Summer is finally here, and wedding bells will be heard across the country throughout the hot season. How many invitations have you gotten so far just for the upcoming months? If you’re like us, you’ll be putting on your best Sunday dress to attend more than one marriage celebration—which is fine, if you’re happily in love and your “plus one” is your sweet’n’sexy beau. But what if you’re single? How do you make the best of that most extreme celebration of “coupledom” when you’ve got no one special at the moment?
Here are our top dos and don’ts when attending a wedding as a fabulous single gal; a few simple tips that should help you maintain a cheerful attitude—and avoid running the risk of ending the evening in an unfortunate situation (sobbing over your slice of wedding cake, feeling sorry for yourself, then going home with your best friend’s geeky second cousin because he looked hot after seven glasses of champagne, etc.).
DO wear a dress that makes you look and feel totally gorgeous.
It’s so rare that you get the occasion to dress up, why not take your look up a notch? Try a new lipstick or treat yourself to a fun piece of vintage jewelry like a gorgeous, funky cocktail ring.
DON’T wear anything that would steal the spotlight from the bride.
It’s her day, after all! This means not wearing anything white, and also keeping in mind that a wedding is a formal event, which means not dressing in anything too revealing or over-the-top.
DO ask a buddy or your hot cousin to stand in as your “plus one”.
Don’t hesitate to bring along your best bud, or anyone else who will be entertaining company—especially if you’re a shy person and won’t know the other guests. It can also keep those uncomfortable why-are-you-still-single questions at bay. However, standing in as your “plus one” doesn’t mean your friend actually needs to pretend he’s your beau; doing so could make for an uncomfortable situation if you do happen to meet a guy with dating potential.
DO go with the flow if you meet an interesting guy.
You never know who you’re going to meet, so keep an open mind and attitude. On the other hand, don’t start the evening off with high expectations of meeting Mr. Right. Also keep in mind that some men go to these events with the intention of picking up a desperate single gal, feeling sorry for herself; so keep yourself in check—or you could end up going home with someone you wouldn’t even look twice at under normal circumstances.
DO be self-confident and shrug off any insistent questions about why you’re single.
You’re a fabulous, self-confident woman, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation about why you haven’t yet found Mr. Right. Answer politely but firmly, before changing the subject, and putting the focus back on the day itself. Don’t, however, become defensive; if someone asks why you’re still single, try responding with: ”I’m enjoying my life right now—and this wedding. Isn’t a beautiful day? Are you a friend of the family?”. The important thing is to not let anyone make you feel bad about yourself. Remember: you’re there to celebrate the couple’s happy day—not to compare yourself to others.
DO be happy if you catch the bride’s bouquet.
It could mean that it’ll be your turn next to take a walk down the aisle! (Or at the very least, you’ll have a nice bouquet of flowers to bring home).
DON’T start a cat fight trying to grab the bouquet from another guest.
Fighting for it probably won’t make you get married any faster. Plus, it’s just tacky; you don’t want to make a spectacle of yourself and end up on America’s Funniest Home Videos, anyway.
DO mingle with fellow guests and enjoy the party.
Weddings are a great opportunity to meet friends of the happy couple, and a large variety of new people; so get over your shyness, mix in with the crowd, and have a blast!
DON’T get smashed and risk humiliating yourself.
This one is a given—for any kind of party or event. Another reason to stay (relatively) sober: at weddings there are a lot more cameras snapping away, and there will probably be videos of the evening afterwards, too.
And most importantly,
