Wedding Survival Tips

So here are the tips for surviving your younger sibling's wedding in the frum community that I promised in my last post:

1. Make sure you look fabulous. It may seem shallow, but it makes a difference when you know you look incredible. The only worst thing than being pitied for being single at your younger sibling's wedding for being single is being pitied for being single and looking bad. Let people see that you're doing fine single.

Put these on your checklist, single ladies: Great dress; hot shoes (heels, a MUST); elegant hairdo; beautiful make-up.

2. Alcohol. I'm not a drinker, and I didn't even drink all that much at my little brother's wedding, but the few drinks that I had made me mellow enough to enjoy the party, and oblivious enough to miss most of the patronizing smiles.

Needless to say, this is only for those of you over 21 (or 18 in Europe and Israel). And I say "needless to say," because if you're younger than 21 and your younger siblings are getting married, it's going to take more than booze to set things straight in your situation.

3. Forget about who's looking, and just do whatever it takes to have a good time. Those old ladies frowning at your style of dancing? They don't exist. The shadchanim (matchmakers) peering over their glasses at your frequent trips to the bar? They don't matter.

Really. They don't.

4. If you can have some of your own friends there, it helps. If, however, your younger sibling drags you across the country for their wedding, (as mine did,) far away from your closest pals who understand what you're going through, add a few more drinks to your evening and it won't matter who's there for have fun with you. You'll manage fine alone.

5. Enjoy the food. If you happen to be on a diet, forget about it for the evening. Chocolate, especially, has amazing healing powers.

Any other tips? Let me know!