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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

“Days of joy ” by Аліса Вайсман

Submitted to Contest #264

She clearly didn’t see the point. Her mouther used to encourage her to visit such events, but it always seemed to be so pathetically “too much” that she, with all her social insecurity and awkwardness just couldn’t make herself to come ever before. Now, though, thing were completely different. The wedding, they said, was astonishing. Breathtaking. Even stunning, yes, they agreed, completely and utterly unique in its magnificence. She thought it was exaggeration. Yeah, it was a lovely ceremony, carefully and thoroughly thought out, but she...

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“Poster Love” by Nero Katu

Submitted to Contest #264

The air smelled heavily of garbage and no one around Stiven seemed to notice. But the stench drove him mad. So much so, that he completely tuned out the ongoing toasts for the bride and groom, and chose to investigate instead. He turned his face to each side of him and inhaled, fully expecting his very old aunt to be the culprit. No such luck, he only managed to steal a crooked smile from aunt Gloria. This time he leaned forward, careful to not attract attention, and smelled the peony centerpiece. The funky floral fragrance slapped his face,...

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“To make your August” by Jenna Lee

Submitted to Contest #264

A man who sits in the middle of a bar either thinks he’s the life of the party or needs to get something off his chest. Bellied up, three whiskeys deep, I did precisely that when the bartender popped me the question of the evening. “You do’in all right, partner? You look pretty glum,” he asks, planting his forearms on the countertop and a towel draped over his shoulder. It’s a sweltering Saturday night in August. I’m at mi amiga’s wedding reception wilting on a Manhattan rooftop nursing a grudge against the fool who booked a weekend getawa...

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“Star Mashed Lovers” by Fumi Ersan

Submitted to Contest #264

It was a meeting destined by the stars. ”Oh our son’s Star Sign is Taurus, I heard that your daughter’s star sign is Capricorn. Don’t you think they would make the absolute perfect couple?” A mother said. ”You’re right! Let’s get the marriage papers out right now!” Another mother said. ”Splendid, how about we go golfing over the weekend to celebrate our children’s marriage?” A father said. ”Ho ho, indeed, what a wonderful idea.” Another father said, And just like that, the bond of marriage was formed between the two of them. Without ever kno...

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“Red Heels” by Lüüli Suuk

Submitted to Contest #264

"Shit, I lost my shoes," shouted Maria while shaking her head. She had climbed out of her yellow Mini Cooper and stood barefoot in the parking lot next to it. Thank God, I am not a bridesmaid this time, thought Maria, but the situation was still bad. She had no time to go back home to fetch another pair. Suddenly she heard a low voice saying: "Well-well, a modern time Cinderella."A man in a light blue suit stood and looked at her bare feet. Thankfully, she had just had her toenails painted."She lost one, though. Mine are both gone before the...

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“"Ships That Pass" by Ang E.” by Ang E

Submitted to Contest #264

In May of 1978, I graduated from high school in Honolulu Hawaii. My summer plans after graduation were up in the air. My parents wanted me to go to community college right away, but my brain was tired. So, I got a job as a receptionist at the most prestigious hair salon in Honolulu, Marceau Julien’s Hair Salon. I loved taking appointments over the phone for the hairstylists, facialist, massage therapist, and nail technicians. Marceau and his wife, Sherry were the kindest, most generous bosses I could ever wish for. I was able to save money t...

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“Unexpected ” by Joshua Kim

Submitted to Contest #264

Unexpected June’s mouth gaped at the revelation. Today was the day of her dear friend’s wedding, and she didn’t think much of it, rather than the fact that her dear friend, who had gone through much suffering in her relatively short life was now getting married… It was enough to move her to tears. But the reason that her mouth was gaping was because of the person right in front of her. Someone that she thought she had seen the last of during her turbulent, suffering years in high school was back in her life, albeit it would have been f...

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“The Wedding Weekend” by Kylee Nixon

Submitted to Contest #264

“You have got to be kidding me! That was my spot you jerk!” I shout to the Toyota 4Runner that rudely swooped in and stole the parking spot I’ve clearly been waiting for. My blinker is still beeping while I lay on my horn for a full five seconds and stick my hand out the window to shoot a bird and shout a few expletives to the smug parking spot thief in the driver seat. The 4Runner guy jumped out of the car and raised his hands in surrender and I could see him mouth the words I’m sorry! Sure he’s sorry, probably sorry that he was confr...

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“The Toast: a series of wedding speeches that led to a divorce ” by Madison Marvin

Submitted to Contest #264

The Toast: a series of wedding speeches that led to a divorce “To the groom! As the best man, I’ve known Evan since we were in diapers. Well actually, he was in diapers, I was already potty-trained by three months. Doctors said it was a modern miracle. But that's neither here nor there. Ah, look at me, using these big words, who do I think I am? Eve?! Ha! Just kidding, just kidding. Eve, you're great, sweetie. For real though, Eve and Evan, you two were made for each other! The perfect match! I mean, Evan’s like this fun-loving, fr...

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“Another Union” by Austin Blomberg

Submitted to Contest #264

Do we have to do this again? A thought I would never speak out loud, but one I couldn’t keep from thinking. I attended the last two weddings after missing one; it seemed unnecessary to keep going to every ceremony. I was sure I’d see my uncle married at least twice more, by his own admission. I shook my head. Weddings are supposed to be fun. There was always feasting and dancing and those things didn’t get old. Auntie would make her three pork dishes that were famous in all the nearby villages. Uncle would make a complaint about his new brid...

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“Anton Neale v. Earth” by Carmelo Labbozzetta

Submitted to Contest #264

Martha eyed the double doors across the room as she waited to begin the ceremony. From those doors, the members filed in. Ipek Engin, ambassador for Turkey, Darcy Bailey, ambassador for Canada, Xuelin Na, ambassador for China. Along with the other 190 members, they each casted a determined shadow as they took their seats at the crescent-shaped table. Everyone sat quietly for a moment, pondering if what they were about to do would at all remedy the situation. “Enter.” Martha said, projecting her voice toward the doors. In response Anton Neale...

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“Hotel People” by Adam Sifre

Submitted to Contest #264

It's 6:45 a.m. A gritty, mundane magic pervades the air at "Valentine's Cove" in the Hamilton Hotel, known for its three and half star service and rooftop views of the New York City skyline. Silver troughs filled with thick wedges of French toast, pounds of flattened, cardboard-like bacon, mounds of shiny sausage links, and piles of other artery-clogging goodies shine proudly side by side on a long faux wood table. All the tables are draped in white linen cloth. Large stainless steel urns of strong, hot coffee stand guard over the holy of h...

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“A Celebration of Park Preservation” by Daniel Brown

Submitted to Contest #264

And here we are, people...A young African American Male of 25 years old - who was intrigued and inspired by the historical rezoning of the city Paterson Great Falls by the way - was rehearsing his speech for Paterson Great Falls’ decade-and-a-half anniversary. He was a National Park Ranger affiliated with the National Park Foundation, strutting back and forth in front of his apartment wall mirror. His goal was to perfect his tonality and facial expressions for the recognition speech. He was not only going to be speaking to a massive cr...

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“Tan wedding” by Joan Earley

Submitted to Contest #264

“A guest can’t wear a white dress to a wedding,” said Marion. “A tan dress is fine but white? Never.” She was sitting beside me, looking charming in a conservative, sleeveless, knee-length dress that buttoned down the back. The dress looked, to my eyes, white. I have always been a touch colorblind but, previously, my errors had been in distinguishing between green and yellow. White and tan had not given me much trouble, up to now. Marion and I were sitting together at a long table, which was covered in blank cards, envelopes, and m...

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“The Unreliable Plus-One” by Joey Lliso

Submitted to Contest #264

I. Lena Harper, though she would never admit it, had always considered herself quite adept at navigating the intricacies of social gatherings. She often told herself that her keen observational skills, honed through years spent among the quiet, dusty stacks of her library, gave her an edge over those who thrived in more chaotic environments. She had long believed that there was a certain nobility in her preference for solitude, an appreciation for the subtler pleasures of life. So when Mia Dawson, her vivacious and ever-persistent fri...

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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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