My friend is getting married next weekend and thank goodness, because her complete lack of etiquette is finally getting to me. It has been a long year. It stinks because I started off being so positive and honored to be a part of this experience, and now I'm just ready for it to be done.
The latest issues:
We bought bridesmaid dresses at a salon 1.5 hours from where we live because the bride liked the salon better than the one 20 minutes away. The dress was 40 dollars more at the salon she wanted, but we went with it to make her comfortable. They butchered our dresses and we had to pay someone else to fix the alterations.
The bride told us that the rehearsal dinner was 325 dollars a plate and that we must be dressed up and gracious to the groom's family. She went on to say that the wedding is 200 dollars a head and she hopes people realize that so their gifts match the costs. We were all so dumbfounded that she was telling us the costs that we couldn't muster up a response. I think I managed an "OK".
The bride emailed us a detailed agenda for the weekend that starts at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon, continues until midnight Friday night, then begins again Saturday morning at 8 am and continues until midnight again. There are specific tasks we are expected to complete. She sent this to us yesterday, one week before the wedding. I'm less annoyed by the presence of a schedule, but instead the mandatory socializing (drinks with the groom's family at 8, drinks with the bride's family at 9, breakfast at 8:10).
She also sent an email asking us to organize snacks for Friday afternoon, for the salon on Saturday morning, a plan for lunch, snacks for the time between the ceremony and the reception, and then a gift basket of snacks and drinks for the honeymoom suite. She put in suggestions of what to purchase.
When I talked to her on Friday, she asked that I bring my gift to her house this week. She asked me to "spread the word" to other people to bring their gifts too because she isn't set up for a gift table at the reception... I asked who I should tell, because maybe some people weren't planning to give a gift (I wasn't actually- I've spent so much on this wedding and I've given several gifts already). She said everyone will give a gift, so tell everyone.
The last straw was the email requesting payment for our hair and makeup by Monday night to her. I wasn't planning on getting my makeup done. I was planning to get my hair done, but she calculated the tip, which I think should be done when we see the work.
Ok sorry for the long vent.... I think I just need to let all this go and try to enjoy the day... try to think of those original thoughts of honor and excitement. I hope I can find them by Friday.