A therapist reveals how to survive a wedding if you're an unaccompanied minor

A therapist has revealed how individuals can navigate wedding events alone without feeling diminished, offering practical advice to help them feel more comfortable and confident. The situation, attending a wedding without a partner, can be awkward, especially when nearly everyone else arrives in pairs. Such moments may trigger feelings of shame, insecurity, or the perception that others are judging one’s romantic status. However, the fact that someone attends alone says nothing about their worth or how the event will unfold, according to Vice. Weddings and maid-of-honor dinners often create additional pressure because they are strongly associated with ideas of love, partnership, and life-changing milestones. For singles, this can open up questions about their personal lives, relationships, and expectations. Yet, these situations can also serve as opportunities for self-reflection and better understanding of one's emotions. If attending a wedding alone, it is helpful to consider in advance what might assist in feeling more secure and relaxed. The therapist suggests examining one's own feelings. Weddings can elicit powerful responses in people who are not in relationships, but these reactions need not be exclusively negative. They may help in recognizing personal insecurities, sensitive points, and areas where personal growth is needed. “First, ask yourself what lies behind the feeling of being physically alone there,” says Shruthi Nair, a licensed therapist and founder of Bold Brown Therapy. “The hardest part isn’t the fact that you’re alone, but the meaning you assign to it. Weddings can prompt thoughts about how everyone else is progressing in life or further erode self-esteem.” Avoiding black-and-white thinking is also crucial. When observing important moments in another person’s life, it is easy to experience uncertainty or fear about one’s own future. However, such thinking rarely helps. Everyone has their own life path and pace, and another person’s relationship or marriage does not mean one’s life is falling behind. “People may find it helpful to focus on what they value within themselves, as well as the achievements they have made over the years,” explains Nair. This perspective can strengthen self-confidence and ease doubts that sometimes intensify at weddings. It is also important to remember that relationships or marriages are not guarantees of lasting happiness or solutions to all problems. Couples also face challenges, ranging from career and financial issues to illness and family matters. Some couples stay together for a lifetime, while others eventually separate. From the outside, we never truly know what actually happens in other people’s lives. Instead of focusing on what is missing, it is more beneficial to pay attention to existing relationships. Love comes not only through romantic connections but also through friends, family, and those who offer support. At a wedding, the focus can shift back to why one is there, to celebrate an important day for someone one cares about. It is acceptable to have complicated emotions. Weddings can simultaneously bring joy, excitement, loneliness, envy, or longing. These feelings are not unusual and do not necessarily indicate that one is not genuinely happy for the couple. “Accepting the reality that you can be happy for the couple and yet desire a partner for yourself can be the first step toward easier acceptance of such feelings,” says Nair. In other words, it is not necessary to choose between happiness for someone else’s happiness and one’s own sadness or discomfort. Both emotions can coexist. Creating a personal plan for the wedding can also be useful. As a guest, you are there to celebrate with the couple, but this does not mean you should completely ignore your own needs. If you know that attending alone might be emotionally challenging, it is helpful to prepare in advance. “This could include setting aside time for what you can control: who you will sit with, whom you will talk to, how you will manage your emotions, and when you want to leave,” says Nair. “This directs you towards what is safe rather than uncertainty, which can give you more confidence during the event.” Such a plan might involve arranging to meet a friend, taking a brief break during the evening, leaving at a time that suits you, or carrying a reminder that you don’t need to prove you are fine throughout the entire evening. The goal is not to avoid all uncomfortable emotions, but to make the situation slightly easier.