So many things happen on a wedding day. There are loads of resources for a bride, but what about her bridesmaids? What can they do to help? As friends, and especially those in the wedding party, there are small things that you can do to help make the day go smoothly, more efficiently and alleviate stress for the bride on her wedding day. Below are just a few examples that I have to offer you as a bridesmaid!
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- Be on time! Ask the bride where and when you need to be the day before or even the week before and be there. There are so many ways a wedding day time line can go off, and you don’t want to be the one making that happen because you are late to getting your make up done. Even being early to the salon or getting ready spot will ease the bride from more stress she doesn’t need.
- Have your hair and make up finished and be in your dress (unless you are taking robe shots) before the bride gets in her dress. These photos are especially beautiful and help create gorgeous getting ready shots. When a bridesmaid is helping her friend get into the dress, there are emotions happening and a photo for the album is created. Let’s face it, most of us as a bridesmaid, do not want to be in a robe or our comfy clothes in any album that we might look at together 10 years down the line! (I know this is not always doable, especially if your hair and make up people will be on-site and filtering through all the bridesmaids, but even having one or two bridesmaids in dresses helps created beautiful photos!)
- Be another set of eyes for the bride. Is her dress dragging on the ground, help her carry it. Is her hair blowing in her face, wisp it away for her. If it is an especially windy day, making sure he veil stays in place is also helpful. These photos are also beautiful and add to the story line of the day.
- Be a consistent source of encouragement. Let’s face it. There is a reason she asked you to stand with her, you are her friend! You get her and she wants you there. Make her laugh, keep her calm, remind her of that amazingly hilarious trip to Mexico you took together, and get her laughing or crying! There are so many ways that you, as a dear friend, can bring out the best in her. This is an incredible day, have fun with her. These are some of my favorite photos of the bride and her maids.
- Make it about her. We’ve all been in that wedding where there is that one bridesmaid who kinda, sorta forgets that it is not her day. Don’t be that girl. Make it all about helping your friend be the star of her own wedding day. Stand back in the limelight and if something doesn’t go the way you envisioned it, don’t worry or make it a big deal, today is about her.
- If you have kids, have someone else be responsible for them, at least for part of the day. I know that can be hard, trust me, I have been that mom who has been in the wedding as a bridesmaid, and be mom at the same time. Getting little people’s hair done right and in the dresses, shoes and ties can be overwhelming. Hiring a babysitter for a portion of the day, having a grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend help can make it not only less stressful for you, but also the bride.
So I know this not an extensive list, but just some ideas that can be helpful to you as the bridesmaid on a wedding day.