5 Tips For Being A Better Bridesmaid

I was a bridesmaid this year for the first time ever, and well… I learned a lot.

I was a bridesmaid this year for the first time ever, and well… I learned a lot. There’s a list of things that us ladies could be doing for the bride to make her journey down the aisle a whole lot easier. Here’s five little tips to help get you on your A-game.

Tick Tock. Let’s get a move on and be timely. The bride has enough of her plate as it is. When she gives you the link to dress options, go ahead and pick one out earlier rather than later. Send her a confirmation that the dress has been bought, altered, and maybe even a quick picture so she knows you are taken care of. I waited till the day before the wedding to get my alterations done (sorry Ivy!), and oh-me-oh-my that was silly. I got a big fat bridesmaid F in that department. If plans are being made for showers, parties, and events leading up to the day, RSVP quickly so that the bride can move on with the guest list. Time goes by fast when planning a wedding, so don’t keep the bride waiting.

Reach Out. Instead of going straight to the bride, reach out to some of the family members and volunteer to help out in any way that you can. This behind-the-scenes help will mean so much when last minute errands need to be run, a grandmother could use a hand walking in, or the candles need to be lit.

bridesmaid4

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Queenwood Western Boot

Strut Your Stuff. On the big day, make sure you’re shoes are comfy. If the bride is letting you pick out which shoes you can wear, make sure to keep in mind the location of where you’ll be walking (I sank my way down the aisle in a grassy field wearing heels), and also where you will be standing in photos. I’m tall, and the bride was pretty short. I was to stand next to her, so my heels weren’t helpful. By the end of the night, I changed into some booties that paired well with my dress, so I could get my dancin’ on.

Snap Away. As a bridesmaid, you are totally behind the scenes of the whole journey. I was with the bride as she got ready minutes before the wedding, and even there helping twirl flowers with her mother that would soon be draped along the chandelier. I took a film camera with me, and shot these intimate moments, so that she could have them as a keepsake from her special day. A polaroid is also a fun option, for quick, instant gratification shots! Just be sure you’re not in the way of the official wedding photographer, and be mindful of any ‘unplugged/no photo’ policies the couple may have in place.

Gift. Give a sweet little gift the morning of the big day. A letter works, but lately I’ve loved the idea of pulling out a favorite handwritten family recipe, and gifting it for the many dinners she will be sharing at home.

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+What advice do you have for any future bridesmaids that you’ve learned along the way? Let me know in the comments!

Follow FP Madisyn on Instagram + take a peek at her blog!

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7 years ago

I am going to be a bridesmaid for the first time this summer and it´s so exciting: the first one of my friends is getting married and I will be part of the show :)

Thank you so much for the tips: I will read them over and over and over again learning everything. I especially loved the idea about the recipe!
Thank you so much fro sharing!

Aria

https://pandaonavespa.wordpress.com/welcome/

Rachel
7 years ago

Love the recipe tip, and the shoes. I thought about bringing an extra pair for dancing at the next wedding, but didn’t think about sinking into the grass. Thanks!

Beth
7 years ago

These florals are gorgeous<3

Bethany
7 years ago

So good! Love all things wedding. Love the flowers as well!
Keep Dreaming, Bethany Grace
http://www.blissfuldreaming.com

cath
7 years ago

I was in a wedding once upon a time where the other two bridesmaids did not get along. At all. They actually fought all the way through the months leading up the wedding, and even pulled nasty tricks on each other at the reception. If it happens you don’t get along with other members of the wedding party, grow up and keep your mouth shut, or bow out gracefully. It’s not about you, it’s about the bride and groom. Hope nobody else finds themselves in this awful situation. I wish I’d had the courage back then to explain this to the two of them. Once the wedding was over, the three of us went our separate ways. I was able to bite my tongue throughout. Wish they had too. And don’t let rambunctious guys play practical jokes in bad taste. Good rule of thumb from Penn and Teller on practical jokes is that they’re ONLY funny if the target laughs. Don’t let them ruin a happy memory meant to last a lifetime.
Your tips are very thoughtful. Wish I’d read your post way back then.

7 years ago

Something my bridesmaids did for me was to make me a scrapbook of all the planning and they gave it to me a week before the wedding. There was even a scrap from my dress in it from that was left over from the alterations! I keep it next to my wedding album, I truly cherish it.
And as a bride I can confirm, get your bridesmaid dress ASAP! One of my BMs took forever to pick a dress and was full of complaints and this was so stressful let me tell you.