Bridesmaid Duties

All You Need to Know About Being a Bridesmaid

I have been asked to be a bridesmaid five times and have loved every minute of each one!

The first time, I was 9 years old for my aunt and I remember going for the dress fitting and being excited about the bouquets we were going to have. We had beautiful flower garlands in our hair and lilac bridesmaid dresses.

Could this be where my love of lilac began?

I have had a different coloured dress each time I’ve been a bridesmaid and been completely honoured and touched to have been a bridesmaid!

A Brief History of Bridesmaids

In the UK, bridesmaids were originally there to confuse the evil spirits and protect the bride from bad luck. Bridesmaids were often dressed the same as the bride to really confuse those evil spirits, and grooms men were dressed identically to the groom.

In China, bridesmaids were traditionally there to make sure the bride didn’t run off in the middle of the night. They were there to sympathise with the bride, to curse the groom’s family for taking the bride away and to cheer her up.

These days, bridesmaids duties are a lot more fun!

Bridesmaid Duties

• Bridesmaid Dresses
  In the olden days, bridesmaids were required to buy their own dresses however these days brides understand that for everyone money is a bit tight.
  
  I personally would not expect my bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses as these are dresses they wouldn’t have bought if it wasn’t for my wedding.
  
• Hen Party/Bachelorette Party/Bridal Shower
  Bridesmaids tend to be the ones who organise the bridal celebration events. However, wedding etiquette expert, Judith Martin, says that bridesmaids are not required to plan or host any events.
  
  Even so, it doesn’t actually cost anything except time to plan and organise a hen party, so why not do that for your bride to thank her for asking you to take part in the most important day of her life!
  
• Dress Fittings
  As a bridesmaid, you are required to turn up for bridesmaid dress fittings. Although, if you are abroad or unable to attend, you need to send your measurements to the bride so that she can get your dress made for you.
  
  
• Be Helpful!
  Some brides may ask her bridesmaids to help with preparing favours, to pick up the dresses from the shop, to collect the flowers from the florist, to distribute the orders of service. Any of the little jobs that she doesn’t have time to do.
  
  The groomsmen almost never know which side their boutonniere should go (it goes on the left) and I spent the first five minutes of one wedding putting all the men’s boutonnieres on!
  
• The Perfect Bride
  Bridesmaids need to make sure that the bride looks perfect. If you notice the dress is creased or she’s showing too much boob, she’s about to step into a puddle or tears made her make up run, it is your job to make sure she looks perfect.
  
  At one friend’s wedding her bustle broke! On the dance floor I leapt to the rescue and used some of the tie from the lace up back on the hook of the skirt to discretely repair the bustle.
  
  At another friends wedding, we were making and dishing out the favours hours before the wedding working as a team to get it all ready in time.
  

• Child Bridesmaids
  The main duties a child bridesmaid has is to be well behaved for the day, look cute and appear in photos.

I really love being a bridesmaid, dressing up in a pretty dress to help my friend celebrate her day. Weddings are so much fun!