I know someone just commented on the video either that part or another one and they said they read a wedding once where It actually got shut down because someone was sneaking in alcohol because we don't think about the liquor laws Some places don't have the liquor license to have it or if you agree to a certain contract and you bring other stuff in they could shut down like lose, different licenses or lose privileges.

So like they have to protect themselves People don't think about that 

Dominic: Well, and kids, it's under 20, not even kids under 21, the 19 year old sitting at that table. That's keeps hitting the shots. Yeah, that's just getting in trouble when they get in a car crash on the drive home, the venue, people, the bartenders.

Yeah. And it's like, they got to protect themselves. So, People just can't, think two more steps ahead to figure that out. It's like, there's a reason we do this this way, so. 

Christa Innis: All right, let's jump into some wedding hot takes. So these are a couple of different prompts, that people have shared before.

I want to get your guys opinion on it. So, do you think weddings should have strict dress codes or should guests be free to wear what makes them feel comfortable? 

Serena: Oh, that's a great question. So I think if it's important to the couple, right, that they have an overall aesthetic, okay, let's say they want, a black tie type of an event, then the guest should comply with that, right?

Like they can put it on their invitations and they can choose not to come if they don't want to get dressed up to that, level. But for the majority of events, I see, and I'm just saying kind of. What is more common, there is a certain expectation of, dressing nice, but also not wearing white and, not necessarily like a dress code, unless requested, I guess, if that makes sense.

Dominic: Oh, I had a step mom recently. and that's the big book of wedding protocol, right? Page one, don't wear white. I feel like that what people know, right? And she was in this white dress and I was just like, oh, and of course, right away, the bride's like. Honestly, and everybody else is like, you know what you're doing.

You're just stirring the pot. You're kicking the bees nest. When I was DJing in California, where we met, used to really have a problem with denim. And I'm like, really, you thought wearing jeans to the wedding was appropriate. And then I got to Texas and the wedding party are in jeans sometimes, but that's their vibe.

They're cowboy hats, jeans. They're nice jeans, but then there's the other extreme where somebody wore a ball cap and you're like, no, just a guest, a random wedding party. They're in the loop. For the things, but I think people should dress up. I'm not a fan. And 

Serena: I think they should do, but I think if an expectation of a certain attire is something you have in mind, you really need to put it out there and make sure that people are aware.

Right. That's my only kind of. Caveat on that, 

Dominic: but we've had people that in the wedding party or parents sometimes, like they finish the ceremony and they're just so uncomfortable in the suit or dress, they go and change and they're back and they're in their khakis or their T-shirt, and we haven't even taken the pictures yet of that.

There've been grooms of that. They said like. You got to go back and change back. And I'm like, it's just the craziest thing. And I'm like, you can't just, just for just a few hours, you can't stay dressed up. They just can't do it. 

Christa Innis: I know though the wedding I held with, early last year, day of coordinator and.

 one of the, brides, new sister in law was, like, I think probably under 20, so she was maybe 18, 19. Complained about the dress the whole time. Literally, the second the wedding was over, went and changed, and they were like, We need you back! And, it was one of those where it was constantly, like, come on, stand up, like, we gotta get you in pictures.

Smile! it was just, like, 

Serena: constant. 

Christa Innis: Right. it's hard, especially when you want them involved in the wedding and you're like, come on, just wear this dress for like just a couple hours. help me out here. but yeah, people get really like I've seen in comments to people get really upset when it's like, don't tell me what to wear if I'm coming to your event.

But I agree where it's like, how you would normally dress than just a little nicer for an event. But yeah, like sometimes you see jeans at weddings and it's like, Sometimes fine. If it fits their theme, go for it. but yeah, it's hard. That's just it. 

Dominic: It's a pretty casual event. And everybody, all events are different.

But when it says black tie, make an effort, right? Like, go out. thing that gets me into something I bring up as well is, let's say you've got the wedding party and their plus ones at the head table. And then your sister starts dating this guy a month before and he shows up in the dirty ball cap. And now he's at the head table 

Serena: in the 

Dominic: pictures and then they break up a week later.

Serena: And 

Dominic: you're like, are you going to be in every one of the pictures? So, 

Christa Innis: yeah, 

Dominic: that's one of them. Yeah. And 

Christa Innis: you never know if you're going to be and like. I think most people probably don't think about this. Maybe just being kind of in the industry, but like you could be in the background of a video, like if a videographer is there, you can be in the background of a photo or like when they're taking ceremony photos, you don't want to see like someone's like, backwards cap, in the audience or something.

So just thinking about those things. Let's see. So this one. Okay. How do you feel about couples hosting a surprise wedding instead of announcing it in advance? 

Dominic: A surprise wedding? I can't say I've ever been a part of that. 

Serena: Yeah, I don't think I have either, but the thought kind of terrifies me in a little bit.

As a 

Christa Innis: planner. 

Serena: Yeah, like I'm like, Oh my God, it adds such an extra level of stress and Just dynamic to the whole thing, right? Well, if we were 

Dominic: in there from the beginning and we helped plan the surprise, that would be me. I'd be like, let's do a first dance. I don't know. What is your name?

What's up? Like it would be, we couldn't be surprised. We would have to be in on the loop, but it still brings in a whole, it would be a whole different event. 

Serena: Absolutely. 

Christa Innis: I picture like. really upset parents. Like, I don't know. Like, that makes me think that maybe if they did one, or if they're planning on doing one, it's someone, like maybe parents don't agree.

And then they're like planning like a party. Like, I feel like I've read a story where someone submitted it to me and they were like planning a surprise wedding just to kind of be like, well, we're already married, so you can't do anything about it. Sorry. Surprise. Yeah. It's like, I would never personally do that, but.

I guess teach their own, but it's, almost, I feel like someone that does that is like, they just don't want other opinions maybe brought in. 

Serena: Exactly. And I think it would depend on, like, their motives, right? Maybe they're just like you said, they don't want any other opinions through the process, they don't want those.

It's just 

Dominic: a low, but it's almost like you want to like, Oh no, I'm sticking it to the person. Like mom is going to hear about this. We're going right. We're going to see their face.

Christa Innis: Yeah, 

Dominic: go for it. That's what I said. Go for it. 

Christa Innis: Yeah, exactly. You do you. Yeah, exactly. Okay, next section is pick a side on wedding drama debates. So, these are things, unpopular opinions that people send me on Instagram. They're not always unpopular because sometimes I'm like, oh, I agree with that. but they might be a little more controversial.

So, let me know what you guys think on these. So, the first one says weddings are better with kids.   

Serena: So we actually disagree on that. Like, between the two, I mean, like, we're more on one side than the other. I like an adult only event. And he loves kids, just in his life, right? So, he doesn't mind the chaos that can occur with children.

In general, right? It's 

Dominic: not even kids. Usually it's the parents, right? Cause you know, when they're like, it takes a village. No, your little terror is running. Cause I've had kids, they had a little packet of toys for the kids. Like, cause you know, there'll be coloring books, coloring books. Great. But this one had like bouncy balls in it.

Christa Innis: Oh, no. 

Dominic: Anybody listening? Terrible idea. Don't give the kids. There was a little boy, literally, during the first dance, bouncing a ball across, running across, picking it up, throwing it across, and I'm like, looking around like, where is the parent? So  that's the nonsense. when the parents just don't care and the kids are just like, Yeah, I don't like that, but just they're in the family too.

But again, that's really, people have a camp kids or no kids. They're like, I'm not sure. No, they already,  know. So it's a big thing. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. People are so passionate about it. When I post about it, like they're like, how disgusting that a bride and groom would not include kids. And then on the other end, it's like, no, I don't want to go.

I don't even want my own kids there or something like that. And I'm like, if I get invited to a wedding and my daughter's not invited, I'm like, That's fine. She'll have fun with Nana and Papa. orif she has invited, I'm like, great, she's so small now where I'm like, I probably wouldn't bring her that's because I'm like, I'd rather have like a night out.

But you know what? Like to each their own for like bride and groom. I don't know. It's justthe bouncing the balls and I've heard crazy stories and you are 100 percent right where it's when the parents don't watch the kid because they're kids. They're going to get into stuff. We know this about kids.

 but yeah, if like a cake gets knocked over because of a kid, is it really the kid to blame or is it parent not wanting to 

Dominic: share some of that? Responsibility. 

Christa Innis: Yes, we invited all our nieces and nephews because I was like, I couldn't imagine getting married without my nieces and nephews there, but like when it came to like friends, kids or like distant relative kids that I barely see, I'm like, and most of my friends were like, I would rather have a night out with my husband.

So 

Dominic: if you think about it, how many times they have like a corporate Christmas party. The kids don't go to that. Like it's not a, it's a thing. If it's going to be a grownup party, yeah, the kids don't go. But to your point, I would say just bring the ones, you know, like if you're. Person from work. You don't even know their spouse.

They're bringing their kids. Like, you know, of course not pay for them. No, absolutely not. So I, we agree. But I enjoy chatting with the kids. He 

Serena: does. He's like the kid whispers, like the pied piper wedding is there and the little kids like follow him around. I get a lot 

Dominic: of assistant DJs. And sometimes I'm like, okay, we need to yeah.

I can't get to the board because they're all back there. What song is next? Is this microphone on? I'm like, put the microphone down. 

Christa Innis: Right. I always heard this story growing up from my mom where they were having no kids at their wedding, my parents. And one of my, I think it was like my dad's coworker or something was like, Oh, we're RCPing with our two kids.

And they were like really mad that the kids were not invited. And so my parents were like, okay, fine. You know what? We'll add them on, we'll give them. Two seats and you know, it was expensive. Like you still have to add on these kids meals the day of the wedding. They didn't come and they acted like it was no big deal.

Like my parents were like, Oh, where's so and so and so and so they didn't want to come. My parents were like, you made this huge thing. We extended it for them. And then they didn't even come. So those are the 

Dominic: people, these are the same people. They're all going to that same pile. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. 

Serena: Just that level of like.

Selfishness, I think, is what it comes down to. Yeah, like, only being able to see how it affects themselves. Totally. 

Dominic: a selfish thing, I think, for sure. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. Okay, so this next one says Alright, so this is a good one, since you're a DJ. Songs that have specific dances, like Cupid Shuffle, example, alienate people from the dance floor.

Dominic: I would say it's the opposite. Yeah. as a DJ, it's kind of low hanging fruit because if I'm trying to get dance floor energized, whatever I mean, I don't even know if your wedding counts if you didn't wobble at the reception. Right? So I'm just kidding. But it is like, there are people that will only dance to the line dances because they don't think they can dance, but they know they can follow the moves like everyone else.

And there are nights where they want, like, can we do the boot scoop boogie, followed by the Cuba shuffle, followed by the wobble, followed by the cha cha slide. I'm like, absolutely not. I mean, I will sprinkle them in, but I don't want, yeah, I don't want, again, it's their day, but it's really, it's another thing.

Some people are like, no line dances. And then other people are like, Oh, we love them. I'm like, okay. And overall, there'll be a night where I'm really muscling through a dance floor. Cause I can only work with the crowd I have. But they'll literally come out, do the line dance and then disappear on me again.

I'm like, I can't get any more venom. It's not usual, but. Again, not everybody, but overall, yeah, it's, 

Serena: it's still a thing. And I don't think it alienates people unless, I guess like for that song, right? Like it's usually just one or two, if we play them and 

Dominic: yeah. If I'm a guest, I love to dance, but I'm like, knock yourself out.

Kick your right foot, kick your left foot, turn around. It's like a hokey pokey. I'm like, I'm going to get a drink at that point. 

Serena: Exactly. Like, yeah, I don't think it changes the overall. 

Dominic: Yeah, but I'm in the minority. The minute I play cha cha slide, I'm like, here they come, here they come. But what's cool about it is the little kids know it because they do it at the middle school dance.

Right. Grandma knows it because it's been around 20, 30 years. So it's one of those, like you look every all walks of life, all generations, because it's a wedding. It's not a club. You got four generations there. Right. And I want everyone to dance and that's one of the songs that we'll get 

Christa Innis: It's crazy.

Dominic: So I 

Christa Innis: totally agree with that. I'm the wobble girl. I always wobble at the wedding. Yeah. And it's funny too, because it's like, that one's obviously a little bit newer. I feel like when I was in college, that's when I started hearing that more. I remember at my wedding, like my mom was like, Oh, how would I do it?

So we're all like trying to teach. And I think it's just a fun moment for like family, you said like multiple generations to come in. but yeah, like maybe like the hokey pokey or like the chicken dance, we don't always need those. But you know, Yeah. Yeah. You know, 

Dominic: and there's even like people would say the YMCA is one that's kind of a lot.

It has like the part in the middle, right? Or what about Miss, Chappelle Rowan, like H O T T O, right? and people were like, what are they doing? And I'm like, some people know it, some people don't, but I always say like, is it going to stay? And is it going to like, really get a like momentum?

Cause Like the wobble has been around. It's one of the newer ones, but like cubit shuffle is over. Cha cha slide has got to be 25 years old, but they still know it and do it. It's still relevant. I use that. Word loosely, but, uh, I don't have to go say yeah. 

Serena: Relevant in the wedding. Yes. I'm running in my different than the rest of the world.

Yeah. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. Okay. I know, like we've had so much fun chatting, but I want to get into this week's wedding story submission. so we can kind of react to it. So I'm going to read it and then, I'll make little pauses and stuff too, or just feel free to start like. Cut me off if you want to start talking about how crazy it is.

 So we'll see what we're going to get. Sometimes they end. Not too crazy and just a little like learning moment. So here we go. All right. Our wedding happened two years ago, but it's too much of a WTF moment to not share. I love your skits, and this could honestly be a whole series.

The day of our wedding, there were so many moments that were just shocking, but also you just have to laugh and shake your head. My husband and I stayed in separate rooms the night before, but they were right across the hall.

I had hair and makeup in my room for all bridesmaids and the moms. Everything was going smoothly until my mother in law came in to get her hair done and she was already buzzed from drinking. Here we go, another drinking one. She was saying things like, I can't believe you're taking my baby from me.  Who is going to take care of me?

Why does this day have to happen? Mind you, my father in law is very much alive, and my husband has another brother. 

Dominic: So it was all on him apparently. Yeah. 

Christa Innis: This is the one. 

Dominic: This is the golden child of the family. 

Christa Innis: Oh yeah. And it's funny too because like people always be like, oh this is so dramatized and I'm like, but sometimes people are like, no this happened word for word to me.

Right. 

Dominic: Absolutely. We all know these people. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. The time had come to say our personal vows, and we were doing our first touch pictures. It was to be in his room on the balcony so we could get fall colors in the background. The only people invited were our photographer and videographer. While I was reading my vows, we hear and see his aunt from the ground screaming that she loves my husband.

We ignore her, but she persisted, so my husband had to politely tell her to go away essentially. next came walking down the aisle. Him and I were both crying and had locked eyes the second I entered the aisle. I was midway through getting to him when the other aunt suddenly grabbed my arm and started rubbing my shoulder.

I've been in 12 weddings and have never seen or heard of anyone doing this. I'm sure it was to try to comfort me. But not the time or the place. No.

 Absolutely not. Yeah, what are we doing here? We finished up our ceremony and moved on to pictures. That's why I noticed his third aunt. Okay, lots of aunts here. Yes. Dressed in all white. 

Serena: Mmm, there it goes. 

Christa Innis: Floor length gown and all. 

Serena: Yep, they do it. 

Dominic: Does she have a bouquet? Was she carrying 

Christa Innis: a bouquet? Her own bouquet and everything.

She had a veil, I'm guessing, So my photographer positioned her to stand directly behind me, so all you could see was her head. Smart photographer. 

Dominic: Very good. Yeah. 

Christa Innis: Family pictures were going well until we told everyone we were going to do our own one on one pictures. Mother-in-law had to be told and finally was removed as she wanted to join our pictures and tag along.

Serena: Yeah, let go. The umbilical cord has been severed. Yes! Oh my god. 

Dominic: I hope they moved out of the country, because this is the only way you're going to sever this time. Yeah. 

Christa Innis: This reminds me of like, Everybody Loves Raymond situation. Like, we're moving across the street, we're going to come in the back door.

Serena: Yeah, exactly. Show up unannounced all the time. Oh, wow. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. Once the reception hit, all the stress and anxiety was over, or so I thought. We had our dance and then my dad daughter dance. My husband goes to grab his mom and at this point she is wasted drunk. She kept yelling at him to twirl her, dip her, and make a whole scene.

The rest of the reception did go fairly well and I wouldn't change a thing. if you need more, I have my whole side of the family that apparently was competing to see who could be the bigger S show. Then we now have my whole pregnancy, which is also filled with drama. And that's a whole other can of worms.

Serena: Right. Yes. 

Christa Innis: So that's, 

Serena: that is I can only imagine this mom now with a baby. that, yeah, it's like 

Dominic: they say, you're not just marrying that person. You're marrying the whole family. 

Serena: But 

Dominic: I mean, not, not really. I mean, you see him like most families, you just see them holidays periodically birthdays. if they're next door, if it's that.

Everybody loves Raymond scenario. Yeah. They are under your feet and sounds like she probably didn't move far. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. 

 It sounds like her husband stayed across the hall the night before, but when the mother in law came in, it sounds like she was already just trying to stir the pot and just try to make it about her. But 

Serena: so unfortunate. We did a once on our feed where he talked about.

 

mother of the groom, getting a photo with her son, like making sure that she had a moment with her son, 

Dominic: like a first touch with the first look with the father, the bride, which we see a lot, 

Serena: like, then it was important for the mother of the groom to be able to get those moments too, because it is right.

But this is the extreme, right? Like get the moment, but then also know that this isn't about you, you of course are a big part of the two families coming together. But essentially it's about the couple and, yeah, 

Dominic: It's funny you mentioned that. And that's the first thing I thought of too, was that video.

Cause I seen it once and I go, what a great idea. Cause sometimes the groomsmen and the groom are already ready. And the bridesmaids take a little longer. Your gender takes a little longer to get ready often. but the mom is sometimes ready. Cause she was usually early in the chair to get the hair and makeup done.

Just grab the photographer who sometimes is, taking detailed shots or waiting and just have a quick, like, just the same thing. Walk up, tap him, because he's always in that dirty Aerosmith shirt with the hole in the pit and the khaki pants and the Crocs. He's dressed, he's never looked better.

Mustache tamed, hair is cut, he's groomed. Have a moment where you're like, Oh my God, you look great. I'm so happy for your big wedding day. Hug it out, get a picture, wipe a tear, scene. And we're good. Yes. The moms and the mothers of the bride were like, It is not about her. It is about me. The same ones. These people are like, they took it as an attack.

Like, no, it is me and my family and the bride's. I go, what? half the guests are there because Of him and his family. It's, crazy. People get so personally attacked. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. And I find it funny too, like people kind of call themselves out sometimes in the comments because it'll be like a mother in law story that someone sent me and someone will comment.

Why do you only talk about mother in laws? Mother of the bride are bad too. And I'm like, okay. I mean, if someone me a story, I will ask. And I try to mix up what I'm talking about. when I see a story about a bride, I don't get offended because I'm like, I wasn't like that, you know what I'm saying?

Like, it's like, if you see a story and you're offended and like, maybe we should look at, look in the mirror 

Serena: a little bit of, internal. Are you the 

Dominic: lady from the story? 

Christa Innis: Yeah. People will be like, are you in this story? Yeah. Yeah, I should reach out to this person and be like, do you want to share more for like a part two?

More, yeah, wow. I want to know about this, like, I mean, I'm good on the photographer for thinking quickly and being like, let's move the amp behind you. But, all white, was someone like, even to my bachelorette party, I remember one of my cousins being like, I brought a dress that has white in it.

Is that okay? I'm like, I don't care. You could wear an all white dress. I'm not that person. I don't care. But like to just assume, or just to show up in a gown at someone's wedding is very bold, very bold. You're asking for people to like ask questions or to like notice you at that point. 

Dominic: And like you said, a picture like in the background.

I've also seen where they have a really extreme, neon pink dress or something, and I get that that's sometimes the thing, but we had one and it was really bright, and it was like a gown. It like, poofed out and everything. I think she had like a, some kind of a tiara looking thing too in her hair, and I'm like, and again, every picture she was like Bigfoot.

There she was in the background, because she like, glowed, right? Right. And it's like, it's not your day. It's not about you, but some people just don't, that doesn't. Yeah. They can't 

Serena: not stand out in social settings. Right. 

Dominic: That could be the title of every one of your stories. It's not about you, but let's tell the story.

Yeah. 

Christa Innis: I feel like I've quoted that so many times in these skits. I'm like, well, it's not about you, but people still, the irony of it too, is like the mother in law, especially in this story, that's like, don't take my baby away from me. Like, why does this have to happen? The more they act like that.

The less they're going to see their son, because the wife's not going to want them around. For 

Serena: that matter. Right. Like who wants that overbearing mother in law especially when you're a new mom and like, Oh my gosh, how can 

Dominic: you not connect the dots on that? Right. 

Christa Innis: Yeah, I feel like 'cause people like that are just the main character of their own story, so they don't see how they can be the issue that's say, yeah, yeah.

 the bride is the villain in that point. 

Dominic: Terrible bride. How dare she take her? 

Christa Innis: Terrible. I've seen that a lot too. People will comment like, brides are villains too. And I'm like, yeah, I've shared some where brides are not the, main protagonist or whatever.

 they'll just kind of be upset at the story, how it comes out. And I'm like, I just get a story and I just make it into it. 

Serena: It's so interesting. we had a video recently where we showed our bride, she cut her hair right after the ceremony. So 

Dominic: today, this morning, I saw another bride doing it as a surprise 

Serena: to her groom, 

Dominic: mid reception, like We started the dance floor and then, yeah, and then 

Serena: we took her back. She had her aunt come in to the stylist and cut her hair and it was really fun and fabulous and crazy. Yeah. and okay, we posted on Tik TOK. We posted on Instagram and there were a few comments on those platforms. And, but a lot of them were like, this is, she looks great on Facebook.

Christa Innis: Mean. 

Serena: We're so upset. They were like, 

Christa Innis: how 

Serena: dare you? You are being deceitful to your husband. He married you with long hair and now he's going to be disappointed. 

Dominic: I mean, they were so, 

Serena: they were so mad. 

Dominic: So you're on social media. You understand, right? We have videos. And Instagram and Facebook are similar, but if we put the same video on all three, we'll have one that blows up on one and it does that on the other one.

So that one has 20, 000 on TikTok, maybe about the same on Instagram, 4. 5 million on Facebook. We've never had a video, never had a video go that big on Facebook before. And every comment 

Serena: pissed off, almost. It is 

Dominic: ridiculous, the things they're saying. 

Christa Innis: I find Facebook is kind of like the meaner out of all of them with this whole possible TikTok ban, it's funny, like one of the first comments I saw about it, this woman was like, Oh, that's good because you know, TikTok bullying and stuff.

I want to be like, Facebook has the meanest comments towards me or towards like skit people like, Oh my gosh, like those are where I get like the nastiest comments, I would say. 

Serena: It's the same for us. he's in most of the videos right and he doesn't get a lot of negative personal attacks on TikTok or Instagram, but when they come, they come from 

Dominic: Facebook.

Serena: Yeah. Yeah. 

Dominic: This is what I get. It's because, I don't know if you've seen any ones where I talk about the bride going down the aisle and I start to describe the moment and I'll talk, and I try to talk when the artist isn't singing, but sometimes I have to get a point across. I'm like, wait, you're going to open the doors right here.

And stop talking. I can't hear the song. I'm like, like 

Serena: you 

Dominic: couldn't listen 

Serena: to the song 

Dominic: somewhere else. It's only 30 seconds of the song anywhere where you're like, Oh, this is my jam. Turn it up. Go any other format. But the reason I'm doing this is to describe the moment that they can't, again, they can't detach.

They're like, stop talking. I can't hear the song. I'm like, okay. 

Serena: So I'll just sit there. They 

Dominic: expect me just to sit here and say, play. Yeah. That's going to do well. That video will do really do well. 

Christa Innis: I've had like, some people just comment, like, What a waste of time watching this. Or they'll be like, dumb skit.

And I'm like, 

Serena: thanks. 

Christa Innis: And I'll just be 

Serena: like, thanks, Pamela. Yeah. And also you watch the whole thing. Right. So like, That's on you. Sorry, you wasted your time. Yeah, you could have just scrolled and kept going. I mean, I know We love social media for what it's done for our business and the connections we have made, but there's a lot of yucky, that you really have to like, put on a thick skin sometimes.

Christa Innis: Those keyboard warriors. 

Serena: Yeah, unfortunately, it brings out really just some bold people. I don't know why. They don't understand that there's like people that's what I said about the Facebook post. I was like, I hope our bride doesn't see this That was like my concern because I know them well enough that she would roll her eyes I'm sure but There's people on the other side of what you're saying, right?

Like sometimes they're so nasty and it's just like, 

Dominic: but she's the bride. She's not on Facebook. It's okay.

Christa Innis: Exactly. Oh my gosh. That is crazy. Okay. So before we end, cause I know we're getting kind of over on time here. I don't want to take up too much of your guys's time. So I want to end with our weekly confessions game. So these are confessions that people send me on Instagram. that Sometimes they have to do with weddings, sometimes they don't.

So we're going to see we get. we like to call it the drama Yeah, drama meter. we're going to say like, rate them from 1 to 10. Or just respond to like, how crazy it is or if it reminds you of something. Okay, this first one says, I stole back my bouquet when the uninvited guest at my wedding caught it.

Serena: Well, the thing I would say is usually we have a separate bouquet so the bride can keep that bouquet, right? Cause like, usually the bride, like, 

Dominic: A tossed bouquet. 

Serena: So, I don't have a problem with her wanting to keep her own bouquet, I guess is like. 

Dominic: probably shouldn't have thrown it in the first place.

Christa Innis: Well, I'm wondering if she just worded it as my bouquet, but I'm wondering if it actually was the toss. 

Serena: Okay, so in that case, that's, I mean, 

Dominic: If you had one of your bridesmaids or your sisters and gays and you're like, Oh, I want them to catch it. And then you're like, And then this chick over here wasn't even invited.

I mean, I can see how you'd be mad, 

Christa Innis: but yeah, 

Dominic: I give it a four, maybe 

Christa Innis: a five. It's like a whole layer of like, what happened? Why Did they try to get invited and you knew they were coming or yeah, it'd be kind of crazy. Okay, we'll do one last one before we end because I know i'm again taking too much Um, let's see.

Okay. This person says this might be like a hot take actually If I buy you a shower gift, I am not going to buy you a wedding gift 

Serena: don't even know why like, making that a thing, like I don't know, like people do or don't bring gifts to weddings all the time, right? 

Dominic: Like I invited the shower. I'm not inviting you to the wedding. 

Christa Innis: I know. I think I would personally be like, then I'm just not going to go to the shower.

Like if I don't want to. Gifts. Like, cause I don't feel right about going to a shower and not bringing something or going to a wedding and not giving a gift. I feel like it's two different events, but I get it. It's a lot of money. It's expensive. I don't 

Serena: know. Just like in my mind, if I had a certain budget that I could spend on their gifts, I would just get something that like one for each split, you know what I mean?

 or just put a card in the card box for them at the wedding. Just the sentiment is the 

Dominic: person knew how much. Weddings cost. They would be like, okay, well, I'll give you a glass of wine at the shower, but you can't drink anything at the wedding. You know how much money, or in your meal, I mean, everybody has a dollar sign on their head that it tends and it is steep, right?

I'd pay for that chair you're sitting in, by the way. 

Christa Innis: Yeah. Yeah. What I don't get is like when people act like if they're invited to something, they have to go and they have to spend this money. Like I saw someone say like, Oh, destination weddings are so selfish. And it's like, If you're invited, you don't have to go.  

Serena: Yeah, absolutely. It's not about you. this is what the couple has chosen to do and you are invited, which means you can decline. 

Dominic: Yeah, absolutely. Give your opinions. 

Serena: Make it feel bad for having a desk. I'll 

Dominic: give you my response with a heavy dose of guilt. 

Christa Innis: Yeah, exactly. Well, thank you guys so much for coming on.

It was so fun meeting you guys and chatting with you. You guys have a lot of great stories and hot takes. if you guys can just again, share where people can find you on social media, all your great content and, anything and coming for you guys. 

Serena: Yeah for sure. so on tiktok, we are at wedding duo on instagram.

We are at the dot wedding duo our Website is the wedding duo. co not. com gets really confusing with that We do have our new membership for engaged couples that is available through our website, which is where we Share exclusive videos and lessons on all things weddings. We go live inside the membership.

Dominic: It's really, if you're a DIY bride, download the app and join our membership. It'll be really good. We have a podcast too. 

Serena: We do. Awesome. It's not as fun as yours. I mean, it's informative, but yours is just, it's fun. 

Dominic: We have 

Serena: fun. It's so much fun chatting with you. So, yes. 

Christa Innis: This is awesome. Well, yeah, like I said, I love your guys content and I was always seeing it on Instagram and I was like, they would be perfect to come on and chat with because you guys are in the industry, you know, what's up, you've got those stories, so thank you so much again for coming on.

It was so great. And, I can't wait to share. Woohoo. 

Dominic: Fabulous. It was good. Let 

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