Since this is Meeting Men Monday, I’m sharing tips I just learned at one of my favorite weddings. I first met the bride and groom at the pool the day beforehand. They had carefully planned a beautiful destination wedding on the beach at sunset. The guest list was limited to close family and friends—but the couple arrived at their resort early to make sure that everything was in order, and made so many friends there that the list magically expanded!

The same attitude that caused this change carried over to other aspects of the event. As the bride explained, “Your wedding is the first day of your life together. Do what you love, not what you think you have to”…and they did.

According to some etiquette books, the bride and groom have the first dance and leave shortly after that. This couple immediately got everyone dancing with them. The reception didn’t end until about 3 AM, and the bride and groom were among the last to leave. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better time, and I’m sure everyone there would say the same.