Be a brill bridesmaid!

Congratulations! You’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid. Of course, what you do will largely depend on the type of wedding (and bride!) that you’re involved with, but to get you started we’ve collected together some of the major duties of any bridesmaid. It’s worth brushing up on these for major bridesmaid brownie points! 

The run up to the wedding

Before the wedding, one of the best things you can do is to offer emotional support. The bride (and the groom!) will be consumed with organising the biggest celebration of their lives, so it’s highly likely that they’ll be stressed. As well as being there to offer cups of tea and hugs when it all gets too much for them, you can also help in more practical ways:

•   Go dress shopping with her and help her decide on her dream gown

•   Organise dress fittings and go along to them with her

•   Plan and organise the bridesmaids’ outfits

•   Help with anything else, such as addressing invitations and collecting flowers

Organise a hen party

One of the most popular - and fun - traditions of being a bridesmaid is organising the bride’s hen do. You are one of the people who knows her best, so put your thinking cap on and dream up her ideal hen night. Remember, it’s all about her, so forget what you think a hen night should be like and organise something she’ll definitely love. It’s no good booking a three night stay in party central Amsterdam, for a teetotal bride who loathes nightclubs! 

•   Invite her closest friends and, where appropriate, family

•   Pick a venue you know she’ll love

•   Make sure it suits everyone’s budgets

•   Don’t forget a camera to capture her last night of freedom!

On the day

More often than not, on the morning of the wedding, tension is at an all-time high! You should be an oasis of calm and totally prepared to deal with any last minute crises. Help her keep her nerves steady and make sure you carry out your duties with an easy breezy smile:

•   Make sure she eats something

•   Help her into her dress

•   Co-ordinate the hair and makeup

•   Keep younger members of the bridal party entertained and in control

•   Pack an emergency kit (include safety pins, plasters, lipgloss, etc)

•   Help her into and out of the car without creasing her dress

During the ceremony

After the stresses of the morning it is time for her to finally get hitched: woo hoo! But don’t get too excited, your responsibilities aren’t over yet - you still have to walk down the aisle. In the UK it is tradition for the bridesmaids to walk behind the bride, but many couples choose to swap this around and let the bridesmaids go first. Don’t forget to clarify with your bride first!

•   Walk down the aisle

•   Witness the signing

•   Assist with organising the photos

At the reception

After the pomp and ceremony of the wedding, it’s time for everyone to let their hair down and celebrate in style at the reception. But before you take off these heels and start partying too, there are still one or two things to do:

•   Be part of the receiving line when everyone arrives at the venue

•   Mingle with guests (OK, now you can party!)

•   If the bride is leaving that night, you’ll have to make sure the dress is dry-cleaned for when she gets back from the honeymoon. 

Being a bridesmaid should be oodles of fun, but ultimately it is all about the bride and groom, so make sure you know exactly what they want before the big day. Remember, the involvement of bridesmaid is really at the discretion of the bride so, for a clear idea of what’s expected of you, she’s the best person to talk to. 

Cover image source: dolgachov