When I asked one of my best friends to be a member of my bridal party, I gave her this book. I should have given it to all my bridesmaids but I asked her a little later and I wanted to be awesome.
I also bought it for myself.
{$6 Amazon.com}
This past weekend I was in a bridal party as Matron (Maid. I hate the word matron) of Honor. And let me tell you, a few of the bridesmaids were so unhelpful, ungrateful and just overall bitchy. Mostly to me, but I expected that (longstanding issues).
Still though, here a few tips to be a good bridesmaid:
1. Expect to hemorrage money. Don’t get to the wedding and complain about how much money you’re being asked to spend. My friend did the good deed of letting us pick our dresses, and not asking anything from us. So it was a little off putting when two of the bridesmaids left the post-rehearsal dinner happy hour without paying for one or two of the bride and grooms drink and stiffing the rest of us on their own tabs. Being a part of a bridal party is not for the stingy.
2. Don’t forget your dress. Seriously, one of the girls forgot her dress. I don’t know the whole story but my dress was the first thing I packed in my bag because I was deathly afraid of forgetting it. Of course she was driving, so she spent an extra few hours driving back to get it.
3. Don’t be a bitch. Seriously, the day/weekend is not about you or any petty quarrels from the past. It’s about the bride and it’s generally a good thing if you don’t forget that.
4. Don’t complain to the bride. About anything really. My bridesmaids were amazing and helpful and I am forever grateful to that. When i forgot my razor blade at home, one of my gals went to CVS to buy me a new one. Kudos! But complaining about anything from the other bridesmaids, the cost of travel, your hotel, your cab driver, anything really is unnecessary and unbridesmaidly.
5. Be helpful! Bride needs a cigarette? Give her your last one! Bride wants some wine at 10am? Don’t ask questions. Make sure she eats, make sure she doesn’t have to do anything, and make sure that she’s happy, calm and breathing deeply to keep her nerves at ease.
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Wonderful advice. I wholeheartedly agree. If a person can’t do what it takes to be a bridesmaid, they should respectfully decline. After all the bride needs friends and family that will help her the stresses of the wedding not cause more stress.