Ok, @AmandaJWessell: Party of One challenge accepted, and I think you’ll be impressed. A month ago, I received a wedding invitation from my co-worker along with a plus-one. That was nice except that I really didn’t have a plus-one that I wanted to bring. Only knowing a few other co-workers who would be attending, I didn’t feel like subjecting a guy friend to the awkward small talk which inevitably follows. So I went alone.
No date, no wing-woman, just moi. The wedding was at the in Atlanta last weekend, and it turned out better than I expected. So if you ever find yourself in this situation, fear not! Here are some tips to help you through the night and ensure you have as much fun as someone with a date – probably even more!
1. Show up on time
Leave yourself at least 10-15 minutes before the ceremony starts to find a good seat, hopefully with people you will know. If you’re feeling anxious about going alone to begin with, it won’t help your nerves if you’re running late to the wedding and can’t find a familiar face to sit by. No need to feel like Ron Burgundy if you show up too early or too late.
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2. Put your best foot forward
There are bound to be some single fellas at the wedding so make sure you’re looking sharp. Even if you feel embarrassed or awkward, act confident. Confidence is the best beauty product money can’t buy.
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3. Don’t be on your phone all night
That should just be a general rule of life, but in case you need reminding, sitting alone at a table and skimming through Instagram or Tinder isn’t going to make you look cool and well-connected. It will make you look isolated, uninterested, and bored. Strike up conversation with people around you, and remember that you are a guest to celebrate someone’s marriage. Be available and present in the moment!
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4. Dance!
So maybe you won’t have a dance partner for the obligatory slow dance song (no one likes that part anyways), but don’t let that stop you when the band starts cranking out some Motown hits. Maybe one of those cute single fellas will ask you to dance – it worked for me!
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5. Be prepared to talk about babies
My coworkers are primarily men, and as I expected, I ended up talking more with their wives. The conversation centered around their children, their pregnancies (TMI), and a few other topics that their husbands probably wouldn’t want me to know. Making small talk about things that don’t interest you is an important life skill, so try to ask relevant questions even if you don’t have anything to say in particular. Warning: you might learn more than you ever wanted to know!
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6. Loosen up and have fun
No one cares if you show up alone as long as you don’t act like a Debbie downer. Have a few drinks and have a good time. It’s time to celebrate!
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By Kristen Greig
Vicky Sanders
Lol, nice. You know you could just find someone to go with on tinder/cliqie.com. My girlfriends use cliqie now, it’s similar to tinder, but you can find things to do and match with groups so it’s less sketchy. Skout’s not bad, but had my fair share of creepers on there
Kristen G
Good idea, Vicky! I thought about taking a tinder date but thought that might be a little much for a second date. I’ll have to check out Skout. Thanks for reading!