Some decisions in life are simple.

What kind of pizza to pick up on Friday night? Easy.

Should Dave invite the McDonald’s drive-thru girl to his wedding? Still under debate.

Choosing your wedding party? Ooh boy.

Emily discovered that choosing her bridesmaids was going to be harder than choosing the wedding venue.

She sat at the kitchen table staring at her notebook.

Dave walked in, grabbed his coffee, and looked over her shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to figure out my bridesmaids.”

“How hard can that be?”

Emily slowly looked up at him.

Dave immediately recognized that look. “Never mind. I’ll be in the mancave doing something…manly.”

Emily sighed. “I have six spots and eight people I really want.”

“Well, just pick six out of those eight. Duh.”

Sometimes Emily wanted to stab Dave…she never would, of course. But sometimes she wants to.

She started making her list:

Sarah – best friend since high school

Jessica – cousin and lifelong friend

Amanda – childhood friend

Rachel – roommate from college

Megan – best friend at work

Katie – friend who helped her through a terrible breakup

Emily stared at the list. Then added another name.

Dave noticed and asked, “Who’s that?”

“Lauren.”

“Who’s Lauren?”

“Someone I’ve known for twelve years.”

Dave blinked. “Then why do you have to think about her?”

“Because she’s also friends with Jessica.”

Dave nodded. “Okay…”

And Jessica will be offended if Lauren isn’t included.

“Okay…”

“And if I invite Lauren, I have to invite Melissa because they’re best friends.”

Dave shook his head. “This is all starting to sound a little crazy.”

Emily glared at him. “Did you pick your Bestman and Groomsmen yet?”

“Yeah, I just did. It took about 30 seconds. Mike is the best man; groomsmen are Paul, Gerard, your brother Scott, and my brother. Done.”

Emily stared at him. “That’s it?”

“Yep.”

“You didn’t agonize over it?”

“Nope.”

“You didn’t worry about hurting anyone’s feelings?”

Dave shrugged. “No. They are guys. I’ll text them all in a minute.”

Emily looked horrified.

“You cannot text someone and say, “Hey, you wanna be a groomsman?”

Dave pulled out his phone. “Watch me.”

Emily sighed and shook her head. She had her own issues to deal with and was stressing over the questions that kept popping up in her head.

Who gets asked first? What if someone says no? What if someone says yes then backs out? What if someone expects to be included?

And perhaps the most dangerous question of all…” Why wasn’t I picked?”

Dave said, “This is getting too complicated.”

Emily smiled and said, “Welcome to wedding planning.”

And just when Emily thought she had finally narrowed down her bridesmaids, her phone buzzed.

Sarah: So… who is your Maid of honor? 👀

Emily froze.

Dave looked over.

Emily slowly put down her phone.

“I think they are starting to figure out I have to choose.”

Next week on “The Ring, The Stress, and The Dress…

Emily’s bridesmaid decisions are about to get even more complicated when someone who expected to be included discovers she might not be.

Meanwhile, Dave discovers that asking his groomsmen to participate in the wedding involves more than a group text… rules will have to be laid out.

Friendships will be tested. Feelings will be hurt. And Dave and Emily will find out more about their friends than they ever knew before.