Going through a friend’s wedding photos this morning forced me to delve into a universal challenge. Being the single guy at a wedding, especially when most of the friends are present with their dates, is one of the most challenging roles to take on. You are at the heart of a celebration with a great focus, obviously, on love. You came empty handed, unprepared and are couple-less. So, it is no wonder that you will most likely be treated like a charity case by all the ones who made into the couples scene.
This is the night everyone hopes to look their best and have all spent a good of amount of time making sure they do. Hairsprays, liters of perfume, caps of makeup, boxes of jewelry glide graciously all around the event. The surroundings are dressed up with fancy flowers and decoration. The wedding is an exclusive event with hand selected guests, free booze and hopefully good music. Although the cocktail time promises to be a carefree social environment, it will be difficult for the single not to feel the pressure of coupling if any older family members are around. “Look at this lovely event. When will we see the day when you finally take the hand of a nice girl?”, “Have you met my friend Suzy’s daughter? Isn’t she lovely? You guys should dance tonight. I will be looking for you two on the dance floor.” The cocktail hour will be the moment the single guy realizes that he is actually not a grown-up for good.
Things will get worse as the shots pour down, the music gets louder and you as the single find yourself tipsy in the middle of the dance floor with your jacket already cooling off somewhere else. By that time, on top of your own vulnerability and the family suggestions, the friends will also be putting their bets on you. ”Dude just go for the easy girl who looks like she just got back from a safari with her leopard dress.” ”Dude you should definitely hit on that girl. She is sizzling and drunk.” Although the specified girl is actually nice and drunk, she is all prepped up to outsmart the lousy advancers. She might be going through an emotional phase as she celebrates her friend’s new family, but her reasoning is way too sober to allow any inappropriate scenery in front of all the guests (at least until the early morning when she might finally give in to the Cinderella-like stories and find peace in your arms).
Despite all the uncomfortable challenges forced upon the “single”, you can still easily manage the floor until the early stages of dancing. Catching up with distant friends, mingling with the bride, shouldering the groom and jumping like monkeys on the floor with your buddies. All fun and games until everyone slowly fades away to their loved ones and you are required by nature to approach the opposite sex who is certified to be a member of your clan “the singles”.
