So you’ve gotten an invitation to a wedding and there’s no ‘and guest’ on it. Or your significant other was invited, too, but has an important business conference that weekend…or got sick at the last moment. Whatever. You’re going to have to face that reception and that crowd of people on your own.

Before you throw in the towel and claim you’re getting your adenoids removed or joining the Secret Service and heading off to protect the President on your friends’ or relatives’ big day, stop and think for a minute. You don’t really want to miss cousin Bob’s wedding (or your favorite sorority sisters’, or whatever relation) just because you’re a tidge shy about meeting a group of happy people in the mood to celebrate, do you?

The key is to remember that most of the people at this event really are going to be in a cheerful and somewhat expansive mood. Unless there are huge family kerfuffles over the match, chances are that nothing more untoward will happen than someone with a mild buzz on attempting to perform the chicken dance with comic results. Despite the popularity of shows like Bridezillas, the fact is that most bridal couples and their families do put their best manners on for a wedding. In fact, in more than forty years of attending (and participating) in weddings, I have yet to see a fist fight break out or a bride hurling cake at the masses, or, indeed, any action that was much more than momentarily embarrassing.

Besides, chances are you do know at least a few people at the wedding. If you’re in the bride and groom’s social circle, you’ve likely either met or heard about a lot of other people they know…who are also probably at the wedding.

I’m going to let you all in on a little secret about me…

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