Wedding Ideas

What Your Single Wedding Guests Are REALLY Thinking

Posted on July 26, 2017 by New Jersey Bride

Well, it turns out that women are happier to be single at a wedding than men! With wedding season in full throttle, singles across the nation are bracing themselves for the solo dancing and the infamous singles’ table. Or are they? EliteSingles’ latest study of 1,500 single Americans has revealed that the majority of singles are happy to attend a wedding alone—especially the women. Here’s what the study found:

A Spring Wedding at Shadowbrook in Shrewsbury - New Jersey Bride
Toni and Toan’s wedding at Shadowbrook.                                                                                      Enchanted Celebrations

58% of American singles think plus-one invites are a bad idea.

Wedding etiquette says that it’s polite to give all single guests a plus-one option if you can. But a new study from premium dating site EliteSingles suggests differently. 58% of singles would rather not have the plus one option, as it puts too much pressure on them to pick a suitable date.  

Candace and John Anthony’s wedding at Westmount Country Club.                                                                    George Street Photo

Women are more comfortable than men being single at a wedding.

In another stereotype-busting reveal, the survey showed that women are more content than men to turn up to a wedding without a date. If not given the chance to bring someone, 77% of single women would happily attend solo, while for men the figure is 65%.  

Shannon and Doug’s wedding at Yacht Club of Sea Isle City                                               Kendall Massimo Photography

25% of single men not invited to bring a date still try find a way to bring a partner.

Men are also more likely than women to try and change their hosts’ minds about the guest list. If not given a plus-one wedding invitation, a quarter of single men (25 %) would fly in the face of accepted etiquette and ask if they could bring a date or bring someone without asking. Just 17 % of women would do the same.  

Groom and groomsmen outside wedding at Place on the Lake East Brunswick, NJ
Tom and Kelly’s wedding at Place on the Lake.                                                                                                      Fede Photography

Single men are more optimistic about wedding romances than women.

Additionally, men are the gender most likely to want to put a romantic spin on being single at a wedding. Two-thirds of single men (61%) see a wedding as the perfect occasion to meet someone special, compared with only 52% of women.  

Jane and Rob’s wedding at Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club.                                                               Ann Coen Photography

And if they did bring a date, women would keep things more platonic—while men would want romance.

For 37% of single women, the ideal wedding date is a platonic friend, with just 16% wanting to bring a person they’ve had a few dates with. Meanwhile, on the other side, only 17% of men would attend with a platonic friend, while 41% would bring a crush or new flame. EliteSingles’ in-house relationship psychologist Zoe Coetzee says that ‘’women can view a wedding more as a communal celebration of love focused on the newly married couple. Men can experience a wedding more as a competitive arena, the wedding raising the preference to bring a plus one.’’ She adds: ‘’Women may feel that taking a new date to a wedding can put too much pressure on a fledgling relationship. Men may see it as a romantic occasion to kick off a relationship; a beneficial platform to display social capital and enjoy the positive effect of a celebratory atmosphere.” To read more about the new rules of wedding guest etiquette, click here.