How to Be a Bridesmaid

Being a bridesmaid at your the wedding of a friend, sister or relative is a lovely honour. As well as having certain responsibilities, it's important to enjoy the occasion and to help ensure that the bride has the best possible experience too. It's not hard but you do need to be attentive.

Find out how many other bridesmaids are going to form the bridesmaid contingent in the wedding. This will depend on the size of the wedding and the bride's desired style. If you don't know any of the other bridesmaids, be sure to ask to meet them well before the wedding.

Be prepared to help out both leading up to the wedding and during the wedding ceremony. Your main duty is to help in the lead-up to the wedding, it's not just about wearing a lovely dress and looking pretty. There are lots of little things you can do, including running errands, addressing the envelopes for invitations, helping to ring up catering venues. Choose to do the things that you're good at doing.

Find out if you have any responsibilities post the wedding reception. With the bride usually going on a honeymoon, you might be asked to get the wedding dress dry cleaned and safely returned to her home and to take care of the wedding gifts. You may be sharing such tasks with other bridesmaids or family members, depending on the preferences of the bride. Offer your help all the same.