two down, four to go

I am talking about weddings.

Last year, I thought going to three weddings was nuts. If going to weddings could be measured on a scale determining level of sanity, this year is criminally insane.

Of course I am happy for my friends and relatives. I rather enjoy sitting through wedding ceremonies and I feel privileged getting to witness one of the most important events of my friend's lives. My eyes never fail to moisten during those beautiful moments when I hear then exchange their vows.

It's the whole deal with the attire that bothers me. Dressing for weddings is complicated. Let me explain first of all that most girls will wear a daytime outfit and a nighttime outfit. I am "most girls". But if you're lucky, you might be able to pull off an outfit that will be fabulous enough and will work seamlessly for both day and evening. I am not so lucky.

In fact, three of the weddings will be the same group of people. So repeating the same outfits at these weddings will clearly be a social blunder. Why? Don't even ask me to explain, it's of those things that just is; just like how bread always falls with the buttered side down and the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. This same unspoken logic also dictates that I cannot wear the same outfits I wore last year to the weddings with the same group of people. Now, I am fully aware that it is likely that only the most observant and hawk-eyed fashion conscious females will notice that I wore the same dress - guys, who inexplicably can get away with wearing the same suit to all six weddings, wouldn't. No, I would need to give, at the very least, a two-to-three year window (depending on the color and the style) before I dare to let the dress or outfit reappear into the public eye.

So I was on the phone with Tim the other day, trying to explain my dilemma. "This means I have to buy at least six dresses!" I concluded sadly, after having ranted and raved for the past half hour.

"Well, Ange," he began, with a trace of amusement in his voice, "People probably won't be looking at you, they'll be looking at the bride. Believe it or not, the wedding isn't about you!"

I was momentarily stunned into silence. Then we changed subjects and talked about something else.

But then again, what does a guy, who gets to wear the same suit over and over, know anyway?