wedding reception

i was supposed to go to a co-worker's brother's wedding reception saturday night. i had even arranged to meet another co-worker earlier in the day to shop for some proper attire and a wedding gift. but i fell ill and none of this ever happened. still, i managed to learn something about weddings and receptions in preparation.

a reception is quite a bit different here than at home. first of all, the wedding was a week ago, in a different city. this reception was for the bangalore crowd who couldn't make it to the wedding. there may therefore be many such receptions in the weeks following the wedding. secondly, you might ask what what business i have going to the reception of a co-worker's brother in the first place. apparently this is not unusual. you accompany your friends to events that are a big deal to your friend, regardless of their direct meaning to you. thus if your friend's brother gets married, you join your friend's entourage, even if you've never met the bride & groom. similarly if your friend's brother dies, you go with your friend to the funeral. you share the good and bad in your friend's life (which must make for hugely crowded events). third, the reception is basically a dinner. there is no dancing, and probably no drinking (booze served with food is rare here--you don't generally drink anywhere families go). i think there would have been some interesting cultural goings on though. i can only hope someone else (or their sibling) ties the knot in the next 3 months, and that i get invited again.