Save the date : the occasional mortifications of a serial wedding guest
(Book)

This is an insightful examination of the search for love and the meaning of marriage in a time of anxiety, independence, and indecision. Weddings. They are fun, festive, and joyful, and at a time when people marry later in life, and sometimes not at all, they offer endless opportunities to reexamine love and what we want for ourselves, regardless of whether or not our aim is a walk down the aisle. In this book the author charts the course of her own perennial wedding guesthood, from the ceremony of distant family members when she was eight to the recent nuptials of a new boyfriend's friends. There is the first trip home for a childhood pal's big day, in which she learns that her first love has eloped to Hawaii. There is the destination wedding attended with little baggage beyond a suitcase of strappy sandals and summery party dresses. Regrettably, there is a series of celebrations that mean the end to a valued friendship. There is also the wedding that offers all the promise of new love. Wedding experiences come in as varied an assortment as the gowns at any bridal shop, and the author turns a keen eye to each, delivering a heartfelt exploration of contemporary relationships. Funny, honest, and affecting, this is a fresh and spirited look at the many ways in which we connect to one another.