17 Tips For Surviving (And Enjoying!) Wedding Season

As the weather gets warmer, more and more couples head to the altar. With wedding season in full bloom, here are some useful tips for surviving the busy weekends ahead.

Eat before you drink.

If you’re planning on sippin’ some bubbly at a wedding, it’s important to either eat beforehand or get some food in you at the reception before you start popping bottles. While it’s perfectly fine to drink lots of booze at weddings, it’s always a good idea to ensure you’re not the sloppiest guest there. A full stomach will help with that.

Bring a care-free mindset with you.

Weddings inevitably bring up a lot of thoughts about your own life, whether you’re single or attached, happy or sad. You’ll enjoy the proceedings much more if you focus all your attention on the couple at hand instead of your own problems. Your goal should be to put real life on pause and have a good time to celebrate someone else’s special day.

Don’t be afraid to pick and choose.

At some point, you’ll likely be in that sticky spot where you have two wedding invites for the same day. Instead of stressing about obligations, don’t be afraid to decline one in favor of another. Chances are you’re closer to one couple than the other, so be confident in your decision-making.

If it’s a destination wedding, turn it into a vacation.

Instead of dreading destination weddings due to the price tag, look on the bright side and use it as an excuse to take a trip. Not only will you have time to do your own activities outside of the wedding, but you’re also likely to get in some quality moments with the happy couple.

Try out new outfits.

One great way to ensure you enjoy a wedding is to feel great about the way you look. Without taking the spotlight away from the bride, try out new styles and designs that make you feel special.

If you’re a bridesmaid, be open about your budget.

If you’re the maid of honor or a bridesmaid, chances are you’re already very close with the bride. You shouldn’t feel weird telling her that you don’t have a huge budget for the bachelorette party or new dresses. The best thing to do is to have a conversation sooner rather than later and to keep a positive attitude about the whole thing.

Get to know the wedding party.

If you’re lucky enough to be in the wedding party of the bride and groom, do your best to get to know the other members before the ceremony. This can be in the form of a bachelor or bachelorette party, but you can also find other ways to have conversations leading up to the big day. It’ll make the wedding and reception that much more meaningful.

Try to dress for less.

Sure, it’s great to try out new outfits and have an excuse to go shopping. But if you’re focusing on keeping a budget this wedding season, try buying one or two items that can be accessorized in different ways and worn to more than one event. A classic black dress is a great example. You can use interchanging evening wear separates to differentiate between outings and create multiple looks on a budget.

Choose a gift from the heart.

Most wedding experts always advise giving something from the registry or just cold hard cash as a gift. This makes sense, as you don’t want to give the couple something tacky that they’ll never use. Sometimes, though, giving cash or a set of baking sheets just feels too impersonal for a close friend’s wedding. There are sites such as Etsy that have thousands of personal and out-of-the-box gifts that you should consider exploring. In terms of pricing, a general guideline is between $75 and $100 (but you should always go with your instinct).

Don’t wear brand new shoes.

Really, though. A pair of shoes that aren’t broken in can be a night-ruiner. If you’re breaking out a new pair of kicks for the big day, be sure to try to break them in a few days beforehand.

Know your table mates.

If you don’t already know the other people sitting at your assigned tables, be sure to introduce yourself and ask how they know the bride and groom. Even if you don’t plan on having a long conversation, it’ll make your meal less awkward and lead to an overall more enjoyable evening.

Do not make an unplanned toast.

Weddings are days where people want everything to go according to plan. A reception isn’t the time for an unexpected toast. If you’re feeling good after a few drinks and feel the need to hijack the mic, do everything in your power to restrain yourself, no matter how funny you think you’ll be!

If you’re single, don’t be afraid to go dateless.

If you’re single and attending a friend’s wedding, it’s much better to come ready to mingle than to bring a date that you don’t know very well. Weddings make for awkward early dates, plus it’s a lot more fun to flirt with other singles at the event than to constantly feel like you have to entertain your date (who likely doesn’t know anyone else there). You’ll be fine if you head out solo, so be confident in yourself!

Watch what pictures you upload.

It’s a good idea to wait on posting a bunch of pics you took until the bride and groom have shared their own photos on social media. It’s better to avoid a bunch of unflattering wedding photos on Facebook and let the couple showcase their big day in the manner of their choosing.

No live-tweeting!

In fact, it’s better if you keep your phones away during the ceremony and reception. It’s the time to talk to guests, grab a drink and hit the dance floor. Let the professional photographers do their thing. Social media can wait.

Talk to the parents in the room.

Weddings are a great opportunity to talk to your friend’s parents and some of the other older guests in the room. Don’t just sit at the twenty-something table! Take the time to engage in meaningful and reflective conversations with people who have possibly been married for decades. It’ll make you think about important things (in addition to the fact that you’ll look mature and classy in front of other guests!).

Don’t worry about not talking extensively to the happy couple.

They’re the busiest people in the room and likely won’t even get to taste their own wedding cake. If all you manage is a brief conversation with them, don’t sweat it. You’ll have plenty of time to chat after the honeymoon!