I'm at a wedding right now...

I never knew weddings out of state could be so different. Those wedding shows lie!

I lived in Chicago for five years, and attended a bunch of weddings.

Some major differences:

1. Cash bar is very common...sometimes they will pay for beer/wine for the table, but liqueur is almost always on you!

2. Cocktail hour is just that-cocktails. Sometimes a few passed apps. No giant buffet, no mashed potato bar, no ice sculptures. LOL! There is very rarely seating, it is more a time to mingle and chat.

3. It is common to bring gifts to the wedding, not checks like it is here!

4. On average, they are much smaller and often at VFW halls, restaurants, small hotels, etc. The giant catering hall thing is much more of an East Coast thing.

When I attended my first LI wedding, I was so shocked! They are so extravagant, like nothing I had ever seen! My FH had to school me. Good thing because I almost bought the couple really nice pillows and brought them to the wedding! Can you imagine how embarrassed I would have been?!