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There Is No Groupchat
On the loveliness of distant but profound friendships
As soon as the bridesmaids walk down the aisle, you can tell which one is the groom’s sister, which one the bride’s. The theme for today is blush: the bridemaids’ dresses, the carnation bouquets lining the aisle, the petals in the paper cones we were given to shower the newlyweds. Just as well. In late November, winter has crept into Napa Valley. Guests shiver in their coats. But while the past three days were full of flash flood warning, today the clouds merely decorate the sky for a sunny outdoor ceremony. As the groom will note during his vows, even the clouds part for his bride.
We haven’t seen the bride and groom in six years. There is no group chat. But there is a photograph: us crowding into a selfie at a surprise proposal party where I said “Yes” to my now-wife.
We’re those kind of friends. Close enough to be invited, distant enough not to recognize anyone else at their wedding. It’s been so long since we’ve seen the couple that not only have they moved on to new jobs, the people they met at those jobs have moved on to new jobs (I gather from eavesdropping).
The aisle is actually a spiral that winds up a small hill. At the top, we all wait under a giant infinity loop wrought of brass to watch the bride and groom promise each other…
