Annie’s Mailbox: Can’t stop wedding guests from leaving

Dear Annie: My blood boiled when I read your response to “Jay,” who complained about the length of weddings. He sounds like one of those guests who makes it all about him and not the couple celebrating the most important day of their lives. You told him it was an option to leave before dinner was served. That is unbelievably rude!

You do know, I would hope, that the hosts still have to pay for the meal. In the case of our daughter, that amounted to $60 per person. How would you feel if you invited a guest for dinner at a restaurant and he left after ordering his food and you still had pay for it? Are you kidding me?

If a person doesn’t like the length of weddings, the invitation should be declined. Another option would be to let the hosts know that you will attend only the ceremony. That shouldn’t take too long and is, after all, the most important part. My amazing 95-year-old mother-in-law was on the dance floor until the last song was played. I just love her attitude. – Exasperated Mother of the Bride

Dear Exasperated: Are you going to lock the doors and tie your guests to their chairs to make sure they stay? People RSVP with every intention of eating dinner. We’ve seen guests descend like locusts on the dessert. But if the reception is appallingly delayed because the bridal party went out for drinks first or decided to spend three hours taking photographs, guests are entitled to go home when they can’t wait any longer. (But we, too, like your mother-in-law’s attitude. Go Mom!)