It’s happened! You've been asked to be your long-time friend, partner-in-crime, sister-for-life's sidekick, support and best of all, bridesmaid. You’re honoured, bursting with excitement and ready to talk all things weddings at the drop of the hat. But if you're a first-time bridesmaid, it can also be a bit nerve-wracking. So, to help you with everything from bustle-tying to mood-board making, we've rounded up 21rules for being the perfect bridesmaid. Follow these by the letter, and listen to our podcast episode on the subject, and you'll be so sought after as a bridesmaid, you might have to start charging for your services! From the moment your pal pops the question over a celebratory drink, or via a 'Will You Be my Bridesmaid' invitation, your bridesmaid duties begin. To help you start off on the right foot, we've gathered tips for the early days of planning: 1. Print out our bridesmaid duties checklist. We've rounded up theultimate list of bridesmaid duties in one handy list. While you won't be required to do everything on the bridesmaid checklist (we hope!), this list means you won't forget anything from the moment you're asked to Day Two! 2. Be there to listen. Wedding planning brings all sorts of stresses, so be the calm in the midst of the madness. Be the bride’s confidante, let her vent if she needs to, talk non-wedding things if that's what she needs, and help her see the fun side of planning if she's starting to get overwhelmed. 3. Be gracious and tactful when it comes to choosing bridesmaid dresses, especially if there are a few bridesmaids to cater for. It may not be your first choice dress but it’s only one day in a lifelong friendship, so be diplomatic. We covered this topic at length in this episode of the One Fab Day wedding podcast, which features some indispensable dos and don'ts of bridesmaid dress shopping, so definitely give it a listen! 4. Plan the Best Hen Party EVER! Not only is this a time to celebrate your best pal, but you also get to blow off a bit of steam in the process! Planning the hen party can be a tricky undertaking, of course. Our top tip is to know your audience. A few embarrassing photos and stories is more than enough for most people - if you think your pal won't appreciate a stripper, feather boas and a stretch limo, go with your gut no matter what other people are saying! Be sure to read our full guide to planning a hen, and listen to our podcast episode on the subject, which is full of handy tips! You can also see some super fun hen party options here. 5. Show you're interested in helping her gather inspiration and ideas. Get you both set up onPinterestand start some shared boards, follow a few wedding accounts on Instagram, and tag her when you spot things she might like. It's also a good idea to offer to go along to events or wedding fairs, so check out our Events Calendar for what's coming up. This one is all about making her feel comfortable to talk weddings and build up the hype! 6. If it's possible for you to visit the wedding venue with your pal,try to build a relationship with the staffso they know who you are if something needs to be taken care of on the wedding day. Better they're comfortable going to you first with any problems than your friend, especially if she doesn't have a wedding planner. If she does have a planner, try to connect with them too. 7. For friends and family who are unable to attend the wedding, organise a message via email or video to be read to the couple during thespeeches. The couple will love it! 8. Attend dress fittings. Part of your job is to help your girl find her dream dress, but it's also a good idea to be there for the fitting too, to learn how to help her into her ensemble, how to manoeuvre the train and/or tie up the bustle, if there is one. 9. Don't just say, "Call me if you need help!" Offer to take specific tasks off her plate, whether it's chasing up RSVPs, or finding the perfect shade of navy for the ties. Delegation can be difficult for brides, so if you take the lead, it removes one more thing from her to-do list. It's been a whirlwind of planning but the big day has finally arrived! Fingers crossed everything runs smoothly, but it's always possible that little (or big!) things might go wrong, and this is your time to shine. Take any potential issues in your stride, even if you're panicked on the inside. 10. The morning of the wedding is going to be a hub of excitement, and it's easy to fall behind, so keep things moving.Organise a rota for the bride, bridesmaids and mother of the bride and groom having their hair and makeup done (we have a wedding day timeline here!). Give everyone time slots so there is no confusion, drama or delays! Why not pop on our special wedding morning Spotify playlist! 11. The morning of the wedding is a very emotional time, so be sure tocreate a calm environment from the start to keep the nerves at bay - the tips in this post will help. 12. Have a bridal emergency kitready to go on the day. Something is guaranteed to go wrong so having safety pins/ plasters/sewing kit/chalk/tissues, etc. is a must. We've even created a handy wedding emergency kit checklist to help get you started. You'll thank us when a load-bearing button pops off. Same goes for accidental stains - we have a post on what to pack in an emergency stain removal kit here and how to tackle common wedding day stains here. 13. Be on makeup and lipstick alert all day. Themakeup artist usually heads off before the ceremony, so it’s up to you to let the bride know if she's got mascara running down both cheeks. Ask the MUA for tips on how to freshen up your bride's makeup and read this post on touch ups throughout the day, especially before her pictures. 14. If your bride has worked on a DIY wedding, her part should stop the night before. From here, it’s up to you and your fellow bridesmaids (and generous friends) to make sure all decor details are in place. Remember things like putting out the bathroom basket if there is one, or making sure someone sticks the Just Married sign on the car. 15. Stay close to the couple for the photos. Just because the ceremony is over, doesn't mean you can sneak off for a drink - your pal might need help adjusting her dress or someone to hold her bouquet. You're also probably going to need to help round up guests for the various group portraits. 16. Make sure everyone, from old friends to great-aunts, has everything that they needand is enjoying themselves on the day. There's so much going on for the couple, it'll be reassuring for them know that everyone is being taken care of. 17. If you're not aware of this already, we hate to break it to you, but you're on bathroom duty for the whole day and night! Depending on her dress, your mate might need help going to the loo - if you weren't close enough friends already, there will be no secrets after this. Our guide to how to pee in a wedding dress will come in handy for this one! 18. Feed the bride. Hopefully wedding morning jitters won't get the better of your friend and she'll be able to have a hearty breakfast to keep her energy levels up. But either way it's important to ensure she eats between the ceremony and reception which can be a long gap. Very often she'll be whisked off for photos or will be busy chatting to her guests and will miss the canapés. Nobody wants to be hangry on their wedding day, or drinking Champagne on an empty stomach. 19. Be the first one to join them on the dance floor. It’s a party after all and nobody puts baby in the corner. Your friend had the best day of her life and is now happily married to the love of her life. The last thing you want is for niggly tasks to pop that love bubble the next day. Let her luxuriate over breakfast while you look after the last of the to-do list. 20. Gather up the decor. If it's a DIY wedding then chances are the decorations will need to be gathered and boxed up, either to be stored for later collection or popped into someone's car to be taken home. Check if there are any rentals that need to be returned, or that any of the couple's items haven't been mixed up with the venue's. 21. Get snap happy. Seeing as it'll be anywhere from four to eight weeks before the bride sees any official photos or videos of her wedding day, why not collect cute photos of the day to share with her while she waits. Put that hen party Whatsapp group to good use and ask people for their best snaps, and any other guests you have a number for. Extra bonus points if you create a sweet video with the photos to the music of the couple's first dance. Looking for more tips on being a great bridesmaid? Get loads of ideas on bridesmaids dress shoppingand hen party planning, and definitely print out our Ultimate Bridesmaid Duties Checklist!
Photo by Nicola Dixon Photography via One fab DayHow to Be the Perfect Bridesmaid: The Planning Process
How to Be the Perfect Bridesmaid: The Wedding Day
How to Be the Perfect Bridesmaid: The Day After
