Bride who passed out 'singles sheet' at wedding defends divisive tactic after it's branded as 'humiliating'
When Jessica Branda tied the knot on June 30 in Hackensack, New Jersey, she wanted a way for her single friends to mingle and possibly find love with one another.
The 27-year-old decided to put pictures of all of her single friends on laminated sheets of paper and give them to the guests.
'I saw the idea on TikTok from someone else and thought it would be a funny light hearted addition to the reception,' Jessica told the Daily Mail.
'I was looking for something unique that would spice up the night and maybe help create a match!' she added.
The sheet was titled 'Tonight's Most Eligible,' with 'flirty, fabulous, and potentially your future plus-one,' written underneath; it had a small headshot of each single person at the party with their first name and the first letter of their surname.
'Yes, this is a matchmaking attempt,' she had written at the bottom. 'You're welcome.'
Jessica posted her creation to TikTok, where it received a mixed response from viewers, with many slamming her for 'embarrassing' her guests.
'If I went to a wedding and saw myself on one of these, I'd take back my gift,' declared one user.
Another agreed, writing: 'I would absolutely hate this as a single person.'
'No sorry this is giving humiliation,' wrote another. 'I'm married but if I was single and a friend did this to me I'd take my gift back and walk out.'
Others defended it, with one person writing: 'It's called have a little fun and try something out of the box. Not that serious people lol.
'You don't have to go along with it just ignore them if you want or go for it! You never know… my brother in law got with my cousin at my wedding . They had a good run in their relationship.'
Jessica insisted it was a hit with her party guests, sharing, 'I had people coming up to me saying how it was hilarious especially since we included my husband's grandparents.'
She said she didn't tell everyone she was making the sheet, as she wanted it to be a surprise.
'I did ask some people who I wasn't sure was single,' she added with a laugh.
Jessica posted her creation to TikTok, where it received a mixed response from viewers, with many slamming her for 'embarrassing' her guests
'I know my friends and they're not too sensitive so I knew no one would be upset or feel 'humiliated' as some have commented,' she explained.
Jessica added she has since checked with her guests after the video started circulating online, and they reassured her that no one took it the wrong way.
The newlywed admitted that she was shocked that people had a negative reaction to her video.
'I think a lot of the people in the comments are taking it too seriously when it's meant to be something silly,' Jessica shared.
'After reviewing everything, I understand some people may be sensitive to being on a list like that if they're not super secure in themselves and where they are in life,' she continued.
She added that she felt it was a better approach as opposed to having a singles table, which other couples have done, as she admitted she finds them 'super awkward.'
'I guess it's embarrassing if you're embarrassed about being single? Which I think people shouldn't be but everyone's entitled to their own opinion,' she quipped.
While no one ended up dating from her crafty plan, Jessica said she was happy she did it.
'I wanted everyone to sit next to those they knew and I think singles tables are super awkward, I think those saying 'it's humiliation' are taking it too far,' she declared.
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