THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
FEATURES
Bridesmaid reciprocity
Dear Annie: I’m engaged to
Now to the problem: Do I have
a man who is the love of my life, to ask my sisters-in-law to be my
and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. bridesmaids? Or can I just ask my
My fiance, “Anthony,” proposed friends? I know that some brides
last week. We’ve tentatively set the today have eight (or more) brides-
date for next spring, and now I’m maids, but I’d like to keep it to
starting to do some preliminary four. I have no idea what the eti-
quette here is. I’ve read
wedding planning. I’m
DEAR
things online saying that
facing a dilemma regard-
you should pick whom-
ing bridesmaids.
ANNIE
ever you want because it’s
I’m the youngest of
your wedding, but I could
five siblings, and I’m the
use some objective and
only girl. Yes, I have four
realistic advice. Thanks
elder brothers. (To answer
in advance. — Always a
the question almost every-
Bridesmaid, Now a Bride
one asks upon learning
Dear Always: Do you
that fact, no, they were not
Lane
have
to ask your sisters-
overprotective of me. In Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
in-law to be bridesmaids?
fact, they teased me quite
No. Should you? Yes, if
a bit.) Anyway, all of my
brothers are married, meaning I you want to promote harmony in
finally have some sisters. I was a your family and grow closer with
bridesmaid in all four weddings the women your brothers married.
I know I’ll hear from readers
and the maid of honor in one of
them. I’m not extremely close with insisting that reciprocity is not a
any of my sisters-in-law, but I love stipulation of being a bridesmaid.
Just because a bride included you
them, of course. They’re family.
My conundrum is that I also in her wedding party does not
have four best friends — two from mean you have to return the honor.
high school and two from college I completely agree with that. But
— whom I would like to be my this is family. Though your sisters-
bridesmaids. They’re like sisters to in-law would probably not hold
me, too. Only one of them is mar- any grudges if you didn’t ask them,
ried so far, but I was a bridesmaid I’m certain they would forever be
touched by the gesture if you did.
in her wedding.
Your best friends should under-
stand that better than anyone.
Dear Annie: “Tired of Wedding
Freeloaders” does not appreciate
wedding guests who attend the fes-
tivities but who give a gift whose
value is less than the cost of their
participating. She considers a gift
of $100 for two people an insult.
Her opening sentence questioned
how many times you go out to eat
and expect a free meal.
Your answer — to invite loved
ones because you love them and
want them there — was adequate,
but I feel it didn’t go far enough.
“Tired” needs to realize that when
people go out to eat, they always
choose a restaurant they can afford.
When they attend a wedding,
their only choice is to go or not
to go. They have no control over
the venue or the menu or the cost.
Weddings can be simple or extrav-
agant, but the bride is usually the
one who makes most of the deci-
sions. If the math does not work
for her, she needs to scale back her
wedding plans and/or invite fewer
guests. — Imagine
Dear Imagine: I absolutely
agree with you, and I’ve advised
other brides that way in the past.
Thank you for adding that senti-
ment here.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You can make
a promise about what you’ll do, because
you have a reasonable amount of control
over that. To make a promise about how
you’ll feel, though — it’s just not something
you can predict at this time.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Life will be
sweet. Today will present you with an
embarrassment of riches. Such a thing can
be dangerous. Better to share with a friend
than to have the whole pie to yourself.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some say
that it’s possible to know the character of
a person through his or her errors. Others
suggest the better moments point the
way to a person’s soul. Right now it will
be enough just to pay close attention, for
better or worse.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Something a
tad jarring may stir you from the comfort-
able spot you were in. The trouble with
waking up to reality is that, once awake,
you have to confront that you were, in
some sense, asleep.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You tell yourself
to do something and then do the opposite.
That’s just human. Sometimes you can
tolerate this, other times, like today, you
can overcome it. You’ll clear away the
contradictions wherever possible.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Relationships
are complicated, sure. Is a never-ending,
always-growing love even really possible?
Believe that it is. Cynicism is the enemy
of love.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s not always
so easy to find common ground with peo-
ple, but when you can’t find it, you still will
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
find a way of showing support. Your eyes
and attitude will say it all.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s exciting
where you are right now in your life. It’s not
perfect, and there is still room for growth.
But you’ve accomplished something, and
you’ll build on that. Feel good about it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re
not aiming to get a return on your rela-
tionships. You go with your heart and your
attractions. The fact that you are rewarded
so richly today is a bonus.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The more
desirable a scene is, the more people want
it all to themselves. Don’t be discouraged.
With enough intention and will, you’ll soon
break through.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Don’t worry
about making choices that are in keeping
with the current style. Fashion doesn’t even
apply to you now. Your classic ways and
tastes will always be in favor.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You won’t ex-
actly solve the problem going on between
two people you love, but you can make
it better by hearing both sides and being
generally neutral.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (March 24).
You’ll see more of the world this year. A
change of venue brings something fresh
and fiery to your personal life. In April you’ll
reach back and fix something that you
broke a few years ago. June is for stretch-
ing your emotional muscles and taking
risks with your heart. August will introduce
you to new income. Scorpio and Libra
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 30,
20, 1 and 18.