I have decided that I will write a book. “Confessions of a Professional Wedding Guest: Living the single life when all your friends are getting married.” I think it will be a bestseller.

The occasion for this decision? Another wedding this past weekend.
Now, I don’t mean to sound so negative about it all; it really was a gorgeous, inspired event. One of the best I’ve been to in a while. The trouble is, I’ve been to A LOT of weddings in the past year, with many more still to come in the next. As the single-girl guest, I’ve learned quite a few things about entertaining myself when all my dating/engaged/married friends are dancing up a storm, reminiscing about their own weddings, or speaking sweet nothings to each other about that day still to come in their relationship when they, too, will get to wear those beautiful clothes, plan an entire day of celebration in which they will be the center of attention, take a fabulous trip where there are no expectations of visiting family, buy all sorts of awesome new flatware and draperies… you get the idea. For those of us left in the crowd, there is hopefully a buffet meal and several other singles with which to stare wistfully at all the happiness surrounding while we secretly wish that someone would go ahead and trip over the bride’s excessively long train straight into the table holding the cake that is adding pounds to your hips by mere proximity.

Come on – you know you’d laugh.

Reading this you probably think I am an angry, bitter single woman. Far from the truth, my friends. I’m having a great time…that is, when I’m not shopping for shower gifts, wedding gifts, gift wrap, and congratulatory cards… But, please, don’t read this as a deterrent to inviting me to your own nuptials. I will gladly celebrate with joy the days when my friends declare their commitments and love for one another. Just don’t be shocked when I’m sitting there taking notes – I have a book to write, after all.