Although they converse in personal terms, very rarely did their relationship extend beyond a casual street ceremony. However, upon invitation of a friend, Dante was in attendance at a customary event where maids of honor support a new bride during her first meal with the groom, and Beatrice, along with other maids of honor, were in attendance. Dante prior to seeing Beatrice asked his friend, "Why have we come here to these women?” He said, “To make sure they’re properly attended to” (La Vita Nuova in digitaldante, 2012). Dante recounts this experience in "La Vita Nuova" by noting: