Weddings and ink

Being a graduate student is quite a bit busier than one would expect. I am in class eight hours a day and reading the news or doing assignments the other hours I am awake. I'm tired, but not stressed, and alone in my place, but not lonely.

It's all a very good thing!

I also attended the wedding of my roommates Ben and Chelsey this past weekend. It got me thinking about the cultural norms of weddings: a church, a little "Here Comes the Bride" (read: "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner), some blue borrowed new things. It's usually wonderful.

Ben and Chelsey did not do it that way. First of all, they got married on a beach. Chelsey wore white, but she walked down the aisle to Jason Mraz. They cut the cake and shoved it in each other's faces but they didn't make us listen to schmoozy music at dinner. We heard Bright Eyes, Damien Rice and other great indie artists, as well as some classic crooners. 

They also bucked a recent trend: Chels is 22 and Ben is almost 25. They are incredibly young to be getting married. I read that for the first time, 30 is the average age to get married (though I think women still hit about 28). Those numbers make me feel pretty good about where I am, but then again, my friends know they love each other.

And that's comforting.

I would also like to mention that the movies are true - maids of honor hold the bride's dress while she visits the restroom. 

I did that on Saturday night.