The wedding reception went off without a hitch. All the decorations were perfect. The bride’s mother’s cookies were the talk of the dessert line. Everyone was in good spirits. The groom streamed smoothly from guest to guest, laughing, smiling, patting backs. After moving on, each guest remarked to the other, “What a charming young man!”

In the midst of the celebration, the groom had become separated from his bride. A smile perpetually plastered on his face, he snuck occasional side glances around the room in search of her. Certainly, she was performing the same song and dance as the groom. One’s guests must feel welcome, appreciated.

Yes the reception was perfect. Well, nearly perfect, the groom lamented to himself. Despite his best efforts and long hours, he’d been unable to save enough money to buy his bride the reception dress she deserved. Not to say the one she was wearing today wasn’t beautiful. The groom assumed his bride had dug it out of the closet without a second thought. She was a most gracious woman. Still, it wasn’t the perfect dress he had picked out.

As the night wore on, guests began to filter out the door, on to the rest of their evenings. The bride and groom’s night, however, was only about to begin. The crowd began to thin and the man spotted his woman. Ah, yes. She was perfect, new dress or not. He politely wrapped up his pleasantries with the guests in front of him and exited, stage right.

Across the room, the bride was engaged in animated conversation with another group of guests. It seemed to the groom as if all the world revolved around her. Even light seemed brighter in her presence. In his stomach, he could feel a fluttering kaleidoscope of butterflies. As he neared, the bride noticed her groom and a nervous, almost surprised smile broke across her face.

“Oh hello. I didn’t expect to see you here.” She was truly such a funny and charming woman. And tonight, their wedding night, he and his bride would finally become one, forever. She just didn’t know it yet.

“Yes, hello. I hoped you might help me with my gift for the happy couple. It’s just outside in my car.” His bride hesitated, looking at her friends looking at her.

“Well, all right.” She gracefully turned from the group and accompanied her groom. As they exited the venue together, dusk had begun to fall. The groom smiled to himself. Yes, it was the perfect reception. And so generous of their mutual friends whose wedding was that day to allow him to use it for his bride as well. Even if they’d been unaware. 

As the new couple approached the man’s car, parked a good distance from the light of the venue, a thought occurred to him. Her dress was actually perfect for this night. He would hate to make a mess of an expensive new one.