I broke all the rules of etiquette when I attended my first wedding.

It was wedding of a college mate and we were both only 17 at the time. She was marrying in 'secret', well, only without telling our college friends, and so I was the only one from our college at the wedding. After squeezing out of her an explanation as to why she was acting so strangely and the sudden appearance of 'mysterious ring' on a particular finger - she finally announced that it was all going to happen 'this weekend'.

I wouldn't really put it down to the particular circumstances that made me fail every etiquette rule in the book, after all, it was my first ever wedding experience...!

* I went alone. As all my friends were from college, and I was the only one privileged enough to be on in the 'secret'. As I knew only the bride there - I tried to spend as much time with her - but of course, she had her 'duties'. Being 17, and with my social skills being so underdeveloped, I failed to mingle and blend with the other guests that well...

* I wore a black leather jacket! I sensed that something was wrong when I had arrived, indistinctly, I tried to stay out of the photos. At such short notice (this is not really an acceptable excuse), this was only one of the few items i my wardrobe that appearance-wise was 'acceptable'. But thinking back - I now know that this, was absolutely not.

* I left the reception early. As I relied on public transport, and it being Sunday - I need not explain why. However, needing the bride's father to leave the reception and drive me to the station - I did not feel very popular...

* Not finishing the meal - When I say I was not popular, this is an understatement - having to leave early was already rude, need to go in the middle of the meal was even more so, and since the bride's father had paid for the food - he insisted on himself to finish my plate of food before he drove me to the station.

- I really do not know how I managed to survive to catch the train after wards....

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