Listen really close, collegiettes. Do you hear them? Growing louder and louder with every day of your college career… the wedding bells. They’re coming for you and your friends, and you’d better be ready soon!
Because of Auburn’s southern location and overall traditional values, many upperclassmen collegiettes will find themselves in the midst of the fabled wedding season of their early twenties. They will find themselves watching acquaintances from high school get a ring on their finger, closely followed by friend after friend until their roommate or their best friend sends them the glittery picture of the ring.
I personally have found myself in the miasma that is the dreaded wedding season, topped off by the fact that my best friend/roommate/partner in crime got engaged to her now-fiancée a couple weeks ago, and I am as far away from that part of my life as possible (#SingleLikeAPringle, anyone?). So, here’s a step-by-step guide on how a single girl can slide through from the ominous wedding season unscathed, unembarrassed and most importantly of all, full of ideas for your own wedding (in the distant, distant, distant future!).
Step One: The Engagement
What Happens: You’re chilling on the couch, surfing Netflix and Facebook at the same time and contemplating whether or not you should go get takeout Chinese or order in a pizza. As you’re scrolling past reposts of silly vines and pictures of friends at tailgates, something rather sparkly catches your eye. Accompanied by a perfectly manicured hand, a smiling couple, and a mushy caption detailing a dream relationship, is an engagement announcement from your friend! Panic rises in your stomach- it’s here.
What to Do: Freak out! Your beautiful bestie is marrying the love of her life. It’s time to pop the champagne, do the whole voicemail of you screeching and asking about every detail of the engagement story, and revel in the moment.
What NOT to Do: Bug her about not telling you first -she’s got a family to let know about one of the most important moments of her life. And don’t get too freaked out, you’re going to be there to walk her through the whole thing!
Step Two: The Planning
What Happens: Bridal magazines galore, daily Pinterest sessions and hours of TLC wedding shows. That’s pretty much it.
What to Do: Plan to your heart’s content! But don’t get overwhelmed. Your friend is going to be so excited about her upcoming nuptials that she’s going to want to spend the majority of your time together talking about the wedding. Indulge her! Give yourself time to hang out with other single friends too, because they’re the ones that are actually in the same boat as you. But wedding planning is fun, and let yourself have fun with it!
What NOT to Do: Don’t let the wedding become everything in your relationship with your engaged friend. Talk about things that are going on in your life, things that are going on in the world, and definitely give yourself a break from talking about wedding things. If not, you’re going to get burned out on wedding stuff, and you won’t be able to be as energetic about the event as you should be!
Step 3: Being the Best Bridesmaid
What Happens: Trying on bridesmaid dresses, bridal showers, bachelorette bashes. Lots of cake, sweets, brunches and most importantly, lots of cocktails and champagne. And a whole lot of planning on your part.
What to Do: Divide the work among your fellow bridesmaids, or else everything will get way too overwhelming. Have one maid plan the shower, one get all the sparkles and games for the bachelorette party, and one do the rest of the catch-all planning activities. Keep everyone accountable for keeping your friend’s day perfect! Let everyone know your budget, so the bride doesn’t end up picking out a bridesmaid dress that would put you out rent money, and let the rest of the bridal party help out with the costs of the bridal parties.
What NOT to Do: First things first, if the bride-to-be has not explicitly asked you to be a bridesmaid, don’t pressure her into choosing you. It is her big day, and even though you guys are best friends, she might have a cousin she always promised to put in her wedding, and you don’t want that kind of awkward situation between the two of you.
Step 4: The Wedding
What Happens: Groom. Bride. Kiss. Everyone cheers. Food, drinks and dancing. Easy peasy.
What to Do: Enjoy every moment! Watch the groom’s face when your friend walks down the aisle so you can tell her about it later. Gasp at how beautiful she looks. Dance with everyone who asks you to, and even those who don’t ask you to (grab that one awkward brother of the groom sitting in the corner and show him how to cha cha slide!). Take advantage of the open bar and free cake. Dive for that bouquet like it’s the last piece of pizza at a party. Live it up.
What NOT to Do: Make it about yourself. We know you’re single, but don’t be bugging the blushing bride about setting you up with one of the groomsmen on her big day. Don’t cry because it’s not you getting married, your day will come soon enough (if not, that’s okay too!) and the bride will one day be figuring out how to deal with you at your wedding!