I’ve never really enjoyed going to weddings. My friends started getting married and having babies right out of school, so I was saddled with expenses for five bridesmaid dresses, shower presents, and more. I actually accumulated debt from other people’s weddings. The dresses were often terrible too, but one torn sleeve eventually became a great “killer prom queen” Halloween outfit. At the time, none of it felt particularly funny.

I usually don’t have a date, so I go in expecting more fun because I’m single, then I’m reminded that I’m outnumbered by happy couples. The bouquet tradition is especially painful when you stand with teenagers and flower girls. One friend once handed the bouquet to me because she knew I’d duck and cover. I was red for the rest of the night. Nobody ever leaps for it like we see in the movies. Luckily, my L.A. friends don’t seem to care for this tradition.

Some weddings have pleasantly surprised me, and I ended up having more fun than expected. Amy’s wedding in Los Olivos, in the middle of a vineyard, was beautiful, perfect, and cold. I wore my coat through the reception and drank more than a bit to warm up. I remember 80’s music, old people dancing to hip hop, and very little else clearly. Sometimes the best wedding memories come from the parts nobody planned. Even the weather seemed determined to become part of the story.

I made friends with other singles, and after the guests left, we took a taxi to an after-party we never found. The driver got pulled over for an expired permit, leaving us stranded at 1:00am in Los Olivos. He returned later, and after several G&Ts, it became hilarious. Wedding season can be entertaining, but have a ride lined up. We talked about the adventure on Facebook for weeks, since everyone had a different version. Just have a ride lined up at the end of the night.