Wedding Chairs: Science Fiction

[penthius]

The plans for the wedding were going as well as any interspecies and intercultural event could--right up until they got to the wedding chairs. The idea of sitting at a wedding would signal defeat to the Zalts, and the traditional Indian family of the bride would be horrified at the idea of leaving out such an important part of the tradition. This was one of those cases where neither side would give, and having only the bride sit would also provide exactly the wrong idea. The Hindu ceremony was fine, the traditions for decorating the bride were fine, the thing-that-wasn't-a-white-horse was acceptable, but the chairs--inconceivable. Also, very very expensive unless she could manage to find a local artisan who could make something appropriate in time. She jotted a note on her pad about finding an artisan. Cost wasn't much of an issue--if it were, these two families would hardly be initiating a dynastic joining--but it was a matter of her pride as a good organizer. And if her second big contract sank in flames over a chair, it would also be her last contract. Her first contract, by comparison, had been simple to arrange.

Inspiration: MillionShort search on "tent bazaar" -> Indian wedding chair manufacturer
Story potential: Medium
Notes: Ah, the interspecies event planner. Another opportunity for a series of linked short stories, I suppose.