The traditional wedding season is not long from running its course this summer (and get ready to put your white pants and shoes away while you're at it) but I have some advice for you anyway as some of your "cheapskate" friends will sneak a wedding in during a fall or winter month. Whenever the wedding may be held, you should strongly consider going stag.
Ahhh, summer has finally arrived. And with the long, lazy days and super-hot temperatures comes another seasonal staple: Weddings! Excited yet? Well, you should be. All you really need is the perfect outfit. Yes, there are nuptial-attire rules, but they're not that hard to master. (I can totally help. Just read on.)
You know you'd never invite the horrible ex that broke your heart to your wedding, or the raving psycho who is still trying to get your fiancé back in bed, but what about those in between? Those men and women who are actually friends, even though you used to knock boots? Should you invite them to your wedding?
Weddings are inspirational: they rouse us to meditate on our own love stories, to feel our hearts swell as our friends find their life partners, and to wonder "When do we start drinking?" If thought bubbles could appear above the heads of wedding guests, here's what they might say.
Give your friends a gift that doesn't have an obvious monetary value. In other words, resist the urge to write them a check in the amount of $54.25 even if it shows you're down to your last dollar. Instead, seek out registry items that pack a good punch. A miniature crystal vase doesn't carry as much weight as say, an oversized overnight bag. Luggage is a great gift for guests on a budget and if you can find it on sale, even better.
Weddings may be all about the details, but gone are the days when fretting over minor points was constricted to the colors of candied almonds and what dresses the bridesmaids will wear. The New York Times reported this weekend some couples now dictate what guests should wear. Everyone knows never to wear white to a wedding, but now some guests are instructed on their wedding invites not to wear outfits that will clash with the flowers, candles... and other guests. Couples are asking friends and fam to wear all white, or pastels, for example, presumably so no one clashes in photos.
All of you would be wedding guests know that attending a wedding can be stressful. Wedding etiquette demands that your attention remain focused on the bride, but what about the pressure it puts on you and your budding relationship? Tango investigates. "Any bride will tell you—at great length—how stressful it is to plan a wedding. But what about the guests? Rarely does anyone acknowledge their pain. Every year there are around 2.2 million weddings in the United States, and roughly 300,000 weddings here in the U.K. Multiply that by the length of the average guest list—about 200, in both countries—to get a sense of just how many of us go through the familiar routine: pick main course, pick present, pick outfit, pick date. If you’re in a serious relationship, the last choice is already made for you, but you can still find yourself picking—at each other. The truth is that these lovely, sacred events—opportunities for voyeuristic romance and, hopefully, some amour of your own—often wreak havoc on relationships that are, shall we say, at the tipping point."
