How To Be A Top Notch Wedding Date - Page 6

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If you’ve been asked to be a wedding plus one, you could have one of two reactions: 1) Yes! Free alcohol or 2) But I won’t know anybody there…Well, those may not be your exact reactions, but you’ll have some version of either of those. Some people light up at the chance to be a plus one to a wedding while others see the whole thing as a chore. Things become a little tricky if you’re going to be a plus one for someone you just started dating. When a new boyfriend asks you to be his plus one, it’s his way of asking, “Hey, do you want to meet like, everyone who has ever been important to me—like my childhood friends and cousins—in one night?” Aaah! Of course that’s intimidating. Not only do you have to make a good impression on a few of his friends, but you have to make a good impression on his whole world. In one night. So, here is how to be top notch wedding date.

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Take your wardrobe up a notch

Get dressed for this as if it’s your best friend’s wedding. Pull out all the stops with your wardrobe. Don’t upstage the bride, of course, but just keep in mind that it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed for a wedding. You don’t want people thinking you phoned it in because this isn’t technically your friend’s wedding.

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Be independent

Make sure your date feels that he has the freedom to mingle, walk around, and leave you on your own. He shouldn’t feel like he has to babysit you in order for you to have fun. So strike up conversations with people next to you, on your own. Don’t wait for your date to introduce you to people in order to start chatting.

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Have snacks in your purse

Sometimes the appetizer hour or dinner is delayed due to some drama backstage. Your date will love you if you have some almonds or protein bars in your purse when this happens. If you bring a flask, he probably won’t hate that either.

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Be the first to dance

Nobody wants to be the first to dance so bite the bullet! Everyone will love you for breaking the ice on this and having a great attitude about the wedding in general. Be the fun instigator. Your date will love how totally not self-conscious you are.

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Bring back rounds

When you go to the bar, if you notice someone at your table needs a drink refresher, bring them one. Bring the table a round of shots if you can. In general, if you’re going to the bar, or ordering something from a server, ask the table if they need anything.

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Listen more than talk

You are walking into unknown territory. You don’t know who has drama with whom, what the gossip is, what someone’s religion is or anything, really. So do a lot of listening before you talk. The last thing you want to do is accidentally offend somebody.

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Be positive about the food, music, everything

Everyone loves a positive person. Find things to compliment, like the bread rolls (even if the fish is dry), the cute martini glasses, and the DJ’s funky sunglasses. People can’t help but like positive people.

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Don’t get into politics

Just don’t do it…even if you’re bated. Change the subject. One person may agree with you on everything, but you never know who else is listening and getting upset.

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Do not make special food requests

Eat what you’re given and if you can’t, eat before the wedding (or stash food in your purse). Special food requests are rarely granted to the close friends of the bridal party—they’re not going to a plus one.

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Drink a lot of water

Drinking a lot of water will prevent you from getting too drunk, or having to sit down after dancing for just five minutes. Just…stay hydrated. Nobody wants a fainting plus one.

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Be fun, but don’t steal the show

Tell a funny story when there is a lull in the conversation at your table. Make great song requests to the DJ. Just don’t do something like dance on a table or take over the DJ station.

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Don’t mooch

Don’t be that person who takes seven mushroom puffs off the appetizer tray every time it goes around, or asks for two drinks at once at the bar…both of which are for you. People are very aware of the mooching tendencies of plus ones.

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Compliment the bridal party

First off, at some point, congratulate the bride, groom, and all of their parents. Also, tell the bridesmaids how beautiful they look, tell the flower girl what a good job she did, and tell the mother of the bride, as well as the mother of the groom, how stunning they are.

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Don’t give a toast/catch the bouquet

Don’t give a toast. Toasts are not for plus ones. Nope. Not even if you have something really great to say. And while you should partake in the bouquet toss, don’t catch it—let the groom’s sister do that.