Post # 257
Member
1234 posts
Bumble bee
@Bazinga: Just posted an update!
@solidarity: Tell me about it! Totally disgusting!
@NurseMandie: Exactly, there are pranks then there are cruel “jokes” and what they did was cruel. We take great pride in our wood floors because we refinished all of them when we moved into our 125 year old home. Grrrr just makes my blood boil!
@sapphire–stars: I agree I can’t believe 8 people thought it was ok! Thank you for your support!
@NurseMandie: Yay another Iowa Bee! I’m from NW Iowa by the Okoboji area. Perfect place to be in the summer! I know, I hadn’t heard of it being an Iowa tradition or anything either. Ugh, it was such a unnecessary mess!!
@CakeyP: Exactly, man up and take responsibility for your actions! You don’t just go into somebody’s HOME and do that crap. It’s a HOME not somebody’s dorm room or frat house. That’s what they think; just because we live in the country they can just walk in and have a hay day. Anywhere else and they would have instantly been arrested!
@weddingmaven: They were all sober, that’s the sick part. You’d think at some point they’d stop and be like, “Whoa, this is going a little too far.” but apparently not.
I posted an update, check it out http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/family-encouraged-cruel-wedding-pranks-update?replies=1#post-5839234
Post # 258
Member
3415 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Lodge
@Cummins59: I used to go up to Okaboji a lot when I was younger. My great grandparents used to own a farm ouside of there. So much fun! I’m in Waterloo which is where the University of Northern Iowa is.I’m originally from a small town 30 miles west called Parkersburg but moved here after I met my Fiance.
Post # 259
Member
268 posts
Helper bee
@Atalanta: Apparently it happens here in the NL as well. I never knew about it since we never played pranks on any of our friends who got married in the past 7 years I’ve been here, until I mentioned this thread to my hubby. Apparently he told our masters of ceremony that under no circumstance was this happening.
He did say that he was a witness for someone years ago and everyone wanted to prank them. He absolutely wouldn’t let them do anything that it wouldn’t take 5 minutes to clean up because the couple would come home after the reception tired and would just want to go to bed.
I think they ended up covering the bed with rose petals and then wrapping the matress with plastic wrap.
The idea of the gift treasure hunt is cute, and non obtrusive. The rose petals and plastic wrap takes 5 minutes to clean up. Even putting postit notes all over the house or something easily reversable could be tolerated. What happened to the OP? I’d be in jail for attempted murder more than likely.
Post # 260
Member
4767 posts
Honey bee
@ldyparadox99: Yeah i imagine NL culture for that being similar to the Belgian one. I agree that little pranks that don’t ruin anything can be fun. I don’t know why people take it to such extreams since I’m sure they wouldn’t want it hapening to them.
OP posted an update. she shares a link just 2 posts above.
Post # 261
Member
68 posts
Worker bee
I would have called the cops as well-made them clean the house. Under my supervision, of course. And had them pay for damages. And I would have pressed charges if I had to.
Ignore your husband’s family. As long as your husband supports you, what else matters?
Post # 262
Member
739 posts
Busy bee
I think they 100% went too far.
Pranks can evolve and get out of control quickly. This is sad to me.
The extent of the damage is disheartening especially since this home is ‘your baby’ per say.
However….
I would say that at this stage, you have received apologies and promises to re-pay any damage. If this materializes, and they pay you, then that is all that I would do in your situation.
Nothing will reimburse you for the drama, heartache or time that you spent repairing the damage/mess.
Charging 20 year olds and 18 year olds is serious. They will have a record if found guilty. Personally, even though they acted well beyond the realm of acceptable or responsible, I just couldn’t do that to family.
In this case, I would chalk it up to further proof that the family is nuts or not people I would like to associate with all the time. I realize you cannot just ‘cut off’ family with ease. However, they have shown what they can do and this is disrespectful. I would just use this as a learning lesson and leave it at that.
Beyond monetary reparations and expressed apologies, I think charging them at this stage, if monetary compensation will cover it, is the best you could hope for.
In response to the anticipated ‘you get what you deserve’ or ‘do the crime do the time’ comments, I just think that you need to think twice as to what you could be doing to someone’s future if they have apologized and also agreed to pay you back.
I wish you all the best in your new marriage. I hope you find closure in this distressing event and find the peace to put it behind you.
Post # 263
Member
916 posts
Busy bee
@Cummins59: what the actual f***. I probably would have had a meltdown if this happened to me and I would have thought I got vandalized.
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