Been to a wedding lately?  I have.  In beautiful, sunny, 70+ degree Scottsdale, while the Bay Area was replete with rain, rain, rain, my friend's son was married.  Weddings are different these days.  It seems that just minutes after the wedding march, you look up and the rings are out.  The 60 minute wedding with all the formality is now a 15 minute affair.  Before you know it, the kiss is over and they've just introduced Mr. and Mrs. Smith, man-and-wife.  Now let's go party!  Does anyone do the full Catholic mass anymore? 

Weddings are a great place to people watch and not the just the nervous couple, but their friends and families on booze.  Why is it that people find weddings a great place to get smashed?  Maybe it's the open bar and someone else is paying?  I think so.   More than once, I hear a group shout-out with raised shots glasses from the next table of handsome young men with lavender shirts and fit young women with the shortest of dresses.  As the night progresses, the dancing gets wilder with the ex-cheerleaders re-enacting their college cheers and an ex-ex-ex-cheerleader attempting the splits in a dress (not pretty).  There are always a few that came without dates who can't wait to leave and those who can't wait to leave with one of the might-be-available, tipsy bridesmaids.  Many will repeat this spectacle over and over as their group of friends marry.    

The minister was different, in a good way. With the Universal Life Church offering ordinations online (including the freedom to "perform weddings, baptisms or funerals".  No brises, please) almost anyone can officiate.  No more boring church minister/priest.  Our minister was jokey and informal, teasing the bride and groom and chiding the new bride about sprucing up her culinary skills.  The couple was laughing and the crowd joined in.  That's more like it.  He took us on a tour of the word "love".  He asked the new Mr. and Mrs. to remember the letters L-O-V-E.(1) 

- L stands for laughter.  Remember that someday you'll look back on all the little squabbles, shake your head and wonder why you took things so seriously.

- O is for Openness.  Be expressive, clear and communicative with each other.  Enough said.

 -V, Validate. Jump on their side. Confirm that they're the most loving, handsome, sexy person alive.  According to Nat King Cole, V is "very, very extraordinary" whatever that means.  

- E represents Encouragement.  Be an advocate.  Be their biggest supporter, whether it's an all guys weekend to Vegas or taking up fly-fishing.    

 I have the darndest time remembering the LOVE list.  Maybe you can add a few examples of your own.  Perhaps this list can translate to other parts of your life, like your kids and parents.  As the 60s song says, All We Need is LOVE.  Could it be so easy?

(1) Nat King Cole had a song in the 60s.  Check out his L-O-V-E lyrics at http://www.lyricsfreak.com/n/nat+king+cole/l+o+v+e_20098056.html