The Awkward Wedding

I made the long journey home this weekend to attend the wedding of an old friend. She dates back to the beginning of my education. We did K-OAC (for those that know what that is) together and then went our separate ways. We still kept in touch through our post-secondary lives and even into full on adulthood. It got spottier after school ended but we still try and look at each other in person at least once every twenty four months. Which can be a bit of a challenge based on schedules and geography. But we were pretty close in high school. I had a crush on two of her close friends and she admittedly had a crush on me at one point but all that was decades ago so it was with some reluctance that I accepted her invitation. She had made it clear to me that it was important that I attend so I said I would, having done so over a year ahead of the actual event. I assumed she might have had some kind of fix-up planned. As the months flew by I worried more and more about what I would face when I got there. People I've fallen out of touch with or maybe people that purposely left me behind. I figured that it was going to be interesting. When I talked about the wedding and how I wouldn't know that many people there, the reaction of most people was to turn tail and skip out. But I'd given my word and I do my best to keep it. So I drove up there alone and nervous. During the morning of the big day I was kept very busy with the odd jobs my parents seem to accumulate for when I go home. I was able to shower, get ready, create my own custom wedding card and be at the venue about twenty minutes before. I knew beforehand that the audience would not feature many familiar faces but even I wasn't prepared for what I walked into. I only knew a handful of people and they all paid me no mind. I've never felt more out of place. It was physically uncomfortable. I tried to say hello to the father of certain sisters I used to be close with but he turned away and ignored my salutation. So I gave in and just witnessed the whole thing from the outskirts. It felt almost like I was watching a movie of the whole event. I'd never met a soul on the groom's side, including the groom! When it was over, and they had walked out to the Game of Thrones theme (which was awesome) they went straight into pictures and the guests were told to meet at the reception. So I waited for a few older guests to scurry off and then I made my way home. I was feeling so uncomfortable and snubbed that for a moment I considered not going to the reception. But I'm not one to shy away from an awkward moment, so I freshened up and got a ride up there. I sat with another good male friend of the bride who didn't know many people there either. We were at the table with the bride's parents. The bride hugged me when I got there and was so glad I was there. It was much better than the ceremony for me personally. We had a nice buffet meal and then had to clear all the wine glasses and move tables so the dance could begin. Once the bar re-opened I went to work. I only spent $40 but it was well worth it. I even danced with the bride a couple of times. Most of my night was spent staring at the floor ten feet in front of me while I sat back and cradled my drink, or at the back near the bar slamming a beer so I could get another one before returning to my quiet chair on the edge of the dance floor. I had my parents pick me up at ten after I had put away a couple double and triple rye and gingers. We went home and I joined them in watching a couple episodes of Game of Thrones. It was an adventure. But there would be more to come in the near future.