10 Tips to Being an Awesome Bridesmaid
No one has ever said being a bridesmaid is an easy task nevertheless, if one of your close friends is tying the knot, he or she may ask you to be a bridesmaid. Ideally, we all want to be good bridesmaids but sometimes we don’t know what that looks like. Here are a few tips to help you be an awesome bridesmaid!
Tip #1 - Send the couple an engagement card or gift congratulating them on their wonderful news!
A card in the mail or a bottle of bubbly can go a long way, making the bride and groom feel special and cared about from the start.
Tip #2 - Be supportive this is the bride's moment.
There is nothing worse than an overly opinionated bridesmaid. Of course, the bride cares about what you think, or she wouldn’t have asked you to be a part of her wedding. An awesome bridesmaid would be supportive of the bride's opinions.
Tip #3 - Be careful not to reference what you would do if this was your wedding.
This is a big one! We can all be guilty of this at times, making statements such as if this was my wedding, I would have an open bar or I would never travel there for my honeymoon, etc. These statements can make the bride rethink her decisions or worst make her feel insecure which is the exact opposite of what she was trying to accomplish when she asked you to be a part of her wedding.
Tip #4 - Follow the maid of honor’s lead in getting to know the other bridesmaids.
Usually, the maid of honor will attempt to rally the bridal party by starting some form of a group chat. This can be a challenging task when the bridal party doesn't participate. When everyone buys in the outcome can be fun and rewarding! Maybe come up with some great icebreaking activities or suggest carpooling if you’re local to one another for when you gals meet up for wedding-related activities.
Tip #5 - Make sure you are available for pre-wedding events.
There’s nothing worse or more stressful for a wedding couple when they can’t get the wedding party all together at the same time. Most couples plan to spend time with the wedding party leading up to the big day for many reasons such as fittings, pre-wedding events, icebreaking activities, and even giving the wedding party thank you gifts. Make sure you are available; the couple shouldn't have to re-work their pre-wedding-related activities around your schedule.
Tip #6 - Volunteer to take on any bridal shower planning tasks.
One of the most important roles of a bridesmaid is the help plan the bridal shower. Not every maid of honor is a natural-born planner so volunteering to take on planning tasks can be very helpful to the maid of honor, and I am sure the bride would appreciate a beautifully planned bridal shower too.
Tip #7 - Take the bride out for a de-stressing activity, such as a hike, a walk through the park, a concert, etc.
I can assure you no one planning a wedding has ever said "planning a wedding is relaxing and without stress" so taking some time out to lend an ear to the bride and do a de-stressing activity will be much appreciated. A spa day is my personal favorite.
Tip #8 Host and pay for the bachelorette party.
The bachelorette party is the bride's last night as a single woman so this night must be a memorable one. Whether your bride-to-be is a “night out on the town" type of bride or a homebody bride This day should be all fun and drama free and all about the bride and what she likes to do. (Don't get so wasted that the bride is stuck being the designated driver or holding your hair in the bathroom).
Tip#9 Know what you're signing up for.
Be a good sport, dealing with a difficult bridesmaid can leave a bitter taste in your mouth long after the wedding has ended. There is always that one bridesmaid who refuses to go with the flow. I don't want to pose for pictures, I am not wearing a strapless dress, I refuse to wear heels, and I don't like makeup. Please sit your miserable attention-grabbing ass down in the corner somewhere. Next!
Tip #10 Arrive on time (or early) the day before the wedding to unpack completely so that you’re available for all pre-wedding events.
Most weddings have pre-wedding events, all of which include the wedding party so if you are in the wedding be on time and plan accordingly. There are no do-overs with weddings.
I am confident that you will knock it out of the ballpark with these tips. What things did your bridesmaid do that were amazing or horrible while planning your wedding? Leave your comments below.