My mate never contributed a penny to my wedding, and now shes asking me to turn up at hers.
Emily and James tied the knot a year back. Both sets of parents threw a lavish ceremony, determined that it should be topnotch because the bride and groom were each the only child of their families. The youngsters idea of a simple barbecue after the vows was dismissed outright; the mothers were dreaming of a grand affair with a white dress, a horsedrawn carriage and all the trimmings.
Realising a proper reception was inevitable, the families took charge of the preparations. There was a list of tasks: nailcare, hair, buying the wedding dress and the tux, plus countless other details. The parents agreed to foot every expense except the brides gown and the grooms suit. They booked the finest restaurant in London, selected a bouquet for Emily, and arranged for the grooms mothers friend a seasoned pastry chef to bake the cake.
The guest list was compiled with meticulous care; the parents wanted every relative, even those they hadnt spoken to in years. Their justification was that wealthy guests could afford generous gifts, and the cash they received would go towards a car or a deposit on a house. After a heated debate they decided to omit the most distant kin. A few relatives slipped out with plausible excuses, leaving mainly the couples close friends on the final list.
On the wedding day the weather was brilliant, despite a forecast of morning showers. Emily looked stunning in a silk gown embroidered with delicate lace. Jamess bride was simply radiant, and he couldnt keep his eyes off her all day. The celebration was pure joy. The photographer, eager to earn his fee, snapped away tirelessly, while the guests buzzed in anticipation of the banquet.
When the photo session wrapped, the newlyweds stepped into a pristine white carriage and made their way to the restaurant. Champagne flowed like a river and congratulations were poured out in abundance. Gifts arrived mostly as envelopes stuffed with cash. The couple had warned their guests beforehand that they only wanted money, yet a few pensioners couldnt resist and handed over a blanket, some bedding and a set of plates.
The threetiered cake, adorned with luxurious icing, fresh flowers and edible pearls, impressed even the most discerning attendees. The wedding was an elegant affair. Only in the early hours of the morning did the weary guests start to drift home, while the newlyweds retired to a prebooked hotel suite.
The following day, when Emily visited her parents, her mother told her that one of the envelopes was empty. She added that the envelope had supposedly come from the brides close friend, Sophie. Identifying the culprit was easy unlike the other envelopes, this one bore no name. Emily felt sick to her stomach.
Things were made worse by the fact that, before the wedding, Sophie had insisted that it was no longer customary to give less than a thousand pounds to the newlyweds and had promised to support Emily financially.
Just under a year later, Sophie herself walked down the aisle, and she invited Emily and her husband to her reception. She promptly reminded her friend to hand over the money, expecting that the cash would cover the costs with a little left over. Emily and her husband were left scratching their heads. Emily suggested that her husband hand her an empty envelope, just as Sophie had done. He proposed giving a larger sum to embarrass her. Their mother advised Emily to slip only the minimum amount into the envelope, so she wouldnt have to reveal what she knew about Sophies trick, leaving no ground for revenge.
Now the wedding is looming again, and Emily still cant decide what to do.
