That thick ivory envelope stuffed into your mailbox can only mean one thing: You’re invited to a wedding. Singles–before you call an ex or a platonic friend, consider that bringing a date just might block future ones.
Wedding receptions are a prime place to meet people, so it’s smart to go solo, said Hedda Muskat, former writer and producer for “The Love Connection” and author of “Dating Confidential.”
“It’s great to go to a wedding alone because it’s easier to get picked up,” she said. “You’re free, you’re not obligated to anyone.”
Free to float among the hoards of guests and check out the talent. The average wedding invites 178 people, according to the Association for Wedding Professionals. And you can count on finding plenty of people who are also single and looking.
“Very often singles won’t bring dates, they’ll go alone,” said Kristin Kelly, a match.com spokeswoman.
Singles are often on the prowl at receptions. The gathering is a celebration and a “time when men and women are feeling the romance,” she said.
So you’re looking to feel the love? Chat up couples since they’re likely to match-make. “They feel sorry for people who don’t have people,” Muskat said. “There is a lot of pride in finding someone for someone.”
The singles table also is a great place to meet people when you’re in your 20s. But it gets a little “brutal” once you hit your 30s, said Suzanne Schlosberg, author of “The Curse of The Singles Table.”
“There aren’t many single people left,” she said. “The definition starts to get stretched. At one wedding, I was seated next to an 11-year-old. Yeah, the kid was single. Not exactly boyfriend material.”
The kid spent dinner in cahoots with a buddy, trying to steal alcohol from the bar. That’s also not a bad place for a single who’s stuck at a table with no prospects, Muskat said.
“If you end up at the single’s table, just don’t stay there for long,” she said. “Hang out at the bar and make sure you’re not flirting with someone who is taken.”
Lame tables where no one talks should also be avoided. Muskat said most weddings have a few open seats because of no-shows. Just scout an empty spot and ask the table if you may join. “Just say, ‘My table is a little crowded. Can I sit here?’ ” she said.
Once the music starts, join the fun on the dance floor. Kelly said people are attracted to someone who seems positive and happy.
Even so, not everyone wants to embarrass themselves on the dance floor. Especially Schlosberg. “I just think dancing is the worst part for single people,” she said. “It’s really awkward. You don’t know what to do with yourself when everyone is up and dancing. At one wedding, I was picking grapes off the centerpiece but trying to do it in a symmetrical pattern.”
Just head for home when you’re ready to deface the decor. “You don’t have to stay until the bitter end,” she said.
