I would rather dress in deep purple gauze and ride dromedary across the Sahara dessert alone than attend an upcoming wedding, Am I dramatic or anti-social? more |
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You are cordially invited to have a great time!
By Lesliee Jo
In a recent movie, 27 Dresses, actress Katherine Heigl portrays the “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” character who has been asked to don the cursed bridesmaid dress for the 28th time. Well, at least she had something to wear and something to do at all of those weddings!
It happens to everyone—married, single, divorced, widowed—it’s a wedding for the boss’s son, the neighbor’s daughter, the cousin’s child…one of those weddings in which sending a negative RSVP will only cause more issues than facing the dreaded event itself. The dreaded event that you have to attend…alone. Yet, we dream of fabricating a plausible story, possibly twisting an ankle to an odd degree, anything, anything!, that will leave us effectively immobilized for the happy occasion.
But what if we tapped some hidden bouquet of confidence or generated a surge of energy that carried us proudly through the event without having to clutch our drink as if it were life preserver, saving us from drowning in our single sorrow pool? What if we could hug the groom and congratulate the bride without having to make awkward introductions (this is…Paolo…my tennis uh, my uh…date). What if you could actually sit back and enjoy the ceremony without worrying whether your date was going to fall asleep, be bored off his behind or refuse to glance at you for fear you are thinking about what your wedding day gown will entail when you two lovebirds take the plunge?
We have seen it all, have we not? The parade in front of our mirrors, cursing ourselves for not having the appropriate wedding finery for a wedding. The shot of tequila in the car before heading into the ceremony. The wallflowers who sit, scrutinizing the wedding program as if it were the most fascinating piece of literature ever written in the 21st century.
Never fear—there is a key to a successful day with the happiest couple on the planet. Here’s how you can get through the event with flying streamers:
Fake it. Those singles we spoke with had confidence—and when lacking, they faked it. It is amazing what a straight posture, generous smile and eye contact can do to one’s appearance—and social life.
No worries. Most singles realized they were more fun when the didn't have to concern themselves with the happiness of their tagalog date. A bonus was that they didn’t need to worry about whether their date would drink too much, hit on someone other than them or spill the beans about their true relationship (he’s my sister’s best friend’s eccentric brother).
Plan for excitement. With the mindset that you will have fun, put an extra spin on your wardrobe. Find a new dress, tie or dancing shoes. Secure a haircut. Who cares if you look better than the bride? Go for it! If you look good, you feel good…and if you have that kind of positive energy inside, you’re bound to have fun!
Don’t be late? Some singles suggest arriving early for the ceremony—not so early that you’re the only one in a big, empty place of worship, but early enough people aren’t scrutinizing those being escorted. Conversely, there is some validity to being fashionably late. Arrive eight to ten minutes before the ceremony begins; you can squeeze onto the end of a pew without having to take the long march up the aisle on the arm of some uncomfortable high school freshman relative. Another tip: arrive after the dance begins to avoid the awkward small talk of the dinner. Indeed, some experts suggest skipping the ceremony and dinner entirely and arriving later in the night after the festivities have begun. Enjoy a toast, congratulate the couple, catch some quick conversation and then ditch out before Uncle Ted (jest call me Teddy) gets drunk and disorderly.
Most importantly, have a great time, even if you only have the nerve to last for an hour. Honestly, no one is looking at you crosswise like you are some loser who can’t score a date. They don’t care! The wedding ceremony and reception is a celebration of love and commitment, and the best way you can show honor is to enjoy yourself and leave on a positive note. Who knows—maybe next time that invitation arrives in the mail, you will check “1” happily and with acquired confidence. Good luck!
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