DEAR HARRIETTE: Next weekend, my girlfriend and I are attending the wedding of one of her college friends. She is a bridesmaid in the wedding alongside some other college friends. I am excited that we are going to a wedding together, but I am also a bit nervous that I don’t know anyone attending besides my girlfriend. Because she is in the wedding party, I know she will be busy for much of the wedding, leaving me alone. Weddings are social events; there is always a lot of small talk and mingling, which is hard to do when you don’t have any mutual friends to speak to. Do you have any advice on how I can be more comfortable at the wedding? -- Loner at a Wedding, Boston
DEAR LONER AT A WEDDING: It is understandable that you are concerned about feeling awkward since you don’t know other guests. One way to help the situation is to have your girlfriend introduce you to the significant others of the rest of the wedding party. There’s a good chance that there are other boyfriends or husbands who will be loners at this party. If the bridesmaids consciously connect all of you, at least you have the bridal party in common. Talking about that can be an icebreaker. Also, during the wedding reception, your girlfriend should not be totally absorbed in wedding details. The bride will be with her husband. The bridesmaids typically will be on call but free to eat, dance and enjoy the reception -- which means being able to spend some time with you.