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Wedding Bell Blues
by Camerin Courtney
June 14, 2000
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
It's the best of times; it's the worst of times. As a single you know exactly what I'm talking about: Wedding Season! It's here again, whether we like it or not.
I'm attending two weddings this month — and will attend even more bridal showers for my four engaged coworkers (all of whom are younger than me — not that I'm counting!). As I'm writing this, I'm still not sure who I'm taking to a wedding a week from now. Somehow when people talk about spontaneity being one of the pluses of singlehood, I don't think this is what they're referring to!
My all-time record is seven wedding invitations in one year. I was nearly penniless by the time I'd bought everything from shower invitations to wedding presents to those bridesmaids' dresses I was promised I could wear again. You know as well as I did when I first spied those satiny beauties that the only second use they'd get would be guardian of the back of my closet. Right next to my dyed-to-match shoes.
My proudest singlehood wedding moment came when I successfully attended a wedding alone. I put on my favorite dress (to boost my confidence) and walked proudly down the aisle on the arm of an usher (though inside I was secretly fearing he'd blurt across the sanctuary to one of his usher buddies, "Hey, where do I put a chick who's here all by herself?!"). Thankfully he didn't, and I enjoyed the ceremony so much I cried (really, it was for them and not for me). The nice thing about being dateless was there was no one there to roll his eyes in embarrassment at my tears.
At another wedding's reception I was seated at a "singles' table" with a few of my friends and a few people I didn't know yet, including Brad. He and I talked, laughed, danced, even went out a few times. And a year later he married the female friend he'd brought with him to the wedding. Go figure. I discovered recently that I was mentioned (not by name, thankfully!) during their wedding ceremony — by the pastor marrying them, no less. Apparently I played a role in helping these two love birds realize they were crazy about each other. Wasn't that nice of me?
In keeping with the "laugh or cry" adage, I've often thought of opting for the former by hosting a Bridesmaids' Bowling Bash. What a fun way for us single people to have our moment of attention and fun during this season when love seems to be in the air for everyone else. However, I've found very few of my female friends willing to don their dresses again in public, nor any of my male friends willing to rent a tux for the occasion.
So, if sometime soon you're in a bowling alley and you see a lone woman in a long green gown and tacky bowling shoes, grab a bowling ball and together we'll attempt to make the most of this wedding season — and our singleness!
Camerin welcomes your feedback and brainstorms at: SinglesNewsletter@ChristianityToday.com
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