Tips for the Blushing Bride: Perspective from a perpetual bridesmaid (pt 1 of 2)

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Have you ever read through an old journal and laughed, marveled and enjoyed where you were at in THAT exact time in your life? Here's an article I wrote when I was completing my masters degree for a journalism class KEEP IN MIND THIS WAS PRE-MY WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT!

Full Disclosure, I was a bit sassy when I wrote it, don't meant to offend ANYONE--just thought my WeddObsessed crew would find it amusing if NOTHING else! :)

Posting this in two entries, as it is a bit long for ONE post!

A group of women exist today who share a bond that binds them closer than sisters. These women have worn dresses they despise while displaying forced smiles on their faces. Many of them know every place you can buy custom dyed shoes in a 20-mile radius of their homes, some going as far as having a personal tailor on speed dial in their cell phones or the five closest florists to any given reception sight. They can pull off an elegant shower without a hitch, mainly because they are experienced in the art of the bridal shower and sincerely know all the right things to say at the right time to encourage a distressed bride-to-be.


Who are these women? They are the highly under-rated, yet all-important bridesmaids, the girls who stand loyally beside the lovely bride and groom as they exchange their once in a lifetime nuptials. For better or for worse, these bridesmaids spend countless hours and dollars satisfying every wish and whim their betrothed friend makes.


Please don’t mistake my feelings and remarks as bitter or cynical. I couldn’t be anything further from that. In fact, weddings literally make me giddy! (Really! They do!) I love so many things about them, starting with the fact that two people are making an amazing statement and a lifelong commitment in front of everyone that matters to them.


To participate in such a role is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on any adoring friend, but quite candidly, after being in six weddings, none of them my own, there are few things I’d like to share with you, o lovely bride. First things first: if you are wondering, pepto bismol pink is generally not a flattering color for a bridesmaid dress. Period. End of story.


Every bride sincerely vows to her girls to be considerate, thoughtful, relaxed and carefree right after the engagement. Then reality hits. It’s like a switch is flipped that sends one and all rushing pell mell toward that dramatic, idealized, romanticized day of all days, complete of course, with all the thoughtfully orchestrated personal touches.


Suddenly, frantic agendas (in bulletin format) are sent out to the wedding party through mass e-mails. Mandatory tanning sessions are ordered, and the “you-can-pick-your own-dress-style” shifts to the unapologetic “I will chose the style and color for every bridesmaid,” sentiment.


Granted, I realize that you will never please everyone, and you, the focal point bride, should be the one deciding the color and cut of the bridesmaid dresses, but the bride should never choose color or style of the bridesmaid dresses based on the one size fits all body type/skin tone mentality.

Bridesmaid Bottom Line: PLEASE have mercy when choosing our dress color and style. We love you. We are excited to be in your wedding, but we DON’T want to have to hide the pictures we take in storage for fear of someone black mailing us with them. And please remember that we don’t want to have to raid our IRA to pay for a dress/pair of shoes/hair style/tanning/nails for one day. ☺

.....Continued tomorrow! :)