Bridesmaids!

There’s a great Offbeat Bride article about the bride-bridesmaid dynamic. Brides and their chosen maids can either have a great time together… or wonder why they were ever friends in the first place!

<blockquote>In the process of researching my book, I spoke to one former bridesmaid who’d been chastised by the bride for getting her shoulder-length hair cut into a bob before the wedding. The bride fuh-REAKED out, because now this one bridesmaid wouldn’t be able to have the pre-set bridemaid updo. </blockquote>

I had a horrible time bridesmaiding for a college girlfriend. For month before the wedding, it seemed like every time the phone rang, it was my friend, with another pre-wedding duty, or unforeseen bridesmaid expense, or a question of vital important to a bride-to-be. That, and her total lack of interest in non-wedding events really put a strain on our friendship.  In her defense, though, she did have a gorgeous wedding and came back from her honeymoon Bridezilla-free.

But when my brother got married, I had a great time as a bridesmaid! The bride knew that I wouldn’t be available for most of the pre-wedding planning and events, and instead of stressing about it, made a big deal that I’d come back to the US in time for the wedding itself.