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It's a beautiful moment and a fantastic honor when someone asks you to be their bridesmaid, but what does it include? First, we wanted to cover the duties of a bridesmaid and what to expect if you become one. Being a bridesmaid may not always be glitz and glamour, but in the end, it's certainly more than worth it! 1 - The bridesmaid's dress: We thought we'd start with the most prominent yet mandatory part, the gown for your friends' wedding day. Generally, bridesmaids are required to pay for their dress for the wedding day. However, sometimes the B
ride herself will choose this gown, and other times, the maid of honor will assist in picking a color or style for you.
2 - Wedding planning: While this isn't always the case, sometimes brides may ask for help and ideas when planning their wedding, including stuff like cake tasting, decorations, choosing a venue, creating invitations, and more. Something to keep in mind is that you're human; you only have so much time to help the Bride no matter how much you may want to do. If you're asked to help out with wedding planning, it's a good idea to be upfront and honest about how much time you'll be able to dedicate to helping out so that you're not over-committing to things you won't have time for. Keep in mind you'll also be expected to attend the pre-wedding events such as the wedding rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, engagement party, and possibly even fittings if the Bride is getting a custom-made wedding dress. 3 - Gift transport or cleaning: Sometimes the bridesmaids & groomsmen can be expected (or politely asked) to lend a hand in helping clean up the venue after the wedding or even left in charge of bringing the wedding gifts to another location for the Bride and groom. If this is something you've been asked to do, trust us when we say it can often be a good idea to keep a change of clothes or at the very least shoes for once everyone else has gone from the venue if you're going to be cleaning. You will have been on your feet all day, often in heels, so keep a comfortable pair of shoes in your car or near the venue somewhere if possible.
4 - Wedding gifts: Speaking of gifts, it's a good idea to coordinate with the other bridesmaids to buy a wedding gift for the Bride. Again, setting out a budget you're all comfortable with and sticking to it is crucial, as is knowing in advance how much you'll be expected to spend.
5 - Lend a helping hand: Weddings are an incredibly stressful day for the Bride. Still, one of the best ways you can be of assistance to your friend on her big day is to lend not only a helping hand but a helping eye: keep an eye on your friend to ensure her make up stays the way she wants it to (or warn her if she needs a touch up as the day progresses). In addition, it's a great idea as a bridesmaid to create a wedding emergency kit. Fill it with makeup, painkillers, Bride's cellphone, safety pins, or clips for her wedding gown. You'll also want to include any other items or accessories that may come in handy throughout the wedding day, just in case. (Extra tip: add some snacks into your wedding emergency kit, you never know when they'll come in handy on the big day!) 6 - Bachelorette Party/Hens Night: Whether or not you are chosen to be the maid of honor or a bridesmaid, planning a bachelorette party tends to be a group exercise between all bridesmaids. Of course, hens parties will vary for every bridal party, but there is a lot to keep in mind when helping to organize this. Things such as making sure everyone is free at the right time, ensuring everyone can afford it or choosing a place that suits your Bride are all essential factors to take into account when planning a bachelorette party.
7 - Helping the Bride get into her dress on her wedding day While wedding dresses can come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles, one thing is pretty standard: they can be rather challenging to get into sometimes. So on the morning of the wedding, be prepared to help the Bride get into her wedding dress. That way, she's able to look as perfect as she's been dreaming of. It doesn't seem like a big task but can be incredibly stressful on the wedding day. 8 - Know where you'll be walking/standing before the event: While this will be covered during rehearsal, it's always a good idea to make a note of where you'll be expected to be standing or walking throughout the wedding ceremony. That way, there are no hiccups on the big day with positioning. In addition, it ensures the ceremony rolls out the best way possible. Bonus tip: be sure to stand straight and hold your bouquet low.
9 - Be social On your loved one's wedding day, they tend to have many people waiting around to talk to the Bride or offer congratulations after the ceremony. This can quickly become quite overwhelming for the newlyweds, so provide a helping hand by socializing with and talking to those who may be waiting to speak to the Bride. In addition, it'll help give your friend a bit of breather room, acting as a temporary distraction. After the couple has done the first dance, bridesmaids and groomsmen are seen as the life of the party. So live up to it and get out on the dance floor!
10 - Give a speech at the ceremony: It's relatively common for bridesmaids to give speeches during the ceremony for all the obvious reasons; you're someone the Bride considers close and loves, you've also probably got some history with the Bride. It can become pretty stressful when it comes to giving speeches, quite fast trying to write the perfect one but don't over-stress it: keep it short, funny & light! Bonus Tips: Be sure to purchase your bridesmaid gown, shoes, and accessories relatively early. There is no worse feeling than leaving something until the last minute only to find out that you can't get it in time for the wedding. Avoid the stress by planning to do it as early as you can to lock it in and have that peace of mind.
If the wedding requires you to find your accommodation somewhere, be sure to plan that ahead of time before you're left without a place to stay!
Ultimately, you may need to do some of these (or all) and have some information to guide you is always good, but don't forget an essential part of a wedding: celebrate love and make it a happy, joyous occasion. Then, when your friend comes walking down the aisle in her wedding dress, it'll all be worth it!
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