My friend never sent a single penny for my wedding, and now shes inviting me to hers.
Eleanor and Edward tied the knot a year ago. Both sets of parents threw an extravagant ceremony. As the only children in their families, the grandparents insisted the celebration should be topnotch. When the newlyweds suggested a modest gathering with a barbecue after the vows, the mothers dismissed the idea; they dreamed of a white dress, a grand church, and a horsedrawn carriage.
Realising a proper reception was unavoidable, the couple took charge of the planning. There was a long list of tasks: manicures, makeup, buying a bridal gown and a tuxedo, and countless other details. The parents agreed to cover every expense except the brides dress and the grooms suit. They booked the finest restaurant in London, chose a bouquet for Eleanor, and arranged for the wedding cake to be baked by a close family friend with years of patisserie experience.
The guest list was compiled with meticulous care. The parents wanted to invite every relative, even those they barely spoke to, arguing that wealthy guests would bring generous presents that could later be turned into a car or a deposit on a house. After a heated debate, they decided to omit very distant kin. Some relatives, offering plausible excuses, withdrew. In the end, the list mainly consisted of the couples close friends, just as Eleanor and Edward had hoped.
On the wedding day the weather was pictureperfect, despite a forecast of morning showers. Eleanor glowed in a silk gown trimmed with delicate lace. Edwards bride was simply enchanting, and he couldnt take his eyes off her all day. Joy filled every moment. The photographer, eager to earn his fee, snapped away tirelessly, while the guests impatiently awaited the banquet at the restaurant.
When the photo session ended, the newlyweds climbed into a snowwhite carriage and rode to the venue. Champagne flowed like a river and congratulations were shouted over the clinking glasses. Gifts arrived mostly in envelopes stuffed with cash. Eleanor and Edward had politely told everyone beforehand that they preferred money, though a few pensioners insisted on bringing blankets, bedding, and fine china.
The threetiered cake, adorned with luxurious icing, fresh flowers and pearllike decorations, impressed even the most discerning attendees. The reception was lavish, and only in the early hours of the morning did the tired guests drift home, while the couple retired to a prebooked hotel suite.
The following day, when the couple visited their parents, Edwards mother whispered that one of the envelopes was empty. She added that the envelope had been given as a present by the couples close friend, Gwen. It was easy to see which envelope was the culprit, because, unlike the others, it bore no name. Eleanor felt sick to her stomach.
The situation was worsened by the fact that, before the wedding, Gwen had insisted there was no longer any tradition of giving less than a thousand pounds, promising she would certainly support her friends financially.
Just under a year later, Gwen herself became a bride and invited Eleanor and her husband to her own celebration. She immediately reminded Eleanor to hand over the money, hoping the contribution would help cover the wedding costs. Eleanor and her husband were left wondering what to do. Eleanor suggested that her husband could give her an empty envelope, just as Gwen had done to her. He proposed adding a larger amount to embarrass her. Their mother advised Eleanor to slip only a modest sum into the envelope, so she would have no grounds to accuse Gwen of deceit and therefore no reason for revenge.
As Gwens wedding approaches, Eleanor still cannot decide what to do. In the end, she learns that generosity should be given without expectation, and that holding grudges only weighs the heart down, while honest kindness lifts everyone higher.
