There are a few big firsts to any new relationship: the first time you spend the night, the first time you meet their friends, and of course the first time you bring them as your “plus one” to a wedding. For some people, bringing a date to a wedding is a big deal—you’re bringing a partner around your family and friends and they’ll probably be in someone’s wedding photos. For other people, it’s just another date—and the perfect opportunity to assess the relationship.
According to a Hily dating app survey, 51 percent of Gen Z daters and 46 percent of Millennials say the most appealing part of bringing someone to a wedding is getting to see how they behave around friends and family. For the plus-one, a wedding is basically a social obstacle course. You’re surrounded by strangers, meeting someone's friends and family, making small talk, navigating a crowded dance floor, potentially drinking, and trying to figure out how much time you’re supposed to spend attached to your date versus mingling on your own.
This is exactly why it can reveal things about a relationship that your usual date-night routine might not. A wedding gives you a chance to see how your partner interacts with people they’ve known for years, people they’ve just met, and people they may not particularly like—all in one night. Plus, you can see how they handle big events like this.” So what, exactly, should you be watching for?
First: Do they make an effort to participate? That doesn’t mean your partner needs to be the life of the party or spend six straight hours on the dance floor (unless that’s what you’re looking for). But if they’re meeting your friends and family for the first time, you probably want to see some willingness to spark up a conversation.
Are they engaging with family and friends? Or are they sitting in the corner alone and quiet?” Trombetti says. All of these are very telling of how a person is.” The point isn’t to judge someone for being introverted or nervous.
A person can be shy at first and still make an effort to participate. What you’re really looking for is how they handle being outside their comfort zone—and whether they’re willing to meet you there. A partner who spends the entire night sulking because they don’t know anyone, refuses to talk to your friends, or gets sloppy drunk might be giving you some pretty useful information.
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