In case you haven’t noticed, lists are taking over the Internet, whether we like it or not. One thing I’ve observed about this numerical revolution is how often the topics are all about what not to say, what never to do, why everyone hates (fill in the blank…). A lot of them are funny, but after a while it all leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Lately, I’ve noticed an increase in anti-wedding lists. Apparently, a large portion of the population lives in perpetual fear of wedding season. If I consider this through a cynical lens, I can concede that weddings can maybe feel like obligations, but I would never consider weddings through a cynical lens. From the time I was a little girl waiting for my mom to return from weddings with a fully detailed report of the decor, cake, bride, groom, toasts, dancing, and kissing, I have loved these events. I love them for what they symbolize: hope, commitment, family, partnership, and you know… love.
I don’t want weddings to ever go away.
And now thirty-seven states in the US of A have legalized gay marriage (with hopefully all the states to come!), which means more love, more commitment, more hope, more weddings. Color me excited and grateful to be alive to witness this progression of acceptance. More legal means more weddings! In the interest of celebration, optimism, and lists, I present to you eleven Reasons Wedding Season Is Actually The Best.
1. Playing Dress Up: Adulthood offers little in the way of getting dressed up just for fun (because putting on a suit for job interviews is… not). And now that I’m an adult, I actually get to pick out my own outfits (no matching pastels for this girl, thanks). Wedding season equals summer equals Memorial Day Sales. Sun dresses and cocktail dresses and sassy jumpsuits and summer ties; hello, Fancy Pants.
2. But also, you’re not the center of attention! After a few wedding weekends in a row, I realized no one was looking at me. I went to a wedding two weeks ago in a dress I grabbed from my mom’s closet because I hadn’t packed with the nuptials in mind; no one noticed or cared, trust me. No make-up? All The Makeup? Yes and yes.
3. It’s as close to college as you’re ever going to get again. Two words: open bar. I’ll admit that there was a reception at which I consumed… let’s say… a little more white wine, champagne, margarita, and kamikaze cocktail than I probably should have, especially because I was definitely not in college anymore. But when I’m not going overboard, weddings are a fantastic excuse to catch up with old friends, drink Malibu and Coke, and dance like no one is watching.
4. Say Cheese! Weddings are the best, and only, chance I get to update my Facebook profile. (I’ll never be good at selfies.)
5.
Hello, hors d’oeuvres. People just hand us food, over and over again.
For free.
6.Practice makes perfect. Another wedding? Just another excuse to practice my Salsa moves, or demonstrate that I never did forget the steps to “Bye, Bye, Bye.”
7. “I’m doing fantastic, obviously.” When I run into my ex-boyfriends and high school nemesis, it better be when I’m looking fantastic and showing off my killer dance moves (see number 6).
8.None of these weddings are your wedding. Before I ever planned a wedding, I took silent notes of what I wanted and didn’t want, what worked and didn’t work. Real weddings are better than any stylized magazine shoot. After my own wedding, I could relax and appreciate how much work goes into these events and admire the details for the amount of hours people must have stayed up the night before to perfect them. Knowing how hard it can be also motivates me to volunteer my services whenever possible; I’m a pro with a glue gun.
9. Mason jars, match books, and other pretty things. Not only do weddings provide me with the opportunity to travel, visit old friends, eat and drink and dance for free, but I come home with souvenirs too? What is not to love?!
10. It’s, like, how celebrities live. The more weddings in a single summer, the less plans I have to come up with on my own. I don’t have to choose between my neighbors’ dog birthday party or my boss’s Paint Night; sorry, I’ve got to go celebrate love!
11. Maybe we’re not doomed. More often than not, I feel discouraged about the state of our world. Everywhere I turn there is unrest and reason to worry about the environment, about our leaders, about our future. And then, weekend after weekend, I get to witness the most beautiful and optimistic ritual of all. Weddings are a moment when two people are sure of one thing in this ever-changing life: love.
