What I Learned About Being a Bridesmaid
Megan Noll Photography
My First Wedding- What I Learned About Being a Bridesmaid
This past July, I got to be a part of my very first wedding. One of my closest friends, who at this point I had known just about one year now, asked me to be her bridesmaid. I was filled with so much honor and excitement that she had chosen me to stand next to her on one of the biggest days of her life.
One of the reasons I was over the top excited was the fact that I had also never been a part of a wedding. I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into this! Like absolutely no clue.
I thought it would be a great idea to share with you guys everything I’ve learned about being a bridesmaid with no sugar coating! Here we go:
1. Remember Why You Are a Bridesmaid
Most people assume the bride chooses her bridesmaids based off of who her closest friends are and typically who she has known the longest. This wasn’t the case for this bride and neither will it be for me.
I had only known the bride for six months when she asked me to be her bridesmaid! She had tons of other friends that she had known for years and years, but our relationship was different. We met at a bible study and the foundation of our relationship was built around Jesus.
We were vulnerable, open, and honest with each other about life from the very beginning.
I asked the bride what went behind her choosing her bridesmaids and this is what she said:
“I wanted the people that were standing by me to be people I know I would support and love, but also who I know would truly and genuinely support and love me. I also wanted them to be people I knew would be in my life for a long time.”
Remember, this is why you are a bridesmaid in the first place.
2. Overall Goal of Bridesmaids the Day of the Wedding
Keep the bride happy! I got lucky because the bride had an unbelievable attitude the entire day. She came into the day knowing not everything would be perfect and she wasn’t going to let any small detail or change of plans ruin her day.
She knew ultimately the day was about celebrating her commitment to her husband, not the table arrangements, the weather or the food.
The bride went as far as asking each of her bridesmaids how they were doing and if they needed anything throughout the day. The selflessness that came from her that day reminded me exactly why I was so happy to be her friend and to be there celebrating her marriage. (Remind me to act this way on my wedding day!)
I knew the selflessness she showed that day was just a small peek into the marriage she was going to have. If she could be that selfless on one of the most important days of her life, she was going to be a selfless wife who would put her husband first.
3. Being a Bridesmaid is Expensive
Now everyone’s favorite topic, how expensive is it to be a bridesmaid? WeddingChannel.com surveyed more than 20,000 brides nationwide in 2011 and found that the average bridesmaid spends $1,695 on a wedding. The expenses include traveling to and from the wedding and/or bachelorette party, gifts for the wedding shower, lingerie shower, wedding, the cost of the bridesmaid dress, shoes, hair, makeup, and nails the day of the wedding.
Travel is the biggest expense when it comes to being a part of a wedding. I did not have to travel for this wedding so that was a tremendous cost saver!
My advice is to keep all of these factors in mind before you commit to being a bridesmaid. Consider even having a conversation with the bride about what you feel comfortable spending and see if you are on the same page.
4. Is it Worth it?
If your friendship doesn’t seem like one that is very stable and is going to last a lifetime, then maybe it isn’t worth it to you. Ask yourself these questions before making the commitment to be a bridesmaid.
If the bride is one of your closest friends, this is an extremely special day that you will never forget. Being a part of someone’s wedding is going to bond you guys for life (without the marriage license haha).
After all of the expenses were paid off I could not have been happier to celebrate this day. She was choosing to glorify God with her husband by the ultimate sacrament of marriage. The day was focused on the love they had for one another, but most importantly the love they had for their heavenly Father.
5. Your Job as a Bridesmaid is Never Entirely Over
Your job as a bridesmaid isn’t over once the wedding ends. As a bridesmaid, I believe you’re committing to support and encourage this couple for the rest of your life.
One of my favorite moments of the entire wedding was getting the opportunity, along with the other bridesmaids, to put my hand on the bride and pray for her moments before she walked down the aisle. This was an emotional and exciting moment that we were able to share with her.
She knew walking down the aisle that not only did we have her back in this moment, but that we would always have her back.
* Please comment below your thoughts or comments! Do you agree with these things? Is there anything I may have forgotten that you have learned while being a bridesmaid?