Also, from the numbers you're throwing around - it seems like the weddings you describe are so much smaller than the ones here. Vortex' numbers, for example (200 guests), will be considered here a very small wedding. The average is 300-400 guests. It's not considered "big" before around 700 guests. The smallest wedding I've ever attended was 50 guests, and when I tell it to people here, they don't believe me that it could be that small.

Nilly, our wedding was a touch over 300 people (not including guests who came for the ceremony, "shmorg", and dancing) and it was somewhat on the small side of what I'm used to seeing.

What on earth is a makeup test?

Going to get makeup done before the actual wedding so we can find someone who doesn't make us look like we fell face-first back into the '80s.

But....can't you just do your own makeup?

I want a huge-ass ridiculous wedding.

Not surprised..heh.

I don't think I've been to a wedding that had more than 100 guests. Maybe one. But barely. And most were family.

All the wedding professionals referred to my 200 guest (invited, maybe half showed up) wedding as small. It seemed huge to me. Though we were absolutely swallowed up by the sanctuary.

I think once you accept the premise of a Renaissance themed wedding on Mars, cost had better be no object.

But....can't you just do your own makeup?

well, you _can_, but I, for one, dont' trust my hand not to be shaking so that I'm drawing all over my face with eyeliner.

I've been to one wedding that was HUGE, the reception was held at the country club and they had multiple carving stations -- several inside and outside. The appetizers were all served on mirrored serving trays, it was very impressive.

The biggest thing I remember is that her dress looked kinda cheap.

I wouldn't do my own makeup, especially given there will be pictures.

I was just given the "Anti-Bride Guide" by a friend that just married (not that I'm getting married, but her other good female friend is single) and it made me really depressed. It's not an "Anti-Bride" thing at all! It's a regular old wedding guide with a pink cover!

The other thing I like about the organization of Orthodox weddings is that, with all the pre-ceremony stuff (there's a word for that, right? I can't remember it now), there's much more allowance for people to get to here late and not miss the actual wedding ceremony.

I usually arrive to Orthodox weddings at 1/2 hour after the "Kabalas Panim" (reception) is called. Last year, we attended a wedding for my wife's friend who had the reception after the chupah and half her wedding guests missed it.

I think once you accept the premise of a Renaissance themed wedding on Mars, cost had better be no object.

Fair enough.

To haul out the pedant for a moment, unless the people from the Renaissance are having an "Olden Tymes" party, chainmail is pretty much gone from the armoury by then, depending on where you are and when. Transitional plate and full plate has replaced chainmail almost everywhere by that time (depending on how you define Renaissance and where/when you are). Both would still be reasonably effective at protecting an astronaut suit from swords, to bring the discussion back to the purposeful and sensible origins.

Yargh. All this wedding talk is only reminding me of all the crap I need to get done. Like send invitations to the bachelorette party which include a fun and entertaining way to say "hire a stripper and both the bride and I will kill you."

I'm entertained by the way you've put it here, but brenda has a point about people who'd consider that a challenge.

You could go vague--something like, "[Bride] and I believe no real woman ever has to pay a man to disrobe. Accordingly, I've limited the invites to real women." Might be too snotty.