How Do You Balance Weddings and Work?

My colleague personal finance whiz Kimberly Palmer wrote recently about the financial burden of being a bridesmaid.

A wedding can also pose a complication on the job. Suppose you're a bridesmaid who is asked to travel for a wedding and you have no vacation days. Or suppose the rehearsal is on Thursday afternoon and the wedding is Friday evening and you're up against a tight deadline at work.

I'm curious to know how others have handled weddings and work in their lives. Has anyone refused to be a bridesmaid for a career-related reason?