A woman is most likely to walk down the aisle on an August afternoon and the average wedding has 165 guests. If you’re one of them, here are four tips to help you survive the experience. This comes courtesy of Rodale publications.
- First, to tame a tense bride: Whatever you do, don’t say “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.” That phrase belittles the bride’s fear, when what she really wants is for her fears to be acknowledged. So instead, when bridezilla’s having a meltdown, ask, “What are you worried about? He’s a great guy and you’re an amazing couple.” Dr. Dale Atkins, who wrote the book Wedding Sanity Savers, says saying that will shift her focus to what really matters and take her mind off wilted flower arrangements. It’ll also open the door for her to express herself, instead of being shut-down by a pat response.
- To give a great wedding toast: Start by picking a story line. Like growing up with the bride. Tom Haibeck, author of Wedding Toasts Made Easy says a theme helps you stay focused – and it’s easier to follow. Unless you’re a stand-up comic, don’t tell a bunch of jokes. Stick with the oldies but the goodies, like. "Remember, the three most important words in a marriage are ‘you’re right dear’."
- If you’re flying solo at a wedding, master the art of small talk so you can chat up perfect strangers. It’s as easy as asking a fellow guest how they know the bride and groom. That’s an open-ended question, which means it requires more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Other no-fail conversation starters: “What did you think of the ceremony?” – “What did you think of the bride’s gown?” – people love to share their opinions.
- And if there’s a drunk ruining the reception, what can you do? Don’t tell the newlyweds and shift their focus away from their happy day. Instead, alert the in-laws, the wedding planner, or the maid of honor. They’ll be grateful to catch the drunk before he does anything embarrassing – because if he gets in an accident, the host of the party is liable.
