A good friend of mine was getting married. I had been at the birth of her son (she was single at the time) , been up many nights with her struggling to care for a newborn, and she even lived with my husband and I for a few months while trying to find a home for herself. So, when she met someone and he proposed, we were all thrilled, and it seemed natural that I would be in her wedding party. It was going to be an informal affair, in the backyard of a dear family friend. We made the invitations together, went shopping for the modest decorations together, and shared our excitement as the day approached. I had a beautiful velvet dress my father had given me that I had never worn, and she agreed it was perfect to wear. One week before the wedding, the forecast called for rain. My bride to be friend panicked – how could she continue with a backyard wedding in the rain? She scrambled, made phone calls, and booked a chapel. Now, the wedding suddenly took a more formal turn – after all, they were in a CHAPEL now. She wanted the groomsmen all in tuxes with red cummerbunds, and she wanted me in a red dress to match. And she wanted ME to buy the dress. I had no budget for this last minute dress. I combed second hand stores but found nothing. The result was, my friend asked me not to be in her wedding party anymore, as it would not be picture perfect if I didn’t match. I almost skipped the wedding altogether, as I was so hurt by this petty rejection, but I decided to be strong and go. At the reception, the bride introduced her wedding party, and then introduced me, saying I would have been in the party but we had ‘Bridesmaid issues.’ More like Bridezilla issues. — Kassandra