Hey, guys.

Welcome back to another episode of Here Comes the Drama.

I'm your host, Christa Innis, and if you like wild stories that will keep

you on the edge of your seat that are very shocking or drama-filled,

you are in the right place.

but let me tell you, I had so much fun with today's guest.

I sat down with Keesha Scott.

She's the co-founder of Guardian Recovery.

It's a behavioral health company serving families across the country.

She's a certified parenting coach, has a master's degree in psychology, and hosts

the Cake for Dinner podcast, and is also the author of an upcoming parenting book.

We had so much fun chatting about all the work she does, motherhood, her

podcast, recovery, and so much more.

Plus, she shares a very long, detailed wedding story of her own that will

leave you on the edge of your seat.

The whole time I was like, " How did this happen to one person?" I feel

like we get so many stories sent in to us where when I post them,

people are like, "This can't be real.

There's no way this happened."

This is one of those where you're just gonna be like, this poor bride, how

did this happen to her?" But she lives to tell us the tale, and, it's pretty

remarkable the things that she has gone through and just kind of, carries through

with such positivity and, obviously with all of her work making such an impact.

So without further ado, let's dive into this week's episode.

Enjoy.

Hi, Keesha.

Thanks for being here.

Yeah, thanks for having me.

I'm so excited to talk with you.

I know you have a wild story of your own, before we get into that,

can you tell everyone a little bit more about yourself and what you do?

Sure.

I am a mother of three.

I'm an author with a new parenting book coming out in 2027, and

I am also a podcast host of a podcast called Cake for Dinner.

I love that.

So starting off with Cake for Dinner, I know it's a podcast

for moms with real conversations.

What kind of inspired or led you to start that podcast?

So I wrote the book, and one of the feedback I kept getting from publishers

was that I didn't have a social platform.

and at 52, I wasn't, like, excited about taking pictures of myself , so I decided

that, I would start a podcast for women really just telling their truth, and then

I would make that my social platform.

So that was the initial idea, and it kind of just took off.

I think women specifically are sort of done with this, perfection culture and

just excited about hearing authenticity.

so that's kind of how it started.

Yeah, I love that because I feel like especially with motherhood, there's

this idea that you have to do things this, like, certain way, at least in,

like, the old wor- I shouldn't say Old World, but, like, when Instagram

came out, everything was like, " My house is perfectly clean all the time.

I do this and this and this, and if you're not doing this for your kids,

then you're a bad mom." And there was all this, like, back and forth.

And, I talked about it before, but I worked for, like, a mommy brand before I

became a mom myself, and I feel like that helped so much 'cause I heard so many

women's stories of, like, how did they, sleep-train, or did they sleep-train?

Did they breastfeed or bottle-feed?

And just hearing different stories of, like, it's okay to do things your own way.

Yeah, and I also think it's, like, kind of hard-earned wisdom, you know?

I mean, I'm 52.

My twins are 19.

My son is 12.

And so I've gone through that journey.

what I would like to do is put that all in a book and pass it down to younger

moms so that they don't have to learn all of those lessons the hard way.

Mm-hmm.

I love that.

and what's the title of your book that's coming out?

The book is also Cake for Dinner.

Cake for Dinner.

I love that.

And where did that title come from?

So it's kind of… I was a single mom in the beginning of the book, that's it.

Sometimes you have cake for dinner.

it's also a nod to my dad.

everyone in my family bakes.

He's a doctor in exercise science, health physiology, but he also bakes,

and that's kind of, our love language.

So any time I've struggled in my life, he makes this amazing German chocolate cake.

and it really has gotten me through some rough periods, so

it's also kind of a nod to that.

Oh, I love that.

That's cool.

That makes me think of, Bridesmaids when she's, like, making the cake

for herself- Yeah … and she's, like, kind of getting back into it.

I love that.

so how do you feel like motherhood has, influenced your career decisions

or kind of changed you in your, like, journey into motherhood and,

like, as your kids get older as well?

'Cause you said they're 12 and 19, so I'm sure that's kind of

evolved your career as well.

Yes.

You know, it just kind of all has meshed together at some point.

I got into motherhood, I had a bit of a rough start.

My husband left me when I was pregnant with twins, six weeks pregnant.

and then from there it was a long journey, and he eventually died of a drug overdose.

So, my journey into parenting was hard and lonely.

so I think, that shaped some of the way I've shown up as a parent, coming

from a little bit of a place of fear.

but also a real strong place of resilience, you know, and focus

on probably what really matters.

so it's been a lot of things, and it really has meshed into my career.

I have a master's in psychology, and my husband and I founded a

national behavioral health company.

and then, like, that turned into me working with adolescents that were

struggling, and then that turned into me wanting to help moms, and then that sort

of meshed into the book and the podcast.

So it, it really all has come together, and now it's just sort of my life.

I love that.

Is that the Guardian Recovery that you guys started?

Yeah.

Yes.

Okay.

So that was before Cake for Dinner, and you guys kind of

worked together to start that?

Yeah.

So we, founded Guardian in 2008.

really it was my husband's idea and dream and, over time we sort of just filled

the gaps in the mental health space, which really started with outpatient,

because people used to go to treatment for 30 days, and then that was that.

Mm-hmm.

the research shows that that's not super effective, so we

started an aftercare program.

And then over the years we've just filled the gaps where we saw fit, and one of

those gaps was adolescent treatment.

when my 19-year-olds were probably 14, they started to

have some of their own struggles.

and I just found that there weren't a ton of resources, at least locally.

So we got into that space, which is really where I found my love, you know.

I love working with troubled teenagers.

I was a troubled teenager, so I feel super passionate about that.

and then that naturally led to helping moms.

I love that.

And, just seeing, like, the impact, so, like, do you have… not saying

specifics, but, like, things that Guardian has done or, that you've,

like, seen firsthand that's, really made an impact or difference in

your own life or others around you?

Absolutely.

So tomorrow actually, I pick up my 24-year medallion in Alcoholics

Anonymous, and I will be accompanied by six teenage girls who are also staying

sober after coming to our program.

I do a free call every Tuesday night.

Every Tuesday night they get on.

It's literally my favorite thing to do.

so when I see them, one girl will pick up one year tomorrow and one will pick

up two years sober at, one is she's 19 and, the other one is, I think, 17.

Mm. So, to experience that, it makes all of it worth it, if you can impact

one life, and it's not just me, by myself, it's the company and all the

wonderful people we have that work so hard to impact these young girls' lives.

But when you see stuff like that, it's just super meaningful work.

That's great.

Yeah, and I'm sure, like, having that resource, especially them being so

young, is so powerful 'cause I think, think that's one thing we keep getting

better as a society is creating resources that- aren't gonna cost tons of money

or just are more accessible, whether that's, like, through online calls like

you were talking about, like Zoom calls or, local community k- type things.

'Cause I feel like that's one of the benefits with, like, social media

or, online communities because, it was not so easy to find in the past.

Yeah.

And, teenage girls specifically, teenagers in general in my opinion,

are just super misunderstood.

And, when you can create a safe space for them that's also a little fun

and cool, I mean, they will open up and, really rise to the occasion.

so A, I love providing that.

and also it is just so fun.

It's so fun to see.

It's so meaningful.

yeah, so I love it.

That's great.

So can anyone whether get involved, or if they know someone that's struggling,

can they, direct them to your page?

Or how does that kind of work, if they can-

Yeah.

my website is akeeshascott.com, K-E-E-S-H-A scott.com.

Also, I am active on Instagram.

I mean, I'm happy always, even if I don't have the answers, to try to

direct them to the appropriate spot.

but there are a ton of resources.

You just have to dig around and ask people.

Amazing.

Awesome.

Well, I love, what you're doing.

I think it's fantastic and, like I said, like the resources at

different levels, talking about teens and then as well as motherhood.

And with motherhood- Yeah … it's like just sharing your story sometimes

just helps you feel more connected, so I think it's amazing what you do.

Thank you.

So I know we kinda make that, like, switch into, wedding

stories, and I know you have- Yeah

a wedding story of your own, that's pretty wild.

So, if you wanna start it and then, yeah, like I'll kinda- pop in and

ask questions along the way as well.

Okay.

so it's important to get a little of the backstory.

So I did mention that my first husband died of a drug overdose.

I was a single mom, and I met my current husband.

And so I think that's important, because when you are getting married as a single

mom, it is, like, such a big deal because your kids, in my case, because their

father died, they were getting a dad.

So, like, this day was a really, really big deal.

at the time, we were not, financially things weren't great, so I decided

to borrow a dress from my friend.

it was a $6,000 vintage Monique Lhuillier dress, which she

thought would be gorgeous on me.

I was very nervous because it was like a Sex and the City.

It was a gown, you know?

but I also was like, "Fuck it. Like, I'm just gonna be this today." so that's

very important to know all of that.

So after I decided to borrow the dress, periods went forward of where you

get it altered and things like that.

When the wedding got closer, she started to get, like, super nervous about this

dress, and I started to sense that she didn't really want me to wear the dress.

The problem was I didn't really have very much money.

the wedding was right around the corner, and wedding dresses aren't, it

takes time to fit them and everything.

Mm-hmm.

So I thought in an effort to sort of calm her nerves, that

I would not get it altered.

So it did need to be altered a bit, but I thought, "You know what? It doesn't

have to be perfect. I'll just wear it the way it is." So when I called to

tell her that, she seemed glad that I wasn't altering it, but still not super

happy, so I was mad at that point.

I was just like, "Who does this?" You know?

Right.

Now, in retrospect, it was her dress, and I probably should have

been a little more compassionate, but I was just charging forward.

So I offered this to her.

I said, "You know what? I just won't serve red wine at the wedding. I

mean, what else could go wrong?"

Mm-hmm.

Well, went, a lot went wrong.

Oh,

no.

Um, red wine would've been a dream.

so she still wasn't excited, but she just sort of gave in at that point.

Mm-hmm.

So the wedding day started with- tremendously crazy weather.

So I woke up, and it was like, it wasn't raining, it was like a monsoon.

Okay?

And there was actually a tornado, like, streets over from mine,

which doesn't even, I don't even think happens in Florida.

So it was just this crazy day.

So it started with me having to call the Ritz Carlton and us deciding that

we would have the wedding inside.

Mm-hmm.

So that already sucked because if you're from Florida or you know

Florida, like, being on the beach and that was, like, the whole point of it.

Right?

We were having a very small wedding, but it was gonna be on the beach.

So already it was like, okay, now we're, in some weird ballroom that's,

like, not my vibe at all, you know?

So that's how it started.

my mom and my daughter and I got in the and I just tried to coach myself.

At this point, I've been through death, divorce.

Like, I've been through a lot of stuff, so I was like, "Okay, this day

isn't about the aesthetics," right?

This day is about marrying the love of my life.

My children are getting a father.

So it was kinda easy for me to coach myself into the ballroom.

Mm-hmm.

So as we drive there, we get there, and the bellman comes

out, and I have the dress.

And so he puts it on, like, that gold thing, you know?

We wheel it down the hall into the room, and he says, " Listen, this

can't be hung in the closet because it's so long, so brides hang it on

the hook in the bathroom." So I'm like, "Okay, no problem." He leaves.

My mom and I go in to hang the dress.

I don't see a hook in the bathroom, okay?

So I notice the hook on the ceiling, which is basically the fire, thing.

Right.

Yeah.

Well, I'm like, "Well, that can't be right." Well, sure enough, we tried it.

It hung perfectly to the floor.

So I'm like, "Okay, this one must not be activated. I guess this is what

they do." Well, that's what we did.

So we moved on with the, morning or the day.

my husband calls, and he says, "Listen- " Don't be mad at me.

I know these pictures are really important to you, but I'm on the boat with my

brother and I just got hit in the head by the, like the pole from the fishing

thing or whatever." And he's like, "I have a huge goose egg on my head.

I am so sorry.

I'm doing my best, but there's like a storm out here," you know, whatever.

So again, I'm like, okay, the pictures aren't important.

Now we're in a fucking ballroom and he's got an egg on his head, but you know what?

I'm still gonna marry the love of my life.

Yeah.

My children are still gonna get a father.

So we proceed.

Everybody's in there getting their hair and makeup done.

my daughter is like the star of the show.

She's seven at the time.

My mom is there, my bridesmaids.

The photographer shows up and she says, "Hey, I'm gonna some pictures

of the dress and then I'll do pictures of you and you guys getting ready."

So I'm like, "Okay." She leaves, we're getting ready, and I hear a scream

that I can still remember to this day.

And all the sudden, water just starts pouring out of the

ceiling, and it's not clear water.

Apparently what happens with this is if it hasn't been activated in a long

time, it, like, turns to soot basically.

So, like, black- Oh … water-

Oh my

… is raining on us, but it's not like raining.

it's meant to put out a fire, so it comes out hard.

So it's, like, fucking raining in the room.

Everybody's freaking out.

The fire alarm is going off, and the people start coming in, "Everybody

out. Everybody out." And a few things.

One, I was like, "I'm not leaving here without the dress."

Yeah.

So I went in, f- see the dress hanging there.

The dress is black.

Mm. My daughter's dress is hanging next to it.

It's black.

Oh my God.

So I

grab my dress and her dress, and I kinda tuck down and I run out.

Well, apparently my daughter was so terrified that midway through

this she jumped on my mom, and she's, s- clung to my mom.

My mom was in a thong, my mom's 74 years old.

Well, my daughter wouldn't get down, so my mom had to evacuate

The Ritz-Carlton in a thong.

I mean- … what else do you need to know about the day, right?

it's like, holy

shit.

Oh my

gosh.

There we are all running down the stairs, you know?

Like, the, 'cause you can't use the elevator because apparently there's a

fire, which there wasn't actually a fire.

So we get evacuated onto the lawn of The Ritz-Carlton, shit all over us, my

mom in a thong, and me with the dress.

So- … that is how the day Now, it gets much worse.

Let me know if you would like to ask- Oh my gosh,

yes.

I'm just like, how could it get worse?

Wait, so did, hanging the dress ignite something, or did something happen

in the hotel and it just happened-

So hanging the dress basically just, put it there, and when

she went to take it down-

It pulled-

… it activated it.

Oh my gosh.

and I would never think that it would come out, black like that.

Mm-hmm.

You would think, like- Mm-hmm … fresh spring water.

I don't know.

Like, I guess I've never had that happen.

Yeah, well, black.

Okay, so what happened next?

Yeah, I'm so curious.

It gets so bad it's almost, depressing.

It's a downer.

so then they start coming in saying, you know, "We're so sorry, Mrs.

Scott.

Like, do you wanna go to the spa?" And I'm like, the fucking spa?" I'm

supposed to- … I'm supposed to walk down an aisle in two hours.

Mm-hmm.

Now my dress is black.

I look like shit.

I have black stuff everywhere.

The photographer is in tears.

everyone is devastated.

So I'm like, "I don't really want a massage," you know?

So anyways, they bring us back in, all these, like the management came

in and they said to me, "Listen, Mrs. Scott, we are The Ritz-Carlton.

We can fix this." And I'm like, "Mm, it's not looking great," but, like,

my life has been so wild and ended up so great so many times that I was

kinda like, "All right," you know?

maybe they can- l- let's see what you got, you know?

So they take the dress and meanwhile they're trying to

come up with all these ideas.

They're like, "We have gowns in the There's a boutique nearby." And,

like, I just don't get down like that.

I would rather walk down there in my sweatpants and just get married.

I'm not gonna wear some lady's, like, weird gown, you know what I mean?

Like- … that's just not gonna happen.

So they had all these different ideas, and they're also like, "Maybe we could

postpone it." I'm like, "I'm also not gonna do that." families have

flown in from Charleston, you know.

So I'm like, "Look, it's gonna go one of two ways.

They're gonna fix the dress or I'm rolling in my sweatpants." Mm-hmm. those are the

two options here. So they take the dress, they call- And they say, "You're in luck.

We have this, amazing dry cleaner, and she can fix the dress.

She said it's no problem." So I'm like, "Well, shit," you know?

The Ritz Carlton shines.

So they move on with their thing, and we proceed to everybody start getting ready.

So we go back in, hair gets fixed, makeup's on, and they call and

say they- fixed the dress and they're gonna bring it back.

Wow.

So we're like, "Oh my gosh." Everyone is like, "Oh

my gosh." Like, only Keesha

would have this thing happen and this dress get fixed, okay?

Yeah.

So they bring the dress back.

they ring the doorbell.

We answer, and don't you know, the dress is on that gold thing, you know?

So they wheel it in, and this lady comes and she says, "I own the dry cleaner.

I had to hand deliver this dress and meet the bride." Mm.

So I'm like, "Oh, okay, great."

So the photographer is, like, ready.

So I unzip the dress, and out pops a fucking… I don't even what this…

It looked like a chicken, okay?

So basically, basically picture Sex In The City, like, this huge gown,

and, basically every piece of tulle was, like, a big flat piece of tulle,

and there was just so many of them that it made it very grandiose, right?

Well, each piece of tulle, because of the water, turned into, like, a

spiral, kinda like a Cheeto, right?

So now it's, like, tons of those, like, hanging.

To her credit, it was white as could be, okay?

Wow,

that's amazing.

Like, it was white, but it was wet, it smelled like a dog- … and it looked…

Like, if you had never seen the dress before, maybe it wasn't, ugly, but it

looked nothing like what it did before.

Yeah.

I was just like, "Oh my gosh," you know?

Like, how do you even make peace with this?

So everyone's like, "Just put it on.

Just put it on." So I'm like, "Okay," so I put it on.

Meanwhile, the secret was that I was pregnant and nobody knew.

Mm-hmm.

So I already, like, had gained a little weight.

Like, apparently they shrunk it, so my boobs are hanging out.

It's wet.

It, smelled like shit, and my mom gets the idea that it's because each

tulle is wet, so she is on her hands and knees drying each piece of tulle.

And sure enough, each one would sort of like come back to life, but

I mean, this could've taken a day.

Mm-hmm.

And I just was done.

I was like, "I am done with this shit," you know?

I just said, "Look, sometimes in life you gotta roll.

I'm not doing this, Everybody get in your places.

We're gonna get married." And so I said, "I just need a few minutes

by myself." So I took the, little private way down by myself, and I

said, "Just have my dad meet me at the bottom- … to walk me down the aisle.

My mom was because she's a bit of perfectionist, and it was like just

really hard for her to let go of it and just let me go down like that.

but I did, and then it proceeds to get much worse.

Oh my gosh.

You poor thing.

I'm like, how, like, all these things just happening?

It's just… I mean, it sounds like you were like, "Okay, I just need to walk

away. I need to do these things." But like- Or you, externally, holding it in?

Like, okay, if I let one thing get to me, it's just gonna be, like, tears or-

I think, like, it's part of being a mom, you know?

Like, I'm getting married, but I'm also, like, in that moment celebrating

my daughter getting a father.

So it's like, I don't know.

It's just so much, like… And I had already been through so much

with my first husband dying and, sort keeping that from the kids.

Like, I don't know, at this point I'm just numb, I think, honestly.

at this point it becomes more about the kids and the people who've

paid to come and, the guy I hired to marry us and all this stuff.

I was just like, "Let's just get this over with," you know?

Oh my gosh.

Okay.

so what happens next?

Okay.

So I go down, we walk down the aisle, I'm just, like, trying to, like, be happy.

And we, go to say our wedding vows, and my husband and I wrote our own vows.

And I will say people have said to me that it was the most beautiful wedding

they ever attended despite this, because the vows were so real and so true.

I really did meet the love of my life, and he took on two two-year-olds.

I mean, that's not common.

so that part of it was very real, but almost towards the end of it, I

felt something kind of running down my leg, and I was like, the people

say, like, when you're pregnant sometimes you can't hold your bladder.

Mm-hmm.

So I was like, "Am I fucking pissing this dress?" like, what

else could happen to this dress?

You know what I mean?

Right.

And I was just kinda, like, over it at that point.

Like, if that's what is happening, then oh well.

So I just sort of carried on.

And then when I went to sit down, my friend said to me,

" Keesha,

Sit down." And I'm like, "Why?

Is there pee?

Like, can you see, what is running down my leg?" And she was like, " There's

blood all over your dress." And I was like, "Oh my God." Now mind you,

five minutes before this we stood up and we cheers and we announced to

the whole wedding that I'm pregnant.

Mm-hmm.

So now everyone knows I'm pregnant, my kids, my mom, my dad, all my brothers, and

now tells me that I'm bleeding everywhere.

So she takes the dress, and pulls it back, and we run into the bathroom.

My mom comes in, I'm hemorrhaging all over at this point.

She calls my d- doctor on speakerphone and he says, "You're miscarrying So

you need to come to the emergency room immediately. And I'm just like, ", how

do you even go tell people this?"

And for the first time in my life, Girl, I have been down.

I have been through a lot of stuff.

I said to my mom, " Why is this happening?" And for the first time ever,

she was speechless. She said, " I don't know." Like, normally she's coaching me.

She's got, everything is silver lining.

She's like, "I've got nothing."

So I decide I don't wanna take an ambulance.

Like, that feels dramatic, you know?

So my, get in the car with my sister-in-law and the maid of honor,

and they drive me to the emergency room.

My husband, I made him stay there because my kids were gonna be so upset, and I

wanted him to talk to my son specifically.

And he then comes to the ER.

So we're in the emergency room.

The doctor said, "Wait, you're the bride and the groom?" Like,

this is the worst story ever.

And so, it ends with them telling me that the baby is okay.

Oh my gosh.

Thank God.

Ugh.

That I will now be on bed rest for a long time, but the baby is okay.

So again, my life is wild and crazy, but the ultimate goal was, right, for us to

be married, my kids to get a father, and us to bring in a baby into this world.

So we did that.

So if anyone ever tells me, like, they had a bad wedding or it rained or a

bird pooped on their head, I'm like, "Oh, my God." Like- Like, I've…

To this day, I've never heard a wedding story so bad, and

the photographer retired.

She has never done a wedding since.

Never.

That's horrible.

Her husband said she came home in tears and he said she will never do it again.

Never.

Oh, my gosh.

She's,

she

takes pictures, but she's never done a wedding since.

So what about your, friend that lent you the dress?

Was she at the wedding?

She was not at the wedding.

I only had one friend, and he had one friend.

It was, like, small as far as friends go.

Yeah.

she was not happy.

Yeah.

She, wanted to see the dress after, which I tried to sort of, like, warn her, "You

don't wanna see this dress," you know?

she did come over anyway the next day.

It was almost like the dress had been through the hangover.

You know what I mean?

it was like, didn't have the same shape.

It wasn't the same color.

There was blood all over it.

Like, I opened the closet, showed it to her, and she was just horrified.

I don't think she, like, understood the gravity of, the situation.

But yeah, she was, pretty upset.

She didn't really want me to wear it to begin with.

It was a vintage gown that she was super excited about.

and it was clearly ruined forever.

Yeah.

I'm so confused, 'cause like she offered it to you in the beginning, right?

But then it was like once it became serious she was like, "I don't know," like

… Yeah, she like really wanted me to wear it in the beginning.

Yeah.

Because I was so enamored with her pictures.

Mm-hmm.

And she was like, "Just wear it," you know?

And I think she was just trying to be kind, and I think she was excited

for me to wear it, but then I think as like a few weeks went by, she was

so attached to the dress that she just really wasn't into it anymore.

Yeah.

Oh my gosh.

Wow, that is quite the day.

I'm glad it all like, it turned out in the end, everything was okay with your baby.

I'm like, listening to this like, "Oh my gosh," how can

anything honestly get worse?

Like, it just-

Right?

… came together.

I mean, I have a great marriage, if that accounts for anything.

Yes.

Yes.

You've been through every season in that one day of like hardship- Right

… disaster, like all these things, and then it's like, "Okay, we can do anything now."

And I'm like, "We're never getting divorced." Like, no one fought harder to

get down that goddamn aisle than us, like-

Yes.

We're in this thing forever.

Gosh, that could be like a movie in itself, 'cause it's like, everything

that happened, like leading up to it and beyond, it's just like, wow.

that is, that is probably one of the most wild wedding stories

I've heard, and I've heard a lot.

I know, when I saw your podcast I was like, " I have to tell her this."

Like I was made for this podcast.

Yes.

Oh my gosh, yes.

Well, and it's funny too 'cause like I'll share stories on my YouTube or

something, and people are like, "This has to be made up," and I'm like, " Dude,

people have wild stories- Right … like you wouldn't believe." and it's

just, the way it's dealt sometimes.

I don't even know how or why things happen like that.

It's, it's crazy.

Okay.

So let's get into this week's, wedding story submission of one

that someone sent me, and we'll see if it's as wild as yours.

Okay, Here we go.

Feel free to stop me at any time or we'll kind of just pause, but here we go.

" Hi, I love your videos and I thought you'd find this story perfect

for one of your skits because honestly, it's the most awkward,

stressful wedding experience ever.

My parents are divorced.

My dad and step-mom live on the West Coast, and my mom and step-dad

live on the East Coast, where I was living when I got engaged.

We were trying to keep the wedding costs low because my parents had just paid for

my sister's wedding six months earlier, and my husband and I had no money saved.

We really didn't want to put everything on my dad again, especially so soon." When I

first told my mom we were planning to have the wedding at my grandma's cabin out in

the country with a big tent in the yard, she immediately said it was unacceptable.

She kept pushing me to book a old barn down the road instead.

She claimed she was worried about rain getting into the tent, but then

described the barn as having slats on the roof where you could see the

stars, so that would also let rain in.

Not long after that, I went dress shopping with my maid of honor,

my two sisters, my husband, my stepchild, and my mother-in-law.

My mom didn't come.

It was meant to be my official dress appointment.

I was trying on a few dresses to see what I liked while we looked at bridesmaids

and flower girl options as well.

My mother-in-law took some pictures.

When my mom found out, she completely flipped out that she hadn't been invited.

The very next day she asked me to meet her at another bridal boutique.

I couldn't get anyone else to come, so it was just me, my husband, ' cause

I didn't mind if he saw the dress, my mom, and my mother-in-law.

I tried on four dresses and liked one, but I wasn't completely sure.

I had only tried on a few overall.

I told my mom it would be fine to put it on hold while I thought about it.

Instead, she walked out and bought it immediately, not because it was my

favorite, but because she wanted to be the first one to spend money on my

wedding before my dad and step-mom could.

My gosh.

Way to make it about you.

Yeah.

Oh my gosh.

Okay.

Eventually, after more back and forth about the venue, s- my dad stepped

in and paid for it so I could keep the wedding at my grandma's house.

A little later, my husband and I flew to my dad's house and

made all our centerpieces, table settings, and decorations ourselves.

I had really bad allergies, so I chose fake flowers.

My favorite flowers are called ca- calla lilies- so we made

beautiful bouquets with them.

My mom found out, and she was furious.

She went out and bought a completely different bouquet made of white roses and

told me roses were the only acceptable flower for my wedding, and if I didn't

use hers, it meant I didn't love her.

Oh

my gosh.

Wild.

Okay.

That pretty much set the tone for everything.

Any time my dad or step-mom contributed something, my mom felt like she had

to do something bigger or override it.

She tried to change everything, the venue, the food, the seating chart, the music.

She even attempted to get the DJ to switch out our ceremony songs.

My God.

She convinced me to use a specific bakery for the cake, but the day

before the wedding, I found out they couldn't fulfill the order.

I had to run to the grocery store and buy a cake.

It wasn't a huge deal for me, but still frustrating.

For the rehearsal dinner, we kept it simple.

We ordered specialty pizzas from our favorite local place for everyone.

Most people loved it, but apparently my in-laws were upset because they

thought it made them look cheap since they believed the groom's family should

be hosting something more formal.

I had pizza at mine.

The night before the wedding, all bridesmaids stay at my grandma's house

so we could get ready in the morning since the venue was about 55 minutes

away and the ceremony was at 11:00 AM.

Even though there were four bedrooms, my mom took one of the beds, and I ended

up sleeping on the air mattress in the living room with my husband's cousin.

Wow

Oh my gosh, this is like the mom's day.

no one offered to switch, then everyone kept partying even though

we had to wake up at 5:00 AM.

The next morning, everyone overslept, which put us behind schedule.

My sisters and one of my close friends had offered to do hair

and makeup as their gift to me.

My friend, who was amazing at makeup, stayed the night to do mine, but she

woke up with angry messages from her boyfriend, who had already shown up

uninvited to the rehearsal dinner.

Oh, gosh.

She was so stressed that she left early.

Wait, so she promised to do hair and makeup, and she's like, "Sorry."

Gosh.

she left early, so one of my sisters had to take over doing hair and

makeup for everyone, including me.

It all turned out great, but it made me even more behind.

Originally, my mom was supposed to do my hair, but since she woke

up late, she told me, "I can't do your hair because as the mother of

the bride, I need to look my best."

Don't have time for both.

This is… It's, like, comical.

Okay.

The wedding was early because we were leaving the same day for a 10-hour drive

to catch a cruise the next morning.

Oh, my… That is stressing me out.

for photos, my oldest sister offered to take them as her gift.

She studied photography in college but wasn't a professional.

No, no.

I'm

like, no, don't do that.

I've heard so many horror

stories I feel like she's gonna not be available.

I know.

I'm just like, I know you want, people in your family to help, but sometimes

it's just not the best option.

Yeah, or you-

No, ' cause they're helping because they're, like, it's free or cheap,

but at the same time, they don't have the experience or they're gonna

be Period.

You're the most unreliable group I've ever heard of.

Yes.

People just dipping out last second.

My gosh, that would stress me out.

I sent her a list of shots I wanted.

Also, how is a sister gonna be a part of the wedding, be

there for you, and take photos?

Like, that just… You can't be- Yeah … all those places.

Yeah, and she did the hair.

Oh, yeah.

Is that the same sister that did the hair?

Yeah.

We need clarification.

How many sisters does she have?

Yeah, how many sisters?

yeah, she just says, "One of my sisters took over hair and makeup,"

and then her oldest, so I don't know where the, all these sisters are.

Oh my gosh, wild.

but apparently we didn't take enough photos with my mother-in-law.

She had a meltdown during the reception over it.

Then after we got back from our honeymoon, she demanded to see photos we didn't

even take, and when we explained, she didn't speak to us for months.

And

that's the

mother-in-law.

Mm-hmm.

So now we have issues with the mother-in-law.

that's the thing too, it's like when you have someone, like, already in the family

doing, like, one of the vendor jobs, then they're split multiple ways, and

they're not, taking it as a serious job.

Not saying she did or didn't.

I think the mother-in-law probably would have been upset either way.

But at least that way it's like, okay, the vendor, it's their

job, they're a professional.

This way I'm just like, how is she gonna be in pictures and a part of the day then?

As I was leaving for the reception for our honeymoon, I changed into a party dress,

and my maid of honor came up, took back her veil, which was fine, and walked away.

Later, while posting photos, I realized she had blocked me on social media.

I never found out why.

What?

Years

later, she randomly added me again like nothing happened.

I need to know more about that.

Yeah.

So it sounds like she borrowed her maid of honor's veil, because she

said- Yeah … she took back her veil, and then she was like, "Yeah, bye."

Yeah.

So something must have happened.

my mom also threw a fit when I said I only wanted my dad to walk me down the aisle.

She insisted on being included, so I ended up walking with both

of them, which took away from the special moment I wanted with my dad.

See, that's- Oh … kinda like, give them an inch, they'll take a mile.

So if you give her that moment because she's begging for it, then

it's like, it's not your day then.

you're handing it over to her, basically.

This clearly wasn't this girl's day.

Oh, yeah.

From the get-go, it sounds like the mom wanted everything about her.

Her venue, her this, That's, I hate when that happens, 'cause it's like

then they look back and they're like, "Cool. I caved because she just wouldn't

stop," but what good does that do?

and of course I had to carry the rose bouquet she bought.

I used the one I made for the bouquet toss later.

So she let her mom, like, win.

Yes.

Yeah.

she also bragged to everyone about how much money she spent on the wedding.

More than my dad and step-mom, which wasn't even true.

Like, why?

Mm-hmm.

Why?

despite everything, the reception itself was actually really fun.

We had a photo booth, the dancing was great, and the food was good.

By the end of the night, though, I was completely exhausted and

just ready for it to be over.

Then we got in the car, drove 10 hours to the cruise port, arrived

at 4:00 a.m., and immediately agreed that next time we would just fly.

Honestly, it felt like a full-on wedding circus Oof.

I'm exhausted reading that.

That is wild.

It makes me think that, like, in my book I talk about, having babies and taking

away the pacifier and doing all those things basically trains you for big kids.

taking away the pacifier is the same thing as, dropping them off at college, right?

This is like wedding is the same shit that she's gonna have in her marriage.

she's going to have issues with the mother-in-law.

She's gonna have issues with her mom.

it's like all the things that she needed to do in the wedding to be

happy, healthy, and free, she's going to learn the hard way along the way.

It's just showing her this is gonna be a problem.

Imagine when she has a kid-

Oh

my- … and she has a baby shower or a first birthday.

she is going to have the same scenario for her whole life

until she puts her foot down.

100%, yes.

This was, like, the teaser into what she can

expect.

Totally.

Yeah Totally.

It's that moment of, like, that power dynamic of, the controlling mom or

the, mother-in-law that's gonna just, maybe victimize herself a little.

Like, "Oh, I'm not in enough pictures," you know?

And so,

When this girl is thinking about the dad's money.

she's like, "I don't want him to have to spend too much

money." She's like a doormat.

I guarantee this is the dynamic she has in her life in all relationships.

Mm-hmm.

Yes.

Yeah.

That's kinda what I'm getting too.

And you make a really good point, like, if they choose to have children or if any

kind of big life moment, especially the mom, is going to try to insert herself.

I had a therapist on yesterday that I was talking with and she was like,

someone like that, you have to just, constantly say your boundary and then,

be like, "If you do X, we're gonna do Y," and be, like, done with it.

Because someone like this, you used the bouquet that she wanted you to use.

You, kind of allowed her to take- Yes … control.

And so it sounds like she-

You walked down the aisle with her.

Yes, she g- walked down

the aisle And, like, here's the thing.

Everybody knows the dad walks you down the aisle.

Like, you don't have to do it that way.

Right.

But it's not like it's some weird concept.

Yes.

To get upset that she wants to walk with her dad, that's a clear, like, issue

that the mom has with the dad still.

Obviously, the whole thing was about who spent more money.

That's a very, very selfish mom, period.

I mean, my mom is evacuating in a thong, This woman is

forcing herself down the aisle,

That's tough.

I'm grateful I don't have that mom.

Yes.

Yeah.

So if this person that sent this in is listening, start the boundaries now.

You can't- You can't please- You can't cave with those.

Yeah

… and you can only give what you have.

She's gonna probably have kids and parent them and teach them things, and

the first lesson will be by learning herself how to have boundaries.

Because you can't teach somebody how to have boundaries if you

don't know how to have them.

So let this all be a lesson of what is to come.

I feel like, and I don't know if you can say the same, but like I

feel like once I became a mom, I became much better at boundaries too.

Because like I always call myself a recovering people pleaser.

Like as I got older, like I've gotten better and better.

But there's something about like teaching my daughter, like, okay,

it's okay to like take up space.

It's okay to do this.

And I was like, oh, I have to protect her now, so like I need to show her.

I feel like it was my responsibility, kinda like what you were just saying,

is like It's not just me anymore, right?

So it's like I felt- Right … like this new responsibility of okay,

I need to teach her important boundaries now while she's a toddler

so that- Mm-hmm … you know, she can instill that when she's older.

'Cause I feel like I didn't have… Like, when I was

younger, I was just like, " Okay.

Oh, sorry.

Sorry, I'm taking up space.

Oh, yeah, you can do this," even though I didn't, don't want that, you know?

So.

Yeah.

Life's always about a bunch of lessons.

I was the opposite.

I've always been the one taking up the space, and so I had to learn through my

wedding that I should've adhered to this person not wanting me to use the dress.

So if you're, brave enough, you just take every life's experience and you

try and learn from it, 'cause it's- Mm-hmm … all guiding you to be your

best self, And this poor woman, bless her heart, she's got a long journey ahead.

Yes, yes.

I… Definitely.

everything's a lesson, so hopefully this was, like, her big moment of

Okay, here's what I would've changed.

Here's how moving forward I'm going to react or respond to

people like this in my life," so.

And also, if she does listen to this, I will say I had a second wedding.

At my one-year anniversary, we redid our wedding.

It was small and quaint, but we redid it.

And, I think she should too, and I don't think she should listen to one person

about how they're gonna do it, even if she and her husband just do something small.

That's

a- But I think she should redo it.

That's a great idea, and just fully make it about them and their marriage-

Yep … and anymore, even if they don't tell anybody, even if they just

show up.

Yeah, or even she could just let the dad come and walk down

the aisle the way she wanted to.

Yes.

That's a great…

Yeah.

I feel like, because, yeah, a lot of these stories, I feel like anyone, and

this might be a blanket statement, but for the most part when people email me

and they're unhappy about something, it's because they caved in some way.

Like, if the mom was like, "No, you need to get married here.

Don't elope.

Do this," or, " Don't have a big wedding. Elope." And, like, if they

listen to someone other than their partner or themselves, they're usually

kinda disappointed when they look back.

And so I feel- Yeah … like if you really just, do, like, some kind of redo, and

so it's like- Yeah … a special moment.

I love that idea.

So hopefully when you guys did yours, it was much more smooth and-

Yeah.

Yeah.

There was no water, nothing You know- Oh my god … it was great.

Good.

And I had the baby at that point, so

yeah, they gotta b- be a part of it too then.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Awesome.

Well, thank you so much for coming on.

I don't think anything will top that.

That was a wild story.

And to hear it firsthand made it, like, so much more, entertaining,

but also, like, the shock value.

of course, where can everybody follow you, find more of your content, and then any

updates on your book coming out as well?

Yeah, so my book will come out, in probably April 2027, so we still have,

like, 10 months really to ramp up to that.

you can find me on Instagram @keeshawscott, which

is K-E-E-S-H-A-W Scott.

And, my website is keeshascott.com.

Awesome.

Well, thanks so much for coming on.

It was so great officially meeting you.

Thank you.

I love this concept.

Great job.

Thanks.