Hello and welcome to another Sober Wednesday here on Sexy Sober Vegan. For today's post I'll be giving you a list of tips and observations from going to a family wedding and not touching alcohol during the proceedings. So if you've recently given up the booze but there's a wedding looming, don't worry, you're not alone, you can definitely do this.
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Drive
If you're worried about slipping, make sure you're the designated driver. This is the easiest way to resist alcohol, you have a ready-made excuse for that soda water you're carrying (not that you need an excuse of course, but this line does get people off your back reasonably easily).
Ask for what you want
If there's bubbly on arrival, just ask what the non-alcoholic option is, decent venues will have a nice alternative (yesterday's wedding offered lovely sparkling apple juice that looked just like champagne). If you ask for what you want in a cheery, happy and breezy way it's highly likely that someone will find something for you to drink.
Enjoy the food
Enjoy the food, completely guilt free. Come on, you're not drinking, at least enjoy the food to the max. The cake will probably be sublime and you have all those extra calories that you're saving by steering clear of the wine or beer. Plus, hello? Dancing burns calories too, and speaking of dancing...
Don't feel pressured into dancing
If you don't feel comfortable dancing sober, just don't do it. Hey, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. I danced a bit at the start of the evening when there was me and literally one other person on the dancefloor because I didn't want to be labelled 'boring' by my family. I hated it. Later on, everyone was up and dancing and it was much easier, I was able to relax and have a great time dancing the night away. If the rhythm gets you and you have to get up and dance, do it! If you don't fancy it, it's ok not to dance.
Leave when you want to
Leave when you want to. By the end of a wedding, most people are drunk and won't really notice if you leave before the night is over. Don't feel guilty for not staying til the bitter end, just say your goodbyes cheerfully and be on your way. My family happens to be huge so the mere act of saying goodbye to everyone takes ages. I spent most of my twenties being the last one at the party, the one who doesn't want to go home, I complained when other people left and broke up the party, and now I'm the one leaving to go home to bed! How times change.
If the day is just too hard and you hate it, just leave. The happy couple will be so busy getting through the day they won't notice (unless you are a bridesmaid/bestman/bride/groom) but seriously, you are your own person and you can do what you want. Go home, get your snuggliest clothes on and watch tv while drinking hot chocolate. If you want.
Shift your focus
Focus on catching up with friends and family and enjoying the day rather than fixating on the fact that you're not drinking. If you don't know anyone there (I have so been there) focus on meeting new people and finding out about them (I mean that in the least creepy way possible, honest!).
Observe and be amused by the drunken antics of others
Relish that moment when you suddenly notice that everyone's behaviour has completely changed after a few glasses of wine. They'll be nursing hangovers in the morning while you can rise and shine with a clear head.
Save your cash
Just think of the money you'll save! I spent £1 yesterday on a sweep-stake and that was it. Wedding venue bars are notoriously expensive and you could spend £50 over the course of a day easily. Not me.
Taxis are another thing you'll save money on. I've been to several weddings with taxi drama at the end of the night, people getting in other people's taxi and having a drunken argument over it. Just drive and rise above that drama. Family weddings are often very emotionally charged anyway so staying away from alcohol makes it more likely that you'll be able to avoid arguments and de-escalate anything that may occur. Nice one.
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So there are some of my tips for attending a wedding, sober. If you have any more tips or advice please do leave a comment below. I've been off the booze for almost five months now so I find it pretty ok, but the first sober social event is scary, and I want to help you through it. Leave me a comment and we'll chat.
SSV x
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