Curious as to the reality of being a bridesmaid? Bridesmaids have been around since the Roman times, maybe even before. Back then, bridesmaids had to dress like the bride and walk ahead of her in the ceremony. This was done so the evil spirits would be tricked into harming the bridesmaids instead of the newlyweds. In medieval times, bridesmaids were literally maidens, and expected to act as servants to the bride. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Ancient times aside, being asked to be a bridesmaid is an honour, but agreeing to be a bridesmaid should not be taken lightly. Here are some things to keep in mind before you say “I do” to your bestie bride-to-be:
This is Not Your Wedding
You might be full of great ideas and have the best of intentions, but at the end of the day, this is not your wedding. Your friend may ask your opinion, but you don’t get final say on décor, music, venue, who sits where, or the dress you’ll be wearing. If you are really hoping to be the boss, you’re going to be disappointed.
There is a Price Tag
Some people don’t realize the amount of money required to be a bridesmaid. Things you will be expected to pay for can include: your dress, your shoes, the bachelorette party, a wedding shower gift, a wedding gift, your hotel, your hair, your makeup…the list goes on. If you’re on a really tight budget, you may want to offer to help your friend in another way.
Your Time is Required
Being a bridesmaid rarely means showing up on the day of the wedding and walking down the aisle before your friend. You will likely be expected to assist in some aspects of the planning, even though you don’t get to make the decisions. Schedule for picking out dresses, getting dresses fitted (and often re-fitted), being there for the bachelorette (which can sometimes be a multi-day trip), wedding rehearsal, and the FULL day of the wedding. The wedding day itself can often begin as early at 6 or 7am in order to get the full wedding party ready for the day. You likely won’t get a break until cocktail hour, and are expected to remain photo-ready throughout dinner. You might be enlisted for clean-up crew too at the end of the night or next morning.
Help a Girl Out
Your duties on the wedding day can involve hauling around flowers, tracking down the late limo, running to grab the bride deodorant, keeping the groom from seeing her, and anything in-between. You have to be on your A-game and can’t just duck out of your duties when you get tired: you are there to help. That’s just part of the reality of being a bridesmaid. Of course, working with a wedding coordinator, like the staff at Mountain Bride, can definitely ease some of the pressure and take away from your duties. Feel free to casually mention planning and coordination services to the bride – we’re sure it’s a suggestion she will thank you for.