So, you’ve been picked to become a member of the bride to be’s squad. Congratulations! You’ve weighed in around the bachelorette party plans, ordered yours bridesmaid dresses, and popped a bottle or two in celebration — what else can there be to do?
Being a person in Team Bride is equal parts fun and responsibility, as well as your bridesmaid duties will start the minute she pops the larger question — “Will you be my bridesmaid?” — and won’t end before the last mimosa in the post-wedding brunch. But the large-day duties are arguably the most crucial, which means you’ve reached make sure you’re ready for anything throughout the wedding weekend.
Though your listing of duties is lengthy, there’s you don't need to stress. You’re already a great friend, as evidenced because of your bridesmaid status, which means you’ll be considered a natural! Here’s all you’ll have to handle for that bride-to-be on her behalf special day, from supplying the a.m. lattes to gathering her things following the last call.
Throughout your day, but particularly in the hours prior to her big walk on the aisle, your work as the bride to be’s best will be her go-to gal. Do your very best to anticipate everything she may need at every point in your day, whether it’s a handkerchief to dry her tears or assistance fastening her next-level bridal heels.
Be on Time — If you’re not early, you’re late: No suggestion is truer on the wedding day. It should go without saying, but don’t appear to any wedding-related event late. The thing is, nothing can begin without you there, so make certain to be promptly with bells on. The bride will most likely assign a time slot for hair and makeup, with a few as early as 9 a.m., so select one that you know you are able to reasonably achieve.
Bring Coffee — How to become a hero on her behalf wedding day: Start with a mug of good coffee. The key to knocking this duty from the park would be to know her Starbucks order without needing to text her to inquire about because she’s got more essential things to consider. Depending around the crowd, you could also want to be responsible for supplying the marriage morning cocktails. Just make certain the bride is down for any little boozing prior to the start from the ceremony, and don’t result in the drinks too strong.
Offer Your Assistance — Don’t wait to become assigned employment. Ask the bride to be, the mother-of-the-bride, the photographer, and also the other bridesmaids if there’s anything you are able to do to help your day run smoothly. There are a hundred moving parts to some wedding, and it’s inevitable — twelve people are going to be hurling questions her way while she’s getting dolled up. Do what you are able to to field the inquiries and provide the bride to be with everything she must enjoy her day without extra stress.
Help Her Get Dressed — One of the most crucial jobs for members of the bride to be’s squad helps her enter into her wedding dress. Let’s face the facts: Those things are not designed to become tossed on without additional help. You might have to complete a whole lot of lacing, buttoning, and bustling while you’re preparing — and you’ll likely be assisting during quick bathroom breaks. Do you favor watching some YouTube videos regarding how to bustle a wedding dress. Trust us, you’ll be the big day MVP if you appear prepped and practiced within the art of bustling. Don’t forget to make certain the photographer is able to shoot when you’re all helping her enter into her gown.
Calm the Bride — Even the most well-prepared brides get butterflies before their first look or walk in the aisle. Do everything you are able to help ease the nerves to ensure that she feels confident and ready on her debut. Simply asking her what she needs at a moment goes a long way in helping the bride to be avoided panic.
Fair warning to first-time bridesmaids: The picture-taking portion of your day can be boring at best and downright maddening at worst. But realize that everyone — even the bride to be and her spouse-to-be — is going to be ready for it to become over towards the end, therefore the best thing you are able to do would be to keep an optimistic attitude, lighten the atmosphere and simply be game for whatever.
Prepare for Emergencies — This may be the time of day when a big day emergency kit will seriously prove useful. Imagine, for instance, that someone’s bridesmaid dress — or, gasp, the wedding dress — snags or tears within the photo shoot process. Or that someone’s self-tanner rubbed off onto her dress. Your survival kit must have all the necessities to deal with these kinds of snafus, including a sewing kit, some safety pins, a stain-remover pen, and additional bobby pins. If there’s rain within the forecast, try to assist secure some umbrellas or facilitate indoor shooting locations.
Offer to Touch Her Up — Consider adding several touch-up essentials for your bridesmaid-to-the-rescue kit, including some blotting paper to avoid sweating and moisture from ruining her makeup in addition to any travel-sized bottles of her foundation, lip gloss, and eyeshadow to supply instant touchups. You could even ask the photographer’s assistant to hang onto a little makeup bag or cosmetics case full of all these days-of essentials which means you don’t need to bother about them while you’re having your picture taken.
Strike a Pose — During this part of the marriage activities, the photographer — with no one else — may be the boss. Don’t attempt to advise the professionals and realize that the photography team is much more than likely doing just what the couple asked them to complete. Typically, the newlyweds-to-be may have conferred using the photographer beforehand to generate a listing of must-have shots and poses. Be prepared to take pics inside a hundred poses and combos, with the bride to be, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, and solo. Don’t complain, even when it seems such as the shoot takes forever.
Let the Bride Shine — Make sure that no person in Team Bride is overshadowing the woman in white! The person who knows how to showcase her the best may be the person behind the lens, so take direction gracefully because it comes. If you notice that certain of the bridesmaids takes away from the bride to be, quietly ask her to step from the frame and allow the bride to be to function as the star.
When we consider quintessential bridesmaid duties, we often consider holding the bouquet and adjusting the train throughout the “I do” part of events. Indeed, these responsibilities are very important to the large day and really should not be taken lightly! Making sure the bride to be looks perfect underneath the arch or at the altar ought to be your principal consideration once the couple is saying their vows.
Fix Her Dress — Typically, the bridesmaid will be responsible for adjusting the bride to be’s train to ensure that it lays properly while she’s saying her vows. However, if it’s an especially long train or if the gown has special features that have to be taken into account, this might be considered a job for that entire crew of bridesmaids.
Hold Her Bouquet — During the ceremony, she’ll need both her hands to switch rings, hold her partner’s hand and perform any special traditions, such as the unity candle or sand ceremony. Thus, you’ll have to step in and hold her bouquet throughout a big chunk from the ceremony. The details from the fixing of the dress and holding from the bouquet — who must do it so when — could be ironed out throughout the rehearsal.
Hand Her a Hankie — Sadly, a mini pack of tissues doesn’t exactly opt for her outfit. If you are able to, discover a method to discreetly hold some tissues throughout the wedding to ensure that you have something available in case you will find waterworks mid-ceremony.
After the makeup is performed, the photos happen to be taken and also the couple is officially hitched, it’s time for you to party! But don’t immediately head straight towards the bar for shots. There is much more pomp and circumstance to become had at the reception, including toasts, dances, and also the cutting of the cake.
Nail Your Grand Entrance — Usually, the couple may have the entire wedding party make a grand entrance towards the reception. Be sure that you’ve ironed the details of this portion of your day with the bride to be. She might want you to enter using the groomsman, you walked in the aisle with or with all of the girls at the same time. She might want you to lighten the atmosphere with a dance, an interesting prop, or perhaps an upbeat song, or she may prefer to help keep this portion formal. Let the bride to be guiding the vibe.
Maid of Honor Only: Give Your Toast — If you’re the bridesmaid, the main responsibility you’ll have the rest of the bridesmaids won't have is giving a bridesmaid toast. As obvious because it sounds, make certain that you’ve spent some quality time planning this. You must have your speech written, polished, and rehearsed a minimum of two weeks before the large day. The emcee will often invite the bridesmaid and best man to provide their toasts during dinner, traditionally following the fathers (or mothers, oftentimes) give their toasts towards the new couple. Tip: should you’re responsible for raising a glass, make certain to wait to drink any alcohol until it’s over.
Keep the D.J. on Track — More than likely, the newlyweds were built with a very clear vision for that music prior to the wedding commenced. But throughout the reception, they’ll be bouncing from table to table and mingling using their guests, so that they won’t have time to help keep tabs around the soundtrack. Ask the pair beforehand the things they envision for that music and when there are any songs, artists, or genres which are off-limits or must-plays. If you have to step from the dancefloor to help keep the DJ on the right track, achieve this politely and just to honor the pair’s vision. In other words, don’t request the songs you need to hear simply because you’re bored using the DJ’s picks.
Gather Her Things — Another important role of the bridesmaid crew throughout the reception is to make certain that all the bride to be’s personal belongings are taken into account. Ideally, she’ll have her items — her phone, some money, and lip gloss — neatly gathered inside a pretty bridal clutch — to make your work easier. If she traded in her own high heels for many comfy bridal flats, make certain to grab her heels and other things she might have left behind after dancing the nighttime away.
Help Clean Up — Depending around the size, budget, and complexity of the marriage, you might be employed to assist gather decorations, remove linens and collect gifts following the final dance. Asks the bride to be beforehand what she plans to compete for cleanup — will there be considered a crew, or does she intend to have her friends and family pitch in to assist? Remember, the earlier it’s all cleaned up, the sooner you are able to head towards the afterparty!
At the end of your day, your role like a bridesmaid would be to provide your best with whatever she must enjoy your day she’s been planning and obsessing over for a long time, including emotional support. In all you do, make certain that you place the focus on her behalf and remind everyone that it’s her day with no one else’s. With any luck, she’ll perform the same for you personally when it’s your use tie the knot. Daisy is definitely here to assist you function as the best plus size bridesmaid dresses you are able to be!