You have been asked to become a Bridesmaid. Congratulations, you’ve just been asked to be a part of the wedding party! What a huge honor! This means the bride/groom can’t tie the knot without you by their side. Although this role might seem glamorous, I think it’s important to address and understand what those responsibilities might be. This will help you make that final decision before saying yes. 

What a Bridesmaid Does Before the Wedding

1. SHOP 

There are some things you might be asked to shop or pay for and this may include your attire, pitching in to host the bridal shower, pitching in the cost of the bachelorette party, etc. On top of this you most likely want to send the happy couple a gift for their wedding. Every wedding is different and for some this means the couple needs your help financially or they have it covered. Definitely talk to the couple about their expectations on costs. 

2. PLAN 

You might be asked to help plan the bridal shower or bachelorette party. I highly recommend talking with the whole bridesmaid tribe and asking their opinion on where it should be, what everyone’s budget is, and if they can attend both anticipated dates. 

3. HELP

The couple might need your help on a few extra items like helping them find certain vendors, choosing between this linen or that, being that shoulder to cry on, and that friend to cheer them on to keep going. Alot of work and time takes place when planning a wedding, so as a bridesmaid you’d want the bride to know that you are there for her every step of the way and have her back. Hopefully she has a wedding planner involved to help her with most of these items, but sometimes a girl needs her bestie.  

4. ATTEND

Mark your calendars and be there for her most important dates. This could be her bridal shower, Bachelorette party, dress appointments, ceremony rehearsal, etc. Your presence is very important on these scheduled pre-wedding events.

Bridesmaid Role During the Wedding

1. PREPARE

As a bridesmaid, you have to be able to assist the bride with all the preparations. You have to make sure that you provide food or drinks on the day of the wedding. Make sure she’s hydrated. The last thing we need is a bride sent to the ER. Always look out for her and check her teeth for no lipstick stains or that her dress is always fluffed. At this point, the bride is both excited and nervous, so you also have to be there for her emotionally. Have tissues on hand! Oh and don’t forget to have her honeymoon bag prepared and ready in her honeymoon suite. She’ll thank you later!  

2. ASSIST

If this is a DIY wedding, be sure you understand what decor items she wants propped up and where they need to be placed. She might need help setting up, but hopefully she hired a wedding planner to take care of all those items. She might need help getting into her dress or even peeing in her gown. You might need to hold her phone or strap on her heels, either way always asking “how can I help?” will do wonders! 

3. ATTEND

Since you said yes to be a bridesmaid, it is a must that you are on the actual wedding day! She needs you by her side before she says “I Do!” be present throughout the day and if you have some downtime take photos or videos of her. This way she has BTS action of things she can look back on. She will appreciate these memories more than you know. 

Bridesmaid After the Wedding

As mentioned previously any moments you captured throughout the day be sure to send them her way. Text her the morning after and share memories of the wedding day. 

There are so many responsibilities and roles of a bridesmaid. So much to consider. After laying out a guide to what you might be getting yourself into, do you see yourself ready to commit and be there for her? Talk to the couple about the costs, budget, and expectations of the day so you can truly make an honest decision on adding this task to your plate. Most have full time jobs, a parent, or in school so be sure these added tasks are something you can take care of when she needs you. I hope this article helped you and if it did be sure to share it with a fellow bridesmaid.

After understanding what your role is as a bridesmaid, here is a helpful blog I recently posted that talks about questions you should ask the couple before you commit.