My husband saved me from spinsterhood. Just barely, in some eyes--I was married at 26. We received generous gifts, many from people who hadn't been invited to the wedding. This convinced my father more than ever that weshould have invited all of his friends and relatives. He felt this way for several years, until one of my sisters got engaged and made elaborate plans to feed and entertain 125 wedding guests. As the expenses mounted, my father took me aside and asked me to talk tomy sister. "Tell her she should have a small, simple wedding," he said. "Like yours.