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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Miss Manners: Multiple marriages no longer unusual

Judith Martin Universal Uclick

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am 34 and getting married for the second time in about a month. The first marriage, at 20, was pretty dumb and short-lived – I didn’t have a clue about reality. Now, 14 years later, I found the right guy and I’m ready for a real commitment.

In chatting about our wedding plans with different people, I’ve been asked many times if it’s my first marriage. I find myself stumbling over that one, not wanting to admit the stupidity of my immature decision years ago. I even lied about it a few times, which isn’t in my nature.

Thinking that these questions would end after the wedding, I have been relieved that I have only a few more weeks. But a friend of mine and her husband married in their late 30s, and she told me that people still ask her if it’s her first marriage, and she hates it – she thinks it’s terribly rude.

You’re probably going to tell me to just say “no” and end it at that, but I feel like I need a stock answer that I can spit out that doesn’t make me look shady and will make people feel warm and fuzzy and leave me alone. What do you think?

GENTLE READER: Some years ago, Miss Manners began to notice that brides writing questions to her were volunteering, “It’s my first wedding.” Before that, they used to say, “I’m getting married.”

Its being the first is not said to justify an all-out wedding, such as used to be considered incorrect for second marriages. First and, for that matter, sixth weddings are pretty much indistinguishable these days. Nor does Miss Manners believe that couples generally regard their marriages as temporary, or are necessarily planning to take the ceremony on the road, as some do.

Sadly, she has come to the conclusion that multiple marriages are now simply considered the norm. Perhaps this explains, but does not excuse, those rude questions. Or perhaps it is that people just have less restraint now on their nosiness.

You are not obliged to tell them, which would only lead to further questions. Just smile and say, “I don’t exactly make a habit of it.”