My Best Friend Gave Me the Wrong Dress Code for Her Wedding – I Decided to Outplay Her Smartly
When Emily’s friend, Elle, gets engaged to her boyfriend, Brian, she is completely over the moon. Emily does everything she can to help Elle plan her dream wedding. But then Elle starts acting secretive and gives Emily a wedding invite with the incorrect dress code. Thankfully, a mutual colleague gives Emily the correct details, allowing her to show up to the wedding to teach Elle a lesson.
“I’m engaged, Em!” Elle said, rushing through my door while I was sitting on the couch and reading a book.
A woman reading on a couch | Source: Unsplash
“What?” I exclaimed, standing up to hug her tightly. “I’m so happy for you, my girl!”
Elle sat down on the couch and showed me her hand.
“Look at this rock!” she said.
A close-up of an engagement ring | Source: Unsplash
Of course, I was over the moon for her. We’d been through so much together, and now it was her turn to walk down the aisle.
For my wedding, a few years ago, Elle had been right by my side. She helped me plan every little detail, from the font on my wedding invitations to the menu selections.
“It’s more like you and Elle are getting married,” my husband, Grant, laughed one evening when I told him everything that Elle and I had planned.
A laughing man | Source: Unsplash
“Well, she’s been around longer than you,” I replied, showing him the mockup for our wedding invitations.
And it was true, Elle and I had been friends since our childhood, having lived on the same street and gone to the same kindergarten together.
We shared every major milestone, from awkward teenage years to college graduation, together.
Two women lying on a bed | Source: Pexels
We even ended up working at the same company, making sure to have lunch and tea breaks together every day.
So, naturally, I expected her to be just as involved in her wedding planning as she was in mine.
“Brian and I don’t want to be engaged for too long,” she said one day at the office while we were having tea and pastries.
An office kitchen | Source: Unsplash
“So, we’re planning for the wedding to be in a few months.”
“That’s a lot to do in a few months, Elle,” I said, sipping my tea.
“I know,” she agreed. “But you’ll help me!”
A woman drinking from a mug | Source: Pexels
As the weeks went by, Elle asked me for advice on the venue, the dance, and the flowers.
“I need it to be perfect, Em,” she said. “Brian and I are the only children of our parents, so this is the only chance they’re going to get to be parents of the bride and groom.”
A smiling older couple | Source: Midjourney
I helped her wherever I could. I booked visits of stunning venues that she could see. I booked her appointment with the florist who had done all the flowers at my wedding. And I arranged for her to meet my choreographer for her first dance with Brian.
“I don’t know how I could have done any of this without you,” Elle said, holding my hand.
Two women holding hands | Source: Midjourney
But that’s not the best part of this story.
Despite our shared history and all the assistance I had given Elle throughout her wedding planning process, she didn’t tell me anything about the actual wedding.
“I want to keep the location a secret,” she said sheepishly, a small smile on her face. “I want it to be a surprise. So, you’ll know when the invites come out.”
A close-up of a smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
And yet, when the invitations came out, I never received mine.
“Darling,” I asked Grant when I got home one day. “Did Elle’s wedding invitation come in the post?”
“No,” he said, looking up from his tablet. “Shouldn’t she have just given it to you?”
A man using a tablet | Source: Midjourney
“I thought so, but I’m not sure where our invitation is.”
“Ask her, love,” my husband said.
I was puzzled, but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
A close-up of a surprised woman | Source: Midjourney
So, I asked her directly.
“Oh, right,” she said, looking a bit uncomfortable. “I must have forgotten. I don’t have any on me at the moment, but I’ll bring one for you tomorrow!”
The next day, Elle handed me an invite. To my surprise, the dress code was “Mermaid.”
A wedding invitation on a table | Source: Midjourney
“Like the cartoon character?” I said aloud.
It seemed bizarre, but Elle had always loved that cartoon, so I tried to rationalize it.
“Maybe she’s going for a whimsical theme?” I muttered, thinking about a mermaid-themed wedding.
An imagined mermaid-themed wedding | Source: Midjourney
But still, I planned my outfit for Elle’s wedding.
It was about a week before the wedding when our colleague, Jane, and I were standing outside during one of our tea breaks and chatting.
“I’m actually looking forward to getting all dressed up,” Jane said. “It’s been a while since I put on a good pair of heels and did my makeup for fun and not work.”
A woman putting on makeup | Source: Unsplash
“What do you mean? Is your costume all sorted?” I asked.
“What costume?” Jane asked, her reaction priceless; she looked at me like I had lost my mind.
“Elle’s invitation said that the dress code was mermaid-themed,” I said.
A surprised young woman | Source: Midjourney
“I think she’s joking with you,” Jane laughed. “My invitation said ‘Cocktail’ as the dress code.”
My heart sank.
Elle was setting me up, but why?
For the next few days, I kept my head down, barely interacting with Elle.
A close-up of a sad woman | Source: Midjourney
I was feeling sidelined and hurt. We’d always been honest with each other, so why was she doing this now?
I remembered how supportive she was during my wedding and couldn’t understand why she didn’t want me involved in hers.
On the day of the wedding, I arrived in a long, elegant gray dress.
A woman wearing a long gray dress | Source: Midjourney
Grant and I sat at the back, away from the crowd, and we watched the beautiful ceremony unfold. I wondered why I wasn’t a bridesmaid.
But it was only during the reception, when Elle saw me, that the truth came out.
A bridal couple kissing | Source: Unsplash
“What the hell are you wearing?” she demanded when she saw me.
The guests around us glanced at us and each other, sensing the tension.
“You know, I really thought that ‘mermaids’ as the wedding theme was a bit extreme. But then Jane showed me her invitation.”
An angry bride | Source: Midjourney
Elle’s face went through a range of emotions, finally settling on a strained calm.
“Em… I guess it was a mistake,” she said.
“Stop pretending,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “I’m your friend. It’s your wedding. What’s going on?”
She hesitated, her eyes darting around before finally meeting mine.
A close-up of a bride | Source: Midjourney
“Em,” she said slowly. “I was afraid that you’d outshine me. Everyone keeps talking about how perfect your wedding was and how beautiful you looked. I didn’t want to feel like I was in your shadow on my own day.”
I looked at her carefully, trying to process her words.
“My own mother kept talking about how wonderful your wedding was and that I should listen to you about everything,” she continued.
A close-up of a bride and her mother | Source: Midjourney
“Elle, you never had to compete with me. Your wedding is beautiful, and so are you. We’re friends, remember? I would never try to overshadow you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Em,” she choked. “I let my insecurities get the best of me.”
I pulled her into a hug.
Two women hugging | Source: Midjourney
“Everything is perfect,” I said. “You’ve planned your dream wedding, and it has all fallen into place. Now, come on. Let’s enjoy this day together, like we’ve always done.”
The tension melted away, and the awkwardness dissolved as we shared a genuine moment of reconciliation.
Grant and I sat at a table away from the crowd.
A table at a wedding reception | Source: Midjourney
“Are things okay with you and Elle?” Grant asked me.
“I think so,” I smiled. “But I think that there’s bigger things we need to discuss, too. I just want to make sure that we’re on the right page. That can wait until after her honeymoon.”
My husband took my hand and squeezed it gently.
A couple holding hands on a table | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
The Elusive Crutch: A Viral Puzzle That’s Got Everyone Scratching Their Heads
The internet is filled with brain-teasing challenges, but every now and then, a puzzle emerges that leaves even the sharpest minds baffled. One such image has recently gone viral—an illustration that asks viewers to find four hidden objects: an egg, a glove, an envelope, and a crutch. Sounds simple, right? Think again.
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary bathroom scene, but hidden within the artwork are objects so cleverly disguised that most people miss them entirely. Do you have what it takes to spot them all? Let’s dive into this tricky puzzle and break it down step by step.
Can You Find the Four Hidden Objects?
Take a close look at the image above. Somewhere within this seemingly normal scene, four everyday objects are hiding in plain sight. Your challenge? Find the egg, glove, envelope, and crutch before reading further.
Don’t be too quick to assume you’ve spotted them all. Many people rush through the puzzle and overlook key details. Do you trust your observation skills? Let’s test them!
Common Mistakes That Trip People Up
Many participants find themselves stuck on this puzzle for a few reasons:
- Overconfidence in First Impressions – Most people assume they’ll find all four objects in seconds. However, the trick lies in the clever way they’re blended into the scene.
- Ignoring Camouflage Techniques – The objects aren’t just “placed” in the picture; they’re hidden by color matching, shape manipulation, and strategic positioning.
- Focusing Only on the Main Characters – While the people in the illustration draw attention, the hidden objects are placed in unexpected locations.
- Giving Up Too Quickly – Some people get frustrated and stop searching before truly analyzing the details.
If you’ve fallen into one of these traps, don’t worry—you’re not alone! Now, let’s break down the puzzle and reveal where each object is hiding.
Video : Find the 4th object
Step-by-Step Breakdown: Finding Each Hidden Object
1. The Egg – A Sneaky Facial Feature 🥚
Location: The egg is cleverly hidden as part of the nose of the man standing on the left side of the image.
At first glance, his nose seems normal, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that it has been shaped and shaded to resemble an egg. This is a classic example of camouflaged placement—where an object blends seamlessly into another element of the scene.
Many people fail to spot the egg because they assume they are looking for a traditional, standalone egg. However, this puzzle plays with expectations, making the challenge even more difficult.
2. The Glove – Hidden in the Clothing 🧤
Location: The glove is subtly incorporated into the skirt of the person in the middle.
At first, it appears as just a fold in the fabric, but if you focus on the shape and outline, you’ll see that it’s a perfectly formed glove. The designer of this puzzle used color blending to make the glove look like part of the skirt, tricking the eye into overlooking it.
This is a common technique in optical illusions—using shadows, textures, and positioning to make objects “disappear” into their surroundings.
3. The Envelope – Hiding in the Tiles ✉️
Location: The envelope is disguised as part of the bathroom wall tiles behind the woman in blue.
Unlike the other objects, which rely on shape manipulation, the envelope blends in using color and symmetry. The white tiles create a perfect backdrop, making it difficult to recognize the faint outline of an envelope.
The trick to spotting this one is to change how you look at the image. Instead of focusing on what you expect an envelope to look like, scan the background for anything slightly “off.” That’s where the hidden envelope reveals itself.
4. The Crutch – A Difficult One to Spot 🩼
Location: The crutch is cleverly placed near the bottom right of the image, blending into the chair legs.
This is perhaps the hardest object to find. Most people assume a crutch would be near the people or propped against the wall. Instead, the artist merged it with another element of the scene, making it appear as part of the background furniture.
To find it, you have to look at angles and lines that don’t quite match up with the rest of the objects in the room. Once you notice the slight curvature and the different shading, the crutch stands out.
What Makes This Puzzle So Challenging?
This puzzle is a perfect example of how our brains process visual information. When looking at an image, we naturally focus on key elements—faces, objects in the foreground, and high-contrast details. However, our brains tend to overlook background details that seem unimportant.
This is why the puzzle is so tricky. The artist deliberately placed the objects in unexpected locations and used visual tricks to blend them into their surroundings. Our brain struggles to separate what is “important” from what is “hidden,” leading to the difficulty in spotting all four objects.
The Fun of Optical Illusions and Hidden Object Puzzles
This type of puzzle isn’t just entertaining—it also helps train your observation skills and attention to detail. Studies have shown that engaging in visual challenges like this can:
- Improve focus and concentration
- Enhance problem-solving skills
- Strengthen pattern recognition abilities
- Increase patience and persistence
So, the next time you find yourself struggling with a hidden object puzzle, remember—every moment you spend searching strengthens your brain!
Video : Find 4 hidden objects
Final Challenge: Can You Find the Objects Faster Than Others?
Now that you know where each object is hidden, share this puzzle with your friends and family. See how quickly they can find all four objects. You might be surprised—some people will spot them instantly, while others will take much longer!
🔍 How long did it take you to find them? Share your answer in the comments!
If you enjoyed this challenge, be sure to check out more mind-bending puzzles and hidden object games to keep your brain sharp and entertained. Who knows? The next puzzle might be even trickier!
Now, Are You Ready for Another Challenge?
Stay tuned for more exciting brain teasers and visual puzzles. In the meantime, keep training your eyes—you never know when you’ll need them for the next mind-blowing illusion!
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