Bridesmaids – Following on From the Hit Film The Wedding Planner School’s Advice for Bridesmaids

With the film ‘Bridesmaids’ receiving such a positive reaction The Wedding Planner School offers advice on exactly what the role entails….

The film centres around Annie (Kristen Wiig) who’s down on her luck with a failed business and relationship, and having lost all her money. Her good friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) who keeps her sane, announces her engagement and asks Annie to be Maid of Honour.  At the engagement party Annie meets her fellow bridesmaids, becoming jealous of the friendship between one of them, Helen, and her friend Lillian. The two are trying to out compete each other with their bridal party positions with Helen using underhand tactics to get her way when it comes to the planning of the wedding and bridal shower. This leads to rows and upset within the wedding party, and while we aren’t going to give away plot spoilers we do have some advice on the duties of the bridesmaids……

1. Role of Bridesmaid – The role of the bridesmaid is to assist (not compete with!) the chief bridesmaid – or maid of honour – with any plans, including the hen party, and to help the bride when the chief bridesmaid is otherwise engaged. This role is one for ladies only, whether married or unmarried and regardless of age, although bridesmaids under the age of 8 are normally referred to as flower girls.

 

2. Wedding Planner – Both of the above tasks can be done by a wedding planner but additional help makes it easier all round. TheWeddingPlannerSchool.org.uk offers a FREE wedding planning or coordination service for brides nationwide, and access to established wedding planners for the full service. If you feel that the bride might benefit from this to help alleviate the stress then let her know. Plus, if you are enjoying carrying out your role so much that you want it to last forever, book yourself onto a course to learn how to turn your experience into a successful career as a professional wedding and event planner.  WPS will give money saving tips, the secrets of profitable careers and how to avoid nasty surprises!

 

3. Your Dress – This can be a minefield with tact and diplomacy required to avoid hurting the bride’s feelings. If you have had an input into the style of your dress or you might wear the dress again, then you may well be expected to pay for it along with the shoes, so ask before any decisions are made. Flower girl shoes & dresses are normally purchased by the child’s parents, but most couples will offer to pay for her dress.

 

4. Flower Girls – The flower girl will be a young child, who walks ahead of the bride scattering petals or carrying a floral arrangement. Her parents are responsible for getting her to the church, but take care of her and try to familiarise yourself with the child and her parents if they are not already known to you, to avoid a small child from being scared, and to reassure her, if she cannot see her parents.

 

5. Wedding Cars – The bridesmaids travel in the first of the wedding cars with the mother of the bride. Avoid any conversation that might add to her stress levels! The bride and her father will follow in the second car.

 

6. Proceed Down the Aisle – Traditionally in the UK bridesmaids walk down the aisle behind the bride, although it is becoming increasingly common to do it the other way around to increase anticipation for the congregation.

 

7. Straighten the Dress – When the procession arrives straighten the bride’s dress, lift her veil if desired, take her bouquet and anything else that she is carrying, and then take your seat in the second or third row.

 

8. Bouquet Toss – Rally all of the single women for the bride tossing the bouquet. Superstition has it that the lady who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. When gathering the women together do not base the judgement of the marital status of the women on their age or beauty as this could cause offence.

 

9. Thanks from the Groom – The groom will follow on from the father of the bride’s speech, and he will thank you and bestow gifts upon all bridesmaids so be prepared to manoeuvre your way to the top table. The best man will thank the groom on your behalf.

 

10. Dancing the Night Away – On leaving the marriage ceremony you may be escorted by the ushers. It is common, but not obligatory, to dance with the ushers at the reception.

©2011 The Wedding Planner School™