It seems that everyone has an opinion about weddings.

It is a touchy subject. Kind of like animal cruelty. People can become very passionate, have heated discussions and even burn friendships. Though to me, these are innocuous subjects.

You could say that weddings are similar to animal cruelty.

I’m not saying I support animal cruelty. In fact, I am against it. In the same vein, I support same-sex marriage. It’s just that on my list of causes that work me into a fervor, these two subjects fall in the same category as the NBA lockout and penis extension junk mail.

How’s that for a lead in?

Anyway, when Lisa and I got married on Nov. 22, 2011 (11/22/11), we did it in a  same day civil ceremony at the Philadelphia First Unitarian Church.

It cost $150 and Pastor Nate conducted a perfect service.

But many people had opinions. Some were insulted they weren’t invited to a) the wedding; b) the open house ; or c) the 2nd open house. Some people told Lisa that I would be insulted if she didn’t wear a white dress.

These are the people who don’t know us. The people who we really know and love, wouldn’t have expected less than a super secret wedding in the Andes. Those who don’t know us thought we needed a grand ceremony in a church before God, grandma and gargoyles.

All along, I just wanted the wedding to be the two of us. Since Lisa’s parents couldn’t be there, I didn’t feel it was right if I had family in attendance. And since my family couldn’t be there, I felt it would be inappropriate to have anybody else in attendance.

It kind of goes with the all or nothing principal.

Well, this wasn’t just my wedding. It was Lisa’s as well.

Three of her close friends invited themselves to the nuptials. I tried to put my foot down, but it had as much effect as stomping on a trampoline with jelly sandals.

So they were there, as was another friend who agreed to act as the photographer. And in the end, it was nice to have them with us. They were very respectful, supportive and it was refreshing to have someone to share in our moment.

Even if I cried through the whole damn thing.