“What do you think, madam?”

Penny looked at her with the same expression she used to get her first car. “Mom?”

She nodded at her daughter. “It’s perfect. I love it. We’ll take it. Yes?”

“Yes.”

Neither one of them had asked the price.

“Now, madam, shall we move on to our mother-of-the-bride dress?” Kalliope asked, filling Alexa’s glass with more bubbly.

“Absolutely. Apolýtos,” Alexa agreed, swept up in the romance of it all.

From the Desktop of Dearly Beloveds and Betrotheds

Dear B & Bs . . .

Some weeks, my mailbox resembles group therapy more than wedding etiquette. When that happens, I scuttle my regularly scheduled content for a Very Special Episode of Your Aunt B.

This week’s Group Therapy Topic: Difficult Brides. (No, I won’t call them by the other name, a derivative of that of a very angry prehistoric reptilian monster, because I think that slur is all kinds of misogynistic. And probably other awful things as well.) If you are a Bride-to-Be or identify as the Bride in your coupling, this short list is for you. Please understand, I know that weddings can be stressful. It’s a new life experience that involves a host of skills from budgeting to diplomacy to menu planning to very strong opinions on typography that you might not have previously developed. I am on your side, Brides, giving you a wide berth as you make your way through this virgin territory. (Wink, wink.) I encourage others to do the same, allowing grace for the crazy that may come before that dear sister/friend/cousin walks down the aisle.

That said, you must do your part, Ms. Bride, to minimize the friction and maximize the love. A few rules to bear in mind:

You’re not the first person to be married, and you won’t be the last. Sorry, dear one. You are part of a long tradition that stretches back thousands of years. A wedding is two people committing to each other until death do them part surrounded by the family and friends who will support them on this journey. It’s not really your day. It’s simply a day. If you understand your place in this continuum, you will find the perspective you need to proceed with civility. Honor tradition humbly.

The people you include in your wedding, like your bridesmaids, should hold a special spot in your heart. Respect them and their boundaries. Remember, their primary purpose is to bear witness to your relationship with your future spouse. They don’t work for you. They shouldn’t go broke being your friend. And they are real people with feelings who can only forgive so much. Be kind.