How To Be A Good Bridesmaid

How To Be A Good Bridesmaid.

At this point in my career I don't even know how many hundred weddings I have done.

Hundreds and hundreds of them.

In the midst of all the fun I always see what's going on, and I've learned a lot about what makes a good bridesmaid.
Here are 10 tips for how to be a good bridesmaid

1. It's not your show.

A really good bridesmaid knows that today she is absolutely NOT the star of the show!

You need to defer to the bride, don't be an attention vampire, don't be the loudest girl in the room.

No matter what goes down, be chill.

2. Say Yes To The Dress.

Who cares what it looks like on you? Tomorrow you can wear something different. As for today, don't complain, don't make snippy comments about how it's not your style. Just roll with it. 

3. Be Makeup Cool.

Hopefully a good makeup artist has been hired for the big day, and is keeping all the bridesmaids looking beautiful. If you change out your lip color, draw on some big contour, or do something wacky with your eyebrows (ahem - Instagram) you will draw attention to yourself and take it away from the bride (and the other bridesmaids) and no doubt ruin every picture that you are in. Most of the time you will look stupid and vain.

Do your big makeup look tomorrow, but today just be chill.

4. Help Where You Can.

A good bridesmaid will be unobtrusively helpful. You can easily fix things, take care of potential problems, do simple things like get the bride a drink, make sure she has something to eat - essentially help her day flow smoothly. Just don't do it in a way that makes you look like you're seeking a pat on the back, or trying to outdo another bridesmaid.

5. Keep The Mood Light And Fun.

A really great bridesmaid will keep the mood in the room light and fun, diffusing any girl-drama that is threatening to break through. The bride needs to remember this as her best day ever, and feel the love and support of her closest friends rather than remember the getting ready portion of her wedding day as being a mean gossip-fest.

6. Bring An Emergency Kit.                               

If there is no wedding planner onsite then bring a few bits and pieces in case something goes wrong. Tampax, safety pins, bobby pins, bandaids, Excedrin, Fashion Tape, Altoids - little things that can make a huge difference.

7. Only Be Positive.

Don't tell her her hair looks wrong or that her dress doesn't fit quite right. Even if they do.
She is probably already feeling vulnerable and this is not the time for some passive aggressive "I'm only telling you because I love you" nonsense.

Tell her she looks beautiful, draw attention away from anything that isn't quite right.

The biggest component of looking beautiful is feeling beautiful. If she feels gorgeous she will radiate gorgeous. No matter how amazing she looks, if she feels like she's not looking her best, then that is what she will project.

8. Don't Get Drunk.

You know your limit. Don't go past it.

The drunk bridesmaid lowers the tone of the event. And she gets immortalized in the wedding album with her half falling down up-do, bleary runny eyes and smeared lips.

No matter how much fun you think you are when you're drunk, to everyone else you look stupid

9. Accept That The Maid Of Honor Is The Leader

Even if you can't stand her.

Don't get your nose out of joint, don't get into any passive aggressive power games, just smile and roll with it. 

10. Have Fun.

And if you're not having fun, act as if you are.