My Best Friend Gave Me the Wrong Dress Code for Her Wedding – I Decided to Outplay Her Smartly

My Best Friend Gave Me the Wrong Dress Code for Her Wedding – I Decided to Outplay Her Smartly

When Emily’s friend, Elle, gets engaged to her boyfriend, Brian, she is completely over the moon. Emily does everything she can to help Elle plan her dream wedding. But then Elle starts acting secretive and gives Emily a wedding invite with the incorrect dress code. Thankfully, a mutual colleague gives Emily the correct details, allowing her to show up to the wedding to teach Elle a lesson.

“I’m engaged, Em!” Elle said, rushing through my door while I was sitting on the couch and reading a book.

A woman reading on a couch | Source: Unsplash

A woman reading on a couch | Source: Unsplash

“What?” I exclaimed, standing up to hug her tightly. “I’m so happy for you, my girl!”

Elle sat down on the couch and showed me her hand.

“Look at this rock!” she said.

A close-up of an engagement ring | Source: Unsplash

A close-up of an engagement ring | Source: Unsplash

Of course, I was over the moon for her. We’d been through so much together, and now it was her turn to walk down the aisle.

For my wedding, a few years ago, Elle had been right by my side. She helped me plan every little detail, from the font on my wedding invitations to the menu selections.

“It’s more like you and Elle are getting married,” my husband, Grant, laughed one evening when I told him everything that Elle and I had planned.

A laughing man | Source: Unsplash

A laughing man | Source: Unsplash

“Well, she’s been around longer than you,” I replied, showing him the mockup for our wedding invitations.

And it was true, Elle and I had been friends since our childhood, having lived on the same street and gone to the same kindergarten together.

We shared every major milestone, from awkward teenage years to college graduation, together.

Two women lying on a bed | Source: Pexels

Two women lying on a bed | Source: Pexels

We even ended up working at the same company, making sure to have lunch and tea breaks together every day.

So, naturally, I expected her to be just as involved in her wedding planning as she was in mine.

“Brian and I don’t want to be engaged for too long,” she said one day at the office while we were having tea and pastries.

An office kitchen | Source: Unsplash

An office kitchen | Source: Unsplash

“So, we’re planning for the wedding to be in a few months.”

“That’s a lot to do in a few months, Elle,” I said, sipping my tea.

“I know,” she agreed. “But you’ll help me!”

A woman drinking from a mug | Source: Pexels

A woman drinking from a mug | Source: Pexels

As the weeks went by, Elle asked me for advice on the venue, the dance, and the flowers.

“I need it to be perfect, Em,” she said. “Brian and I are the only children of our parents, so this is the only chance they’re going to get to be parents of the bride and groom.”

A smiling older couple | Source: Midjourney

A smiling older couple | Source: Midjourney

I helped her wherever I could. I booked visits of stunning venues that she could see. I booked her appointment with the florist who had done all the flowers at my wedding. And I arranged for her to meet my choreographer for her first dance with Brian.

“I don’t know how I could have done any of this without you,” Elle said, holding my hand.

Two women holding hands | Source: Midjourney

Two women holding hands | Source: Midjourney

But that’s not the best part of this story.

Despite our shared history and all the assistance I had given Elle throughout her wedding planning process, she didn’t tell me anything about the actual wedding.

“I want to keep the location a secret,” she said sheepishly, a small smile on her face. “I want it to be a surprise. So, you’ll know when the invites come out.”

A close-up of a smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

A close-up of a smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

And yet, when the invitations came out, I never received mine.

“Darling,” I asked Grant when I got home one day. “Did Elle’s wedding invitation come in the post?”

“No,” he said, looking up from his tablet. “Shouldn’t she have just given it to you?”

A man using a tablet | Source: Midjourney

A man using a tablet | Source: Midjourney

“I thought so, but I’m not sure where our invitation is.”

“Ask her, love,” my husband said.

I was puzzled, but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

A close-up of a surprised woman | Source: Midjourney

A close-up of a surprised woman | Source: Midjourney

So, I asked her directly.

“Oh, right,” she said, looking a bit uncomfortable. “I must have forgotten. I don’t have any on me at the moment, but I’ll bring one for you tomorrow!”

The next day, Elle handed me an invite. To my surprise, the dress code was “Mermaid.”

A wedding invitation on a table | Source: Midjourney

A wedding invitation on a table | Source: Midjourney

“Like the cartoon character?” I said aloud.

It seemed bizarre, but Elle had always loved that cartoon, so I tried to rationalize it.

“Maybe she’s going for a whimsical theme?” I muttered, thinking about a mermaid-themed wedding.

An imagined mermaid-themed wedding | Source: Midjourney

An imagined mermaid-themed wedding | Source: Midjourney

But still, I planned my outfit for Elle’s wedding.

It was about a week before the wedding when our colleague, Jane, and I were standing outside during one of our tea breaks and chatting.

“I’m actually looking forward to getting all dressed up,” Jane said. “It’s been a while since I put on a good pair of heels and did my makeup for fun and not work.”

A woman putting on makeup | Source: Unsplash

A woman putting on makeup | Source: Unsplash

“What do you mean? Is your costume all sorted?” I asked.

“What costume?” Jane asked, her reaction priceless; she looked at me like I had lost my mind.

“Elle’s invitation said that the dress code was mermaid-themed,” I said.

A surprised young woman | Source: Midjourney

A surprised young woman | Source: Midjourney

“I think she’s joking with you,” Jane laughed. “My invitation said ‘Cocktail’ as the dress code.”

My heart sank.

Elle was setting me up, but why?

For the next few days, I kept my head down, barely interacting with Elle.

A close-up of a sad woman | Source: Midjourney

A close-up of a sad woman | Source: Midjourney

I was feeling sidelined and hurt. We’d always been honest with each other, so why was she doing this now?

I remembered how supportive she was during my wedding and couldn’t understand why she didn’t want me involved in hers.

On the day of the wedding, I arrived in a long, elegant gray dress.

A woman wearing a long gray dress | Source: Midjourney

A woman wearing a long gray dress | Source: Midjourney

Grant and I sat at the back, away from the crowd, and we watched the beautiful ceremony unfold. I wondered why I wasn’t a bridesmaid.

But it was only during the reception, when Elle saw me, that the truth came out.

A bridal couple kissing | Source: Unsplash

A bridal couple kissing | Source: Unsplash

“What the hell are you wearing?” she demanded when she saw me.

The guests around us glanced at us and each other, sensing the tension.

“You know, I really thought that ‘mermaids’ as the wedding theme was a bit extreme. But then Jane showed me her invitation.”

An angry bride | Source: Midjourney

An angry bride | Source: Midjourney

Elle’s face went through a range of emotions, finally settling on a strained calm.

“Em… I guess it was a mistake,” she said.

“Stop pretending,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “I’m your friend. It’s your wedding. What’s going on?”

She hesitated, her eyes darting around before finally meeting mine.

A close-up of a bride | Source: Midjourney

A close-up of a bride | Source: Midjourney

“Em,” she said slowly. “I was afraid that you’d outshine me. Everyone keeps talking about how perfect your wedding was and how beautiful you looked. I didn’t want to feel like I was in your shadow on my own day.”

I looked at her carefully, trying to process her words.

“My own mother kept talking about how wonderful your wedding was and that I should listen to you about everything,” she continued.

A close-up of a bride and her mother | Source: Midjourney

A close-up of a bride and her mother | Source: Midjourney

“Elle, you never had to compete with me. Your wedding is beautiful, and so are you. We’re friends, remember? I would never try to overshadow you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Em,” she choked. “I let my insecurities get the best of me.”

I pulled her into a hug.

Two women hugging | Source: Midjourney

Two women hugging | Source: Midjourney

“Everything is perfect,” I said. “You’ve planned your dream wedding, and it has all fallen into place. Now, come on. Let’s enjoy this day together, like we’ve always done.”

The tension melted away, and the awkwardness dissolved as we shared a genuine moment of reconciliation.

Grant and I sat at a table away from the crowd.

A table at a wedding reception | Source: Midjourney

A table at a wedding reception | Source: Midjourney

“Are things okay with you and Elle?” Grant asked me.

“I think so,” I smiled. “But I think that there’s bigger things we need to discuss, too. I just want to make sure that we’re on the right page. That can wait until after her honeymoon.”

My husband took my hand and squeezed it gently.

A couple holding hands on a table | Source: Midjourney

A couple holding hands on a table | Source: Midjourney

What would you have done?

I Married My Father’s Friend – I Was Stunned When I Saw What He Started Doing on Our Wedding Night

I Married My Father’s Friend – I Was Stunned When I Saw What He Started Doing on Our Wedding Night

Amber had given up on love but sparks fly when she meets her father’s old friend, Steve, at a BBQ. As their whirlwind romance leads to marriage, everything seems perfect. But on their wedding night, Amber discovers Steve has an unsettling secret that changes everything.

I pulled up to my parents’ house and stared at the line of cars parked across the lawn.

“What’s this all about?” I muttered, already bracing myself for whatever family surprise was waiting inside.

A woman in her car | Source: Midjourney

A woman in her car | Source: Midjourney

I grabbed my purse, locked the car, and headed toward the house, hoping it was nothing too chaotic.

As soon as I opened the door, the smell of grilled meat hit me, along with the sound of my dad’s booming laugh. I walked into the living room and peeked out the back window.

Of course, Dad was hosting some kind of impromptu BBQ. The whole backyard was filled with people, most of them from his auto repair shop.

People at a BBQ | Source: Pexels

People at a BBQ | Source: Pexels

“Amber!” Dad’s voice cut through my thoughts as he flipped a burger with that same apron he’s had for years. “C’mon, grab a drink and join us. It’s just the guys from work.”

I tried not to groan. “Looks like the whole town’s here,” I mumbled, slipping off my shoes.

Before I could join in the familiar, chaotic atmosphere, the doorbell rang. Dad tossed the spatula down and wiped his hands on his apron.

A man walking into a house | Source: Midjourney

A man walking into a house | Source: Midjourney

“That must be Steve,” he said, almost to himself. He glanced at me as he reached for the doorknob. “You haven’t met him yet, right?”

Before I could even answer, Dad had already flung the door open.

“Steve!” he boomed, giving the guy a solid clap on the back. “Come on in, you’re just in time. Oh, and meet my daughter, Amber.”

I looked up, and my heart skipped a beat.

A man standing on a doorstep | Source: Midjourney

A man standing on a doorstep | Source: Midjourney

Steve was tall and a little rough around the edges in a ruggedly handsome way, with graying hair and eyes that somehow managed to be both warm and deep. He smiled at me, and I felt this strange flutter in my chest that I wasn’t prepared for.

“Nice to meet you, Amber,” he said, offering his hand.

His voice was calm and steady. I shook his hand, a little self-conscious about how I must look after driving for hours.

“Nice to meet you, too.”

A woman | Source: Midjourney

A woman | Source: Midjourney

From that point on, I couldn’t stop glancing at him. He was the kind of man who made everyone around him comfortable, always listening more than talking. I tried to focus on the conversations around me, but every time our eyes met, I felt this pull.

It was ridiculous. I hadn’t even been thinking about love or relationships for ages. Not after everything I’d been through.

I’d pretty much given up on finding “the one” and was more focused on work and family. But something about Steve made me want to reconsider, even though I wasn’t ready to admit it.

A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney

A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney

As the day wound down, I finally said my goodbyes and headed to my car. Of course, when I tried to start it, the engine sputtered and died.

“Great,” I groaned, slumping back in my seat. I considered going back inside to ask Dad for help, but before I could, there was a knock on my window.

It was Steve.

“Car trouble?” he asked, smiling as if this kind of thing happened every day.

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

I sighed. “Yeah, it’s not starting. I was just going to get my dad, but…”

“Don’t worry about it. Let me take a look,” he offered, already rolling up his sleeves.

I watched him work, his hands moving with practiced ease. Within a few minutes, my car roared back to life. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath until I exhaled.

A car engine | Source: Pexels

A car engine | Source: Pexels

“There you go,” he said, wiping his hands on a rag. “Should be good now.”

I smiled, genuinely grateful. “Thanks, Steve. I guess I owe you one.”

He shrugged and gave me a look that made my stomach flip. “How about dinner? We can call it even.”

I froze for a second. Dinner? Was he asking me out?

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

I felt that familiar flicker of doubt, the little voice in the back of my head reminding me of all the reasons I shouldn’t say yes. But something in Steve’s eyes made me want to take the chance.

“Yeah, dinner sounds good.”

And just like that, I agreed. I never would’ve imagined then that Steve was exactly the man I needed to heal my wounded heart… or how deeply he’d hurt me, either.

A woman | Source: Midjourney

A woman | Source: Midjourney

Six months later, I stood in front of the mirror in my childhood bedroom, staring at myself in a wedding dress. It was surreal, honestly. After everything I’d been through, I didn’t think this day would ever come.

I was 39 years old, and I’d given up on the whole fairy tale, but here I was — about to marry Steve.

The wedding was small, just close family and a few friends, exactly what we wanted.

A wedding venue | Source: Pexels

A wedding venue | Source: Pexels

I remember standing at the altar, looking into Steve’s eyes, and feeling this overwhelming sense of calm. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t second-guessing anything.

“I do,” I whispered, barely able to keep the tears from spilling over.

“I do,” Steve said back, his voice thick with emotion.

And just like that, we were husband and wife.

A newlywed couple | Source: Pexels

A newlywed couple | Source: Pexels

That night, after all the congratulations and hugs, we finally got some alone time. Steve’s house, our house now, was quiet, the rooms still unfamiliar to me. I slipped into the bathroom to change into something more comfortable, my heart full and light.

But the minute I slipped back into the bedroom, I was greeted by a shocking sight.

Steve was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to me, talking softly to someone… a someone who wasn’t there!

A man speaking to someone | Source: Midjourney

A man speaking to someone | Source: Midjourney

My heart skipped a beat.

“I wanted you to see this, Stace. Today was perfect… I just wish you could’ve been here.” His voice was soft, full of emotion.

I stood frozen in the doorway, trying to make sense of what I was hearing.

“Steve?” My voice sounded small, unsure.

He turned around slowly, guilt flickering across his face.

A startled man | Source: Midjourney

A startled man | Source: Midjourney

“Amber, I—”

I stepped closer, the air between us thick with unspoken words. “Who… who were you talking to?”

He took a deep breath, his shoulders slumping. “I was talking to Stacy. My daughter.”

I stared at him, the weight of his words slowly sinking in. He’d told me he’d had a daughter. I knew she had died. But I didn’t know about… this.

A concerned woman | Source: Midjourney

A concerned woman | Source: Midjourney

“She died in a car accident, with her mom,” he continued, his voice strained. “But sometimes I talk to her. I know it sounds crazy, but I just… I feel like she’s still here with me. Especially today. I wanted her to know about you. I wanted her to see how happy I am.”

I didn’t know what to say. My chest felt tight and I couldn’t quite catch my breath. Steve’s grief was raw, a living thing between us, and it made everything feel heavy.

But I didn’t feel scared. I didn’t feel angry. Just… so sad. Sad for him, for everything he’d lost, and the way he’d been carrying it all alone. His grief hurt me as though it were my own.

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