Recently we attended an afternoon wedding. Generally, acceptable attire for summer-afternoon weddings is a floral dress for women and a neutral-colored linen suit for men. 
At this wedding, many of the guests wore their swimsuits. It was a backyard reception with a swimming pool, moon bounce and a meal of pulled pork and corn on the cob.
That was a refreshing change from the kind of weddings my husband and I are used to attending. You see, we're from New Jersey, and the "Jersey Girl Wedding" stereotype is very true. We fell into that trap ourselves, being young and among the first in our crowds to get married. We didn't know that you didn't have to have:
- a live band
- the garter toss
- the bouquet toss
- "the bride cuts the cake"
- the matching bridesmaids' dresses
- the unity candle during the ceremony
- a formal dinner.
We had no idea that in other parts of the country, weddings are celebrated in much different ways. Then we were asked to be part of a wedding in Spokane, WA. I was the musician for the ceremony and my husband was one of the ushers. When we walked into the reception, there was a cocktail hour with hors d'oevres. We didn't eat too many of those, because we were saving room for the big meal to follow.
Then cake was served.
I've never left a wedding reception hungry before; many of us Easterners in the bridal party found a restaurant near our hotel and ordered a big dinner.
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