How to survive weddings when you're single and interested, but hate making small talk

Enough with the “So, how do you know the couple?”!

Schenelle Dsouza

Nov 01, 2025

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Enough with the “So, how do you know the couple?”!

Wedding season is inching closer, which makes it the perfect time to write this article. Now, I’ve been to my fair share of weddings—as a child and as an adult. And let’s be honest, the experience of going to a wedding as an adult? Exciting, complicated, and occasionally embarrassing, especially if you’re single and attending solo.

A lot of people will tell you that weddings are the best place to meet someone. But in my experience, most guests bring a plus-one, even if they’re not actually together, just to avoid the endless stream of questions—Are you seeing someone? Why aren’t you dating? When are you tying the knot?—and well-meaning relatives trying to set you up with the children of people they know (compatibility, apparently, is optional).

But jokes aside, we all secretly hope to meet someone at a wedding. Maybe you’ve already exchanged some eye contact across the dance floor and think it could lead to something more (a conversation in this case, obviously). Only for that chat to spiral into the dreaded small talk loop. “So, how do you know the couple?” Yup, no one likes small talk.

So here’s how to survive weddings if you’re single, open to meeting someone, and allergic to forced conversation.

Remember what you're actually there for

Prepping your mindset before attending a wedding is the best way to dodge disappointment. You’re at a celebration—there’s music, food, drinks, and people genuinely happy to be there. Sure, you might want to meet someone, but making that your main goal is a one-way ticket to overthinking. When you’re too busy scanning the crowd or worrying about how you come across, you stop having fun—which, ironically, is the most attractive thing about you. So relax, dance, eat the dessert, and laugh with your friends. Even if you don’t end up meeting someone, you’ll still go home with memories that don’t involve you faking interest in your uncle’s real estate advice.

Dress for confidence, not attention

Yes, we all love an excuse to go all out at a wedding—it’s part of the fun! But the best wedding outfits aren’t just about turning heads; they’re about feeling comfortable and confident enough to enjoy yourself. Pick something that makes you feel amazing and lets you move, dance, and breathe. Because confidence is what truly draws people in—not the outfit you can’t sit down in. Plus, when you feel good, small talk suddenly feels a little less painful.

Master the art of non-cringe conversation

If you hate small talk, welcome to the club. No one wants to repeat “So, how do you know the couple?” for the 47th time that night. Skip the formalities and go straight for something real or at least something funny. Compliment their outfit, make a joke about the playlist, or point out the relative who’s already tipsy on the dance floor. The best conversations are the ones that feel effortless, not like you’re both reading from a LinkedIn bio. And if you're comfortable enough, flirt a little; keep it light, and when the chat starts dying faster than the open bar champagne, make your exit. And before you point out, no, it's not rude—you’re just protecting your peace (and your energy).

Let the wedding do the work for you

Honestly, weddings are full of opportunities to mingle—the bar, the dance floor, the photo booth, the buffet line—these are all basically social cheat codes. Use them. You don’t need to plan a grand rom-com-style entrance; just exist in the chaos and let the night work its magic. And if you’ve got friends at the wedding, use them as your wingman. Get them to help introduce you to people. A simple “Oh, you two should meet” is all it takes, and it's less embarrassing than hovering awkwardly while pretending to text.

Don’t make romance the only win

Remember, at the end of the day, not every wedding needs to end with a meet-cute. Maybe you meet someone fun, maybe you don’t. Maybe your biggest connection of the evening is with the dessert table, and that’s perfectly fine. The truth is, the best moments happen when you’re not trying so hard. So stop scanning the room for your future plus-one and just have fun. Dance, laugh, eat, disappear before the relatives start matchmaking again. Who knows? The right person might notice you while you’re too busy being the effortlessly cool one, having the best time.

Lead image: IMDb

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