Who had right of way here?

[Thistledew]

Couple got married at a venue that was also open to the public at the same time. They wanted to pose for photos in an archway that led from one part of the public area to another. People were wanting to pass through the archway and there was no close by alternative route. One of the members of the public wanting to pass through was a woman with a rather fractious toddler.

Who should have had the 'right of way', so to speak?

Should the woman with the toddler waited until the photos were finished or should the couple have stepped aside and allowed people through?

Sounds like the bride and groom were in an area that was open to the public rather than for their exclusive use so I’d say the public (woman and toddler) were entitled to go through. Having said that, if it was a quick pic, they could have waited until the bride and groom had finished. But ultimately if they’re in a public area, they’ve no right to stop people using the archway.

The couple should always offer to step aside, they were not using the public space for the purpose intended.

Most people would however allow a photo - but not photos to finish - but certainly in situations with fractious children making their need of the public space possibly even more important, it's even more important to let them through.

They should have let people through. I think it's fine to finish taking a photo that is already set up if it's only going to be a few seconds longer, but you can't block the only way somewhere and not let people get to where they need to go. I'd happily wait for one photo to finish being taken, but I'd think they were pretty rude if they were taking multiples and changing setup etc.

Either move when needed or have your photos somewhere less disruptive. That's the compromise!

There's no right answer here. Give and take on both sides is required.

Depends if it was one photo (woman should wait) or multiple photos (B&G should step aside).

Neither had "right of way" if it's a public place. I'd have let the people through if I was part of the couple so they could get on their way, and I could relax while I was 'posing'. Likewise, if I was the woman with the toddler I'd politely ask if we could pass and get out the way of being in their photo. Don't see how this was an issue really.

Seriously? It's a wedding day. They're wanting lovely photos that will (hopefully) last a lifetime and gone to massive expense presumably with professional photographer. And somewhere will probably have guests waiting and a timetable for the day. Not saying they couldn't have stood aside but presumably there would be others coming through too. Noone has "right of way" I presume but surely mother and toddler, just there on an ordinary day out (and generalisation but mother is likely to have had a wedding day and will understand all of the above) can find another way out whilst couple have photos taken?!

If they were that bothered about wedding day book a private venue they had no right to hog public space that way and inconvenience people for anything longer than one photo in my view

Public space, neither have right of way as such.

The couple didn't book exclusive use of the area, so extra time should have been added to the photo schedule to allow for other people being there. However, even with a toddler in tow, most people would have the courtesy to stop and wait while a single photo is taken.

No one in a public space has a “right” of way.

But you know - It’s a wedding. Most nice people would have stood aside, smiled at a happy couple, and gosh maybe even congratulated them!

It’s a wedding - spread the love.

A fractious toddler can be distracted, or led away.

One photo then let people through

Depends how long the photos took, but a bit annoying of the couple to block the path of everyone else - does this happen a lot at this venue? If someone toddler was really unhappy it would have been wise to step aside for a moment and let them past because it wouldn't take long.

I'm guessing you are the toddler wrangler, OP?

If they were that bothered about wedding day book a private venue they had no right to hog public space that way and inconvenience people for anything longer than one photo in my view

^I agree

Bit disappointed - thought this was a driving one. Actually clicked on it muttering "I hope there's a diagram"!!

I’d wait for a few photos, but also in a public place I wouldn’t expect to wait to the point where I was late or my children had gone past the distractible point.

Posing in an archway in a public space that is the only way to pass between two areas is a bit daft if you don’t want to be disturbed. Whilst weddings are special, they also don’t put the rest of the world on hold. B&G need to chill out really if they want to use a public space. Taking it further, I could t for example expect to go to a tourist hotspot in London and expect to move crowds for a photo shoot for a wedding could I? I personally chose a pretty but simple garden for photos and not to have the moment with just us.

Neither had right if way. Both had right to use the access. B&G however didn’t not have the right to block it.

Tbh- they should have booked a private area for photos.

As PP have said it depends how long was needed for the photos. If it was one shot to wait and then the woman and toddler could pass then it would be nice of them to do so. If the B&G knew it would take a while it would be nice of them to let toddler through first. There is no right of way just a bit of respect needed for others sharing the space.

Interesting split of replies.

I was the toddler wrangler. At first, I didn't really work out what was going on as I had no idea there was a wedding going on. My first thought was just that they were models having a photo shoot as I had no idea that there was an actual wedding in the grounds. The couple had just arranged themselves in the archway when I tried to get through and as DS was doing his best to flop on the floor and escape I wasn't really paying attention to what they might be doing.

They rather huffily moved aside to let me past and when I muttered a brief "thanks" - not really clocking what was going on as I was distracted by DS- I got a very sarcastic "thank you so much" from the bride. They obviously thought that I was desperately unreasonable in wanting to get past.

It's not a big issue - it just came into my mind today and I wondered if I had been terribly rude by not waiting to get where I needed to go.

Ah she needs to get over herself. She stepped aside, hardly a blight on her day!

You had right of way, but if I were you I would have waited.

I think, if I’d been the couple, I’d have thought you quite rude and thoughtless. It sounds as though you just pushed on past them. It was their wedding day.

You should have waited a moment or two whilst they had that shot taken, then they should have moved aside for you to pass before setting up for more photos.