When one of your best friends asks you to be her bridesmaid and accompany her on one of the most important days in her life, and you gleefully accept the honor, your first thought is probably about how much fun you’re going to have and how wonderful everything is going to be.
But after the initial excitement wears off, it might start to dawn on you that being a bridesmaid is not an easy task, and if you’ve never been in this position before, you might find all the responsibilities that suddenly stand on your shoulders a bit unnerving.
As a bridesmaid, you’re about to play a key role in the whole planning and organizing process since you’re one of the people whom the bride-to-be trusts and relies on the most. It’s up to you and the other bridesmaids to ensure the event runs without a hitch and your friend enjoys a memorable day. That realization is enough to make even the calmest and most collected person panic a bit.
However, you shouldn’t let wedding-day anxieties get the best of you. After all, this should be a time of joy and celebration for everyone. So, if you want to shake off your worries and make sure you’re going to be the best bridesmaid for your friend, this quick guide might be of use.
Know Your Duties
Since you’re going to have a lot on your plate, it’s important to make a list of all the things you’ll be in charge of to make sure you don’t miss anything in the chaos and mayhem that often surrounds wedding planning. Sit down with the future bride and decide from the get-go on expectations, responsibilities, and who’s going to do what. This way, you’ll be avoiding unnecessary stress and mix-ups that might ruin your plans and your mood.
Get Involved
Don’t wait for the bride to call you and remind you of every single thing you need to do. She’s probably already overwhelmed with all the decisions she has to make to keep track of everyone’s duties. Besides, your job is to ease her burden, not become one. Show her you’re interested in helping her by taking the initiative and coming up with ideas and solutions when need be. Offer to do things that you know might be of help before she asks and stay up to date with last-minute changes that might require your assistance.
Be a Good Listener
Although weddings are a joyous occasion, putting all the moving parts into motion can also be quite complicated and stressful. With emotions running high, all the pressure can make the bride feel tired, anxious, and irritable. That’s when you should step in and offer moral support. You don’t always have to solve sticky situations or give advice. Sometimes, the only thing that a stressed-out bride needs is a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen to her. So be that for her and allow her to vent about all the things that concern her without judgment.
Don’t Stress about the Dress
You may or may not like the bridesmaid dress that your friend has picked out for you. Tastes differ, and you might not be on the same page about bridesmaid dress styles. This is a pretty sensitive subject that can become a source of tension and discontent if not handled properly. When shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses together, it’s best not to be too picky.
While it’s important that you look good, remember that this is your friend’s big day and her wishes should come first. As long as she’s not forcing you to wear an appalling outfit, try to be reasonable and understanding and ready to make some compromises in this respect.
Plan an Unforgettable Bachelorette Party
The wedding might be the final purpose of all this deployment of forces, but for the bridesmaids, the bachelorette party is usually the highlight. This is where you and the rest of the girls can forget about the planning stress and the rules and have some well-deserved fun together. Obviously, you should keep things within reasonable limits as you want to make sure the bride gets to the altar in one piece, but don’t be afraid to fool around a bit and unwind.
Be there Every Step of the Way
From the moment you accept your friend’s invitation to be her bridesmaid to the moment the happy couple takes off in their gateway car, you should act as her trusted sidekick who’s there to help, guide, and support her through all this amazing adventure. You’ll not just help a loved one make her dream come true, but you’ll also make wonderful memories together that you’re going to cherish for the rest of your life.
Be Ready to Jump into Action
As the wedding day unfolds, your assistance is going to be invaluable. You’ll probably have to juggle tasks and constantly move from one place to another, supervising and keeping an eye on the preparations. While there might be moments of relaxation, you need to be on high alert just in case you are needed. Your fitness levels will be tested at times, but that’s part of the of the fun.
Prepare for Emergencies
Although everyone hopes and plans intensely for a smooth and trouble-free wedding, that’s rarely the case. From delays to wardrobe malfunctions to drunken uncles, there are a million things that can go wrong at the wedding, and many of them will. The last thing you want is to stress your friend, so keep your composure and maintain a positive attitude even if chaos ensues. Handle each situation with serenity and grace, and everything will be alright.
While each wedding is unique and bridesmaids’ duties differ from one event to another, as long as you focus on the guidelines we’ve listed on this checklist, you should be able to fulfill your role as a bridesmaid to perfection.
