Your wedding day is supposed to be the most personal, joy-filled event of your life—a day you get to share on your terms, with the people you choose. So when I opened my phone and saw my wedding photos splashed across my cousin Madison’s engagement page, I felt a strange mix of disbelief and betrayal.
Madison had gotten engaged a few weeks earlier. We were close growing up, but over the years our relationship had become more distant, mostly connected through social media. I was happy for her, and I’d even sent her a few of my favorite wedding shots after she’d asked for “inspiration.” What I didn’t expect was to see those exact photos—me and my husband cutting the cake, my dress glimmering in the sunlight, our friends on the dance floor—shared on her engagement announcement page with a caption: “Can’t wait for a day just like this!”
The Shock of Public Sharing
Within hours, friends and even distant relatives were messaging me. “Did you know your wedding photos are on Madison’s page?” “Why is she using pictures of your wedding for her engagement?” It felt like my memories had been borrowed—turned into someone else’s preview reel without permission.
I reached out to Madison. “Hey, I noticed you posted our wedding photos. Would you mind taking them down? I’d like those to stay private, or at least only on our pages.” She replied, a little defensive: “I thought they’d be good inspiration! Everyone loved your wedding, and I wanted to show what I hope for my own.”
But that wasn’t the point. Those photos were my memories, not hers to share publicly for her own celebration.
The Conversation That Needed to Happen
I called Madison, trying to explain how it felt to see my special day repurposed. “I’m glad you want a day as beautiful as ours, but those photos are personal. Please ask before sharing next time.” She apologized, saying she hadn’t thought it through, and quickly took the photos down.
What I Learned
Even with family, boundaries matter. I learned it’s okay to speak up when your memories are used without your consent. The moments that mean the most to us are ours to share on our own terms, and protecting those boundaries doesn’t make you petty—it makes you empowered.
Madison and I patched things up, but I now think twice before sending personal photos, even to people I trust.
Final Thought
If someone shares your wedding or private photos for their own announcement, don’t be afraid to ask for respect. Your memories are yours to celebrate, and it’s your right to decide how—and where—they’re shared.
