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Nightmares churning with confetti; stacks of invitation cards by the doormat… yes, fellow singletons, wedding season is here again, and we understand your predicament. We know that you may be happy for the couples in your orbit, but kinda sad and wistful too: when are you going to meet that fabled life partner, and finally discover for yourself what warrants a £300 cake?

Well, take comfort from the following guidelines to making the most of your bachelorhood. By indulging in this behaviour, you can survive any mention of undying love this summer….

Binge to high heaven

Compromise is often touted as the key to a successful marriage, which essentially means not indulging selfishness to the nth degree. But you’re different – even casually seeing someone means you can take a few liberties with your time.

Make a ridiculous pile of nachos at three in the morning. Load up your favourite TV boxset, and sink into your sofa for the rest of the day. Having no-one around to check your habits is a gift that newlyweds have to return forever.

Get a new wardrobe

You may be sick to death of being asked to review a dozen bridal dresses, or accompanying a groom-to-be on a clueless tuxedo hunt. Show them how true elegance isn’t confined to the altar by investing in even one knock-out garment. Paired with a slick haircut, you’ll feel like the belle (or gent) of the ball at that next wedding party. Who needs a white dress, anyway?

Take a holiday

No, this isn’t an escape clause, although you could make it one if you’re really desperate to avoid a wedding planner. We’re talking about giving yourself permission to go on a trip that’s better than any honeymoon.

You can do things differently: a backpacking holiday, for instance, will result in a glut of great stories that couples will fawn over enviously. You might even meet The One on a meditation retreat in Cambodia, which would be a thrilling story to tell your future grandkids.

Be the life of the party

Aside from all of this, when it comes to crunch time (again) and you’re sitting with cool eyes at the wedding reception, just remember to have a laugh. Plenty of people aren’t married – hey, at least you’ve been invited to drink free booze, dance to ABBA, and capitalise on the frivolities! And if you’re enjoying every minute, you’ll attract your opposite number in no time, who won’t be able to ignore your magnanimous smile at the mother-in-law moonwalking by the punch bowl.

While it’s occasionally crushing to have nuptials slapping you round the face in summertime, please remember that everyone gets what’s coming to them. A wedding, after all, is mostly an expensive way to say “I love you”, and there are many more spins on those three words, some of which you’ll find when it’s your turn in the spotlight.

To meet singles in your local area, give FreeAndSingle a go – sign up for free today. Just keep the wedding talk to a minimum on that first date…

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Online dating lets you sift through the tastes, hobbies, waistlines and selfie abilities of anyone that might interest you. It’s a platform charged with excitement – here’s an ocean of singletons looking for fun just like you.

The problem with online romance comes when a blossoming relationship feels the pressure to become ‘official’ on social media. This might even just be a friend request from an impending date eager to see more about you, but it’s far preferable to keep this off the cards until you’ve spent time getting to know each other. Read on to explore why social media can hurt a relationship before it’s even begun:

Information overload

People can be forgiven for accentuating their looks, hobbies and beliefs on a dating profile, but a social media account littered with them can be a big turn-off. Likewise, genuine interests like surfing or playing an instrument will seem passé if they are all you post about. Holding back the limits of your passion will make it appear all the more special once your date discovers it for themselves.

In the public eye

It’s fun to swap and share dating stories with your mates, providing the entire world doesn’t get an eye-full of you and your beau on a moonlit street. The distancing aspect of social media means people tend to comment on things that matter personally to you without a second’s thought for the harm it may cause. A cheeky jibe by a friend, for instance, can become a full-blown disaster if your date takes it the wrong way.

We all have bad photos

Chilled snap of you lounging on a hammock in Thailand = point scored with a potential match. Sloppy kebab face at five in the morning, mayo flecking your cheeks = complete no-no. We can’t control every side of ourselves, so keeping your embarrassing moments for people who really don’t care is a solid safeguard against singledom.

Suspicious minds

The beginning of a relationship can be fraught with anxiety and trust issues: is the person you’re falling for being serious or spurious with their feelings? It’ll be down to you to gauge what’s what, but we can deduce that casual photos with a friend or a stranger can have unintended consequences for someone looking at you through the social media lens.

The lay of the dating land does not permit fools lightly. Think about it – if you’re spending time crafting a great profile, specifically to meet people like you, then why should anyone ask for more? Social media, while it has a lot of benefits, threatens our ability to take things as they come; leaving some mystery for the both of you will do wonders for your conversation and your desire to unpick someone’s innermost spirit.

Since waiting is the hardest part, join FreeAndSingle today to make a splash on the dating scene!

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