Dutiful Bridesmaids: What’s Expected?
December 23rd, 2005 Posted in Wedding Planning and Ideas
Being in a wedding party, whether it’s your first one, or your fifth, is always a brand new experience due to different brides and subsequently different expections. Some brides require little more than for you to show up at the designated time and place in the chosen dress, but others may want their lady friends to have a strong hand in all aspects of planning. As such, it’s important to have a sit down with the femme fatale early on so that everyone is aware of what lays ahead.
Obviously, if you’re the maid-of-honor, your duties (such an inappropriate word, considering the grand token of appreciation that holding that position is) will be much more expansive than the other bridal attendents. It’s your place to help out out the frazzled bride as much as possibly by heading up the organization of everyone in the bridal party. This can include planning the shower, addressing invitations, and getting everryone together for a pre-wedding destressing event. You’ll also be sticking closely to the bride on the day of the ceremony to hold her bouquet, straighten her tiara, and making sure her gown sits just right for the photos.
If you’re in the bridal party, but not the maid-of-honor, then you can pretty much ride the rails until either she, or the bride, requests your assistance. You may be asked by the bride to help her get ready the morning of the ceremony, as wedding dresses can be notoriously difficult to zip into and reassurance may be needed. Basically make sure she’s looked after and comfortable for the duration of the proceedings, and your girlfriend-turned-bride will thank you afterwards.
Again, the key is to sit and chat with the couple, or at least the bride, to see what they would like and what they need help with. Extra hands during planning are usually welcome, and going above and beyond the call of duty is sure to be appreciated.