pba: You’re correct, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with talking to my friend and his wife at a wedding. I have friends over for Shabbos meals and I speak to their wives. Why should this be different?
I certainly wouldn’t be alone with her. Chazal made halachos to prevent things from happening. Yichud is one such halachah. Do we now know more than Chazal? Are we putting gezeiros in place so as not to transgress other gezeiros? That is not allowed.