Ask Melissa!

I’ve been invited to several weddings this summer. I am single and don’t have anyone to bring as my date. I’m so bummed about being alone that I don’t even want to go! How can I get through these weddings without being miserable?

Ah yes, the summer wedding season is here. If you’re sorrowfully staring at the “1” on your RSVP card, don’t despair! Here are a few wedding survival tips for singles.

Mingle. If the wedding reception has open seating, find a seat quickly before the tables fill up. Choose a table with a few people already seated (be sure not to seat yourself at a table reserved for the wedding party or family). Before you sit, politely ask if the seat is already taken. If you get the green light to join the table, introduce yourself and begin to make conversation. If seating is assigned at the wedding reception, more than likely you will be seated at a table with other singles. Perfect, the work has already been done for you! Now it’s up to you to be your charming self and make new friends!

Put the phone down. You might have 800 Facebook friends, but none of them are at this wedding, so communicating with them isn’t going to help you feel less alone. Constantly checking or texting on your phone not only draws attention to your single status, but it also makes you less approachable. I know it’s tempting to play a quick round of Angry Birds as you wait for your turn at the buffet table, but remember that you won’t meet anyone that way.

Don’t overdo it! You might think that having a few glasses of wine will help calm your nerves and give you the courage to ask that guy two tables over if he is ready to hit the dance floor, but it’s very important to avoid overindulging. Instead of stealing the microphone from the best man to sing your most heartfelt rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” stay in control by watching your alcohol intake, and be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the evening.

Dance, dance, dance. Okay, maybe the Electric Slide isn’t your best event, but by this point in the evening you’ve probably heard enough love songs to sink the Titanic and patiently sat out a multitude of couples’ dances. Now it’s your turn to get out there and get noticed! Remember to have a sense of humor on the dance floor. If Grandpa asks you to dance, be gracious and have fun (after all, he might have a handsome single grandson waiting to cut in). When people see that you are having a good time, they will want to have a good time with you. The dance floor is the center of attention at any wedding reception, so keep smiling and laughing when you’re out there, and you won’t go unnoticed.

So the next time you receive a wedding invitation and feel the anxiety building, tell yourself that you can survive—and thrive—as a single person at a wedding. You might even meet your future “plus one.” Besides, it’s an excuse to buy a cute new dress!

Need advice about your career, relationships, style, health, or just life in general? Ask Melissa! Send your questions to: askmelissa.stylequirk@gmail.com