I keep going back and forth on this, but the time has come when I really need to make a decision.A good friend of mine from college is getting married outside of London on Saturday, August 15 (with festivities also taking place on Sunday, the 16th). I just started a federal government job last Monday, and will be in very regimented training for the first 4-5 months. Thus, we are strongly discouraged from taking time off these first few months.To fly out for both days of events, the flight would be around $1100, and I could leave Friday evening and come back on Monday, missing one day of work. To be there for Saturday (and I should note that the ceremony is private anyhow), it would be around $1200 and I wouldn't have to miss any work BUT I'd have to spend pretty much all of my weekend on an airplane. All of our other friends from college are going for at least a week, and they are all renting a beach house together after the wedding. At most, I could be there on the 15th and 16th, and $1100+ is kind of hard to justify for such a short trip. Especially when I haven't been paid yet, and I've been out of work since the beginning of March. I really would love to go, but I don't want to make myself stand out in a negative light at work, and I don't want to ask for the time off, especially since we've been told to really try not to ask for it in the beginning.I just got married two months ago, and she came to my wedding, although the trip was combined with other stops in the States (such as her mom's 60th birthday party in NY, and wedding dress fittings in Chicago).Sorry this came out so long! What would you do? Would you ask for a day off at work, against your supervisor's wishes? Or would you suck it up and pay $1200 plus travel expenses to be there for one day? Or would you stay home and send a really nice gift...? Your advice is appreciated.