This might get long and rambly.
I have severe anxiety. I don't do well in crowds, and I really don't do well when I don't have all the information beforehand if I don't know for sure that other people I know are going to be there. For instance - going to a party at the home of someone I don't know is totally fine if I know for sure my best friend or H will be there with me. Going to the party when I'm not sure who I'll know freaks me the eff out and I tend to not go at all.
So. Friend is getting married in October. H already knows he can't get the day off. My parents are invited, but they have another obligation that evening so they'll be attending the ceremony only and then leaving. There is no reason I can't attend the reception, other than the fact that I have no clue who I'll know there. I have this massive fear of knowing no one and not being able to find anyone to hang out with.
I don't know who is invited so I don't want to ask people if they're going, in case they aren't invited. I do know the wedding will be gigantic as my friend has 10 sets of aunts and uncles and the family is very close.
I'm trying to decide if I should RSVP yes for all in the hopes that I'll find someone I know at the ceremony but knowing if I don't I may not make it to the reception if my anxiety gets out of control, RSVP no to all, or RSVP yes to the ceremony but write a note that I won't be able to make the reception and then hope I don't run into a bunch of people I know at the ceremony and want to hang out with at the reception.
The only other options I can think of involve asking if I can either bring a date since H can't come, or asking who else is invited so I can pre-arrange an already invited friend to hang out with.