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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#264: Save the Date

From romantic comedies like 27 Dresses to suspenseful thrillers like Lucy Foley’s The Guest List, it’s no secret that weddings are a compelling backdrop for storytelling. I’ve personally got weddings on the brain after attending a few this summer — and while they all went smoothly, I’m still intrigued by the narrative possibilities of dramatic, comedic, and just plain outlandish weddings!

This week’s prompts draw from those possibilities, though they’re worded in a way that doesn’t necessarily require you to write a “wedding story.” Whether your characters stroll down the aisle or avoid it altogether, now’s your chance to take them on a captivating journey… in sickness, in health, as long as they both shall live, or under any other circumstances you might invent for them.

This week's prompts

Center your story around two people who meet at a wedding.

Character – 72 stories

Write a story in the form of a speech (or multiple speeches).

Character – 24 stories

Start your story with people arriving at a special ceremony.

Character – 31 stories

Write a story from the POV of a plus-one.

Character – 48 stories

End your story with someone saying “I do.”

Character – 113 stories

Stories

“Hybrids: A Love Story” by Jim Parker

Submitted to Contest #264

Hybrids: A Love StoryDawn was breaking through the front window when the restless critters decided that it was time for their Daddy to get up. He had slept later than intended but no matter. It was Christmas day. He leaned over Wu, still sleeping, and kissed her forehead. “Outside,” he said low. The animals rushed to the door climbing over each other to get out. Jimmy paused with the back door half open, waiting for Tippycat coming down the stairs. “Merry Christmas Spunky. Merry Christmas WuWu.” ...

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“Under the Lights” by Hali Lawson

Submitted to Contest #264

I could feel the warm, pink tones flooding my face as my eyes locked with his. It felt as if the world was spinning around us, him and I being the only two things stuck in place. I haven’t seen Spencer since we graduated high school. I thought I hated him; I thought I never wanted to see him again. But now that we’re here, I can’t help but notice how amazing he looks under these lights. I can’t stop the emotions I felt all those years ago from fronting once again, and they come so fast it almost knocks me right off my feet. Then he smiles at...

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“The Wedding Shocker” by Melody Watson

Submitted to Contest #264

The wind picked up speed with stronger gusts whipping the veil from the bride’s head. Gasps stolen by another strong gust. The dull roar tearing the flower arrangements from their vases and scattering them like litter. The strong breeze shaking the cotton wood leaves from their branches. Wedding guests scampered around the rows of seats, heading in the direction of the open field. Several ladies stopped to cover their gaping mouths, as their husbands tugged them away from the ceremony. The force of air grabbed the brides carefully arra...

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“Fatefully Fatal Plus Ones” by Daniel James

Submitted to Contest #264

Fatefully Fatal Plus Ones Rose petals scattered in the shape of a heart atop the hotel bed, the mood set by candles on the bedside tables. Soft music playing from the smart tv, a playlist that had been catered to the past however many years of the young couple that would spend their first night together in the most intimate of ways. These were the things that Kristen and Johnny had always wanted but started to think they’d never find. This was the most excitemen...

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“A Wedding Feast Like No Other” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #264

Prompt: Center your story around two people who meet at a wedding. A Wedding Feast Like No OtherI entered the lobby of my apartment building noting that one of the mailboxes was stuffed full of paper. Whoa! It happened to be mine! I thought I had emptied it the other day. Apparently, in my absent mindedness I had ignored the obvious signs of the postman to “please empty your box.” I struggled with my key to retrieve the contents. As I rummaged through the various ads, bills, and political flyers one textured envelope...

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“A Longing Shadow ” by Peyton Kaletha

Submitted to Contest #264

***This is my first time writing a story. So bear with me! Feedback is definitely welcome. You’re all appreciated, and I love to read your work. I’m sorry I have no clue how to properly edit.*** My breath hitches, nearly strangling whatever life I have left barreling through my lungs. A dress whiter than a blanket of snow emerges from an archway of vines. The contrast in colors is almost as breathtaking as the brush of cool air that tantalizes your skin on a winter’s evening. Every head seated in the endless array of rows turns, anticipati...

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“Bea” by Rachel Bell

Submitted to Contest #264

The old teapot whistled just before the grandfather clock in the foyer sang its deep chorus; the house was quiet otherwise. Bea smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes responding in melody with her sing-songy voice, "Right on time!" She poured her tea slowly, to avoid another mishap, but also because that was her normal pace and she had long since become okay with that. Lacing her finger through the delicate china, she took the first, soul refreshing sip of her Earl Grey; the day has now begun. And what a day it would be--her granddaughter's we...

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“Train Wreck” by Maria Wickens

Submitted to Contest #264

Unnngahhhh. I’m alive again.Barely.My head is wedged under a dump truck. Pretty sure I’m weeping blood. And dear God, the back of my throat feels like I’ve gargled with squirrel turds. Especially nutty ones.I turn on to my back and wait… this memory foam is not remembering me. Whose bed is this?This is not my night attire. I usually wear the teeshirt from the day before and occasionally go to the effort of adding PJ pants. But this shirt is a different fabric altogether. And. Oh no. Man sized.Underwear?I can neither confirm nor den...

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“The Speech” by Kirk Nelson

Submitted to Contest #264

He rose from his chair, flute of expensive champagne in hand, and tapped against the glass. “Thank you, everyone, for coming to our wonderful celebration. It is our truly special and sincere joy to have you all here to witness our wedding. We are blessed! “If I may take up a few minutes of your time and temporarily halt the merriment for a moment to say a few things about this incredible woman that strangely accepted my proposal of marriage. There are a few things I want to acknowledge before all of you. “Foremost I need to try and express j...

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“Tabitha, you need to tell him.” by Summer Hoagland-Abernathy

Submitted to Contest #264

Pearla Mason - Maid of Honor It’s on? You know me — Miss Anti-tech. Thanks, Jack. Everyone, give it up for our groom! He sure knows how to fix a modern issue! Okay, here it goes. I’ve known Tabitha for a long time. A long, long, long, long time. Feels like centuries… Which is great for you, Jack, because that’s how you know she always keeps it fresh! Even after years and years and years and years and— Okay, okay, Tab, I’m moving on. Our lady of the night — or, the lady of the evening, I should say — deserves nothing less than a m...

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“Wedding Rehearsal from Hell” by Gil Harris

Submitted to Contest #264

"No one noticed you staggering into the place" Wayno said as he and Gus were filling their plates from the buffet along the wall. Wayno was Gus's best man. They were at the wedding rehearsal a couple of days before Gus and Lisa, his fiancee were getting married"Yeah, thanks to David's entrance." David was Gus's soon to be brother in law and one of his hanging buddies. A few minutes after Gus and Lisa came through the door, David came in with the lady he had been seeing for the past couple of weeks. Lisa's parents, who had set up the rehearsa...

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“Identity Ceremony” by Lauren Normac

Submitted to Contest #264

Bethel sat, hands clasped on their round dinning table. A cooling cup of coffee sat beside her. She'd taken maybe one sip.Her oldest child, Vaa, sat asleep in a chair beside her. Not that oldest was saying much. She was three.Outside, her husband Nev was marching their younger child around the garden, trying to calm him down. He would normally be working by now, but he'd understandably been given the day off. If it was a normal day, Bethel would also have taken both kids to the nearby park. There was an area for very young children like her ...

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“The Saviour” by Dahlia Z. Leblanc

Submitted to Contest #264

My feet met the cold stone floor, sending shivers up my spine. Seemingly I wasn’t the only one, I could hear gasps coming from the crowd that surrounded me. A few murmurs as well, probably comments regarding the unpleasant feeling. To be completely honest, the cold stone was the least of my worries if I could call it that to begin with. I wasn’t concerned, not really. Not about our presence here at least but the anxious aura surrounding the crowd I was part of could barely go unnoticed.I let my eyes wander around, pushing the people around m...

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“A Wedding of Lesser Gravity” by Claudio G. Henze

Submitted to Contest #264

You can do this, Bran reassured himself. You can do this. It is only a wedding. Only a party. It will be fine.But why did it have to be in space?Not so long ago, Bran wouldn’t have thought twice before boarding the ship. He had always loved the feeling of weightlessness and thrilling sense of traveling the unknown. He missed the quiet hum of engines burning and the many systems in a spacecraft working together.However, as he tentatively took a few steps forward and into the shuttle, he felt his heart pounding in his head. He focused on his b...

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“No Red Flags” by Austin Wolf-Sothern

Submitted to Contest #264

All she had told me was that she needed a date for a wedding. I probably should have asked more questions, but it sounded simple enough. The circumstances were a bit odd from the beginning, but that just added a sense of adventure to it. I found her on Grindr. I sent a message, asking what she was doing there, and did she know it was an app for gay men looking to hook up. “Yeah, I know, I’m sorry if this is inappropriate, I just really need a date to a WeDDiNG, but not like a real date, and I don’t trust the men on the other apps not to get ...

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$250

Prize money

288

Contest entries

105

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 23, 2024 EST

Won by Lonnie Russo 🏆

Title: Men on the Moon

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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