The Unglamorous Side of Weddings: Checking into the HotelThe Unglamorous Side of Weddings: Checking into the Hotel While weddings are often meticulously planned for picture-perfect moments, there’s a less glamorous part that rarely gets captured: checking into the hotel after the festivities have ended. A viral TikTok video by Meredith Gardner (@mere.gardner) shed light on this awkward experience, garnering over 82,000 likes and 750,000 views. In the video, Gardner and her newlywed husband walk through a deserted hotel, still adorned in their wedding attire. “Nobody tells you how awkward it is to walk into your hotel on your wedding night,” she captioned the video. “Nobody in the building except two 12-year-olds and the hotel secretary.” The video sparked relatable comments from viewers who shared their own experiences. Some recalled the awkwardness of checking in late at night in full wedding attire, while others described finding glitter and other remnants of the celebration in their room. Practical advice was also given, such as sending someone to check in early or staying at a family member’s home to avoid the late-night inconveniences. Despite the comical nature of the video, Gardner’s experience highlights a moment of transition for newlyweds. After the excitement and glamour of the wedding, there’s a return to the mundane reality of life together. The video also serves as a reminder of the less-seen moments in life’s milestones, which can often be equally memorable in their own quiet way.
Many organize their weddings to look perfect, but what happens when the cameras stop rolling?
A video posted to TikTok by Meredith Gardner (@mere.gardner) has gone viral after revealing the less glamorous part of weddings that no one talks about: checking into the hotel after everyone has gone home. Since her video was posted on June 20, it has received more than 82,000 likes and more than 750,000 views.
“Nobody tells you how awkward it is to walk into your hotel on your wedding night,” she captioned the video. “Nobody in the building except two 12-year-olds and the hotel secretary.”
The video shows Gardner and her new husband walking through the hotel, still wearing their wedding attire from head to toe. “Our casual clothes,” Gardner captioned the video.
It’s a moment that not many people think about: what happens after the glitz and glamor when you find yourself under those fluorescent lights in the hallway? People in the comments had their own experiences to share. Some even said they brought the glitter.
“My husband’s parents paid for our room that night, so we were already checked in and could go straight up. But the wedding party filled my car with glitter. I feel like the hotel is still cleaning up,” wrote @ artisticcut.
“We loved it!” @zoey.eb14 wrote. “We got a free major upgrade because they were so happy to see the newlyweds.”
Others gave more practical advice, such as sending people to someone to check in or even staying at someone’s home.
“Always make sure a bridesmaid or page boy goes to the hotel after dinner so you’re checked in and have the key,” advises @madders19.
Galina Zhigalova/Getty Images
Gardner wrote in the comments that while they could have stayed at one of their parents’ homes, which was not far from the venue, the two opted not to spend their “first married sleepover together” in a double bed. Their family members seemed to agree: When the newlyweds arrived at the hotel, they found that their loved ones had upgraded them to a nicer room.
It turns out that the walk to the room was just the beginning of the long process of falling asleep after the wedding.
“When we got to our room, my new husband and I spent 30 minutes trying to get all the hair clips out of my hair,” @allieally2 shared, with Gardner adding that she spent quite a bit of time detangling her hair that evening.
Even though the night was a bit long and awkward for Gardner and her husband, some could speak of the small moment of elation hotel workers feel when witnessing someone else’s piece of celebration.
“As a receptionist, helping newlyweds and wedding parties is the most fun part of my job,” wrote @jeepers_peeps.
Newsweek reached out to @mere.gardner for comment via TikTok.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
