I have been in 8 weddings, then had my own, and here is what I learned

Not quite 27 dresses, but I have worn plenty of formal wear in my adult life.

In the past three years, I have attended 15 weddings — as a member of the bridal party in eight of them. I’ve been a bridesmaid, a maid of honor, a ceremony speaker and officiant, and this April I was the bride.

Having both seen and experienced all the emotions weddings stir up –– the love, joy, overload, conflict and dread –– here is what I have learned about having a great wedding.

It’s the guest’s job to have fun

I was sitting with one of my friends in her frenzy to finish the final details two days before her wedding when she stopped all of a sudden. Her eyes were wide as a terrible thought struck her.

“What if I am doing all this work, and no one even has any fun?” she said.

We talked it through and ca