My columnar apple, not that it has anything to do with the rest of this post.

Wear casual, my sister-in-law told us last week: the groom is going to be wearing shorts. They expressly said they want it casual.

I don’t want to dress fancier than the bride, I told her, it’s not my place, and so the peach-and-cream outfit I’d asked my neighbors about stayed in the hotel and my plain cotton skirt and top were just right. A Ukrainian gerdan was my only dress-up and hey I wear those everywhere.

I thought of a family member whose introduction to Thanksgiving dinner with her future Arizona in-laws was paper plates at the picnic table outside; we’re all used to what we’re used to.

But for her sake I was pleased to see the bride wore a beautiful white gown. No frou-frou, no train, just a classic v-neck knee-length dress in a very pretty fabric. She got to look her best on her day, while making sure their friends were comfortable being themselves. It was for them. She was just a deeply likable person, and I thanked her for making our nephew so happy. And I thanked him for choosing her.