Bridesmaids - who can be, what to do at the wedding

Assistant, stylist, dressmaker, wedding planner, event planner, presenter, advisor. Right hand, guardian angel and brave woman, not afraid of any work. A witness is not a function... A witness is a special mission!

Being a best man or bridesmaid is a unique distinction, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. To a large extent, the bride's immediate circle bears many serious problems and responsible tasks that can outweigh the success of the wedding ceremony and reception.

Witness, i.e. first bridesmaid

A witness is, first of all, a formally defined function. For a marriage oath to be binding, the celebrant and witnesses must be present. This is the clergyman or civil registrar, i.e. a privileged witness whose presence is necessary to fulfill the legal requirements for marriage. Witnesses for the bride and groom should be trusted. It can also be people of the same gender.

If you choose witnesses of both genders, then usually the witnesses help the bride during preparations, especially on the wedding day and at the wedding reception. Apart from completing the formalities of signing the marriage, the function of a witness includes many important responsibilities.

Bridesmaid and witness

Pajamas for a boudoir photo shoot

If you plan to spend the morning in the company of your favorite friends, take care of their outfits for this part of the day. For a classic hotel shoot, silk negligees or slip dresses in the same palette are suitable, and for a more informal shoot, the same pajamas. If you want to stand out especially among your friends, choose an outfit of a different shade to create a contrast.

Photo: Katya Romanova, Konstantin Semenikhin

Responsibilities of a witness:

1. Help in choosing a wedding dress . Availability and objective assessment during the first visits to salons and at all fittings.
2. Support at every stage of preparation for the wedding . From choosing a wedding hall and purchasing jewelry to choosing shoes for a wedding dress - we advise and solve the topics asked by the bride.
3. Organizing a bachelorette party . Planning a party for the bride, taking into account her interests, buying a gift and inviting guests.
4. Coordination of the list of wedding gifts . If the bride and groom choose to do so, guests must add their gifts to a list kept by the witness.
5. Release of the bride a few days before the wedding . The final days before a wedding are a real emotional and logistical rollercoaster for the bride and groom, so let them focus on what's important and let the best man take care of the rest.
6. Preparing a rescue basket for the bride . From painkillers to needles and thread to hairpins, everything you need in an emergency should be on hand.
7. Help in dressing the bride . Often a wedding dress can be tricky to put on and you have to keep an eye on all the accessories, hair and makeup.
8. Signature after the wedding ceremony . Formalities that need to be completed at the registry office or church (note: you must have your ID or passport with you!).
9. Presence of the bride and groom if desired . He will stand right behind the bride and receive flowers and gifts from the guests.
10. Caring for wedding gifts . After the wishes have been made, the witnesses are responsible for the safe transportation of gifts from the guests to the place designated by the newlyweds.
11. Taking care of the bride's impeccable appearance at the wedding . Take care of your makeup and hairstyle, as well as the correct appearance of your outfit.
12. Responding to guests' needs . Best men are the first people wedding guests should turn to if they have questions or concerns.
13. Close cooperation with subcontractors during the wedding . Constantly supervising the service of the wedding venue, wedding team or photographer and the first point of contact with service providers to avoid unnecessarily involving the bride and groom.
14. Help in saying goodbye to guests . Supporting the bride and groom while saying goodbye to guests, preparing any gifts or providing transportation.
15. Solving organizational issues after the wedding . Collaborate with the wedding venue in cleaning the room, packaging and serving food and drinks, keeping track of inventory or financial arrangements.

Wedding accessories

Bride's dress

Nowadays it is impossible to imagine a bride without a veil and a dress that is not white. This is a long-established tradition dating back several centuries. However, this was not always the case. In Rus', girls wore an elegant embroidered sundress.

The color of the wedding dress was said to be red. This was explained quite simply: red is a symbol of fire, which the Slavs worshiped. Second meaning: red – beautiful. Also, if the bride wore a red outfit, then no one would jinx her. To enhance the effect, several hidden stitches were made with blue thread on the wedding dress.

Nowadays it is believed that white is a symbol of the purity of a young lady. If the bride is not getting married for the first time, then it is better to choose a dress of a different color that best suits her spirit.

Veil

A strong amulet: under it the bride hid her face from prying eyes, revealing it only after the marriage ceremony was illuminated in the church. Before the ceremony, the veil could not be given to unmarried friends to try on - the groom would be taken away. But at the wedding feast, it was the bride who threw the veil into the crowd of unmarried bridesmaids. The veil (like the dress) was kept throughout life. It was later used to make a curtain over the baby's cradle to protect against the evil eye.

Shoes

They must certainly be white and must be worn, which means a successful marriage for many years. Therefore, it is recommended to wear them around the house for at least a day before the wedding. Buy closed shoes (not sandals), without laces. The meaning of superstition is easy childbirth.

Gloves

For the same reasons as a veil, no one should be allowed to try on before or during a wedding, especially unmarried friends.

Decorations

It is not recommended to wear natural stones, especially pearls - this will lead to tears. However, this does not apply to turquoise. Jewelry is the best accessory for a bride. By the way, before, a close friend used to put earrings on the bride before the wedding, but now it’s a witness.

Features of an ideal witness

• Reliable . A person from a group of loved ones with whom you can be calm about the secrets and truthfulness entrusted to you.
• Supportive . She gives advice and help (and, if necessary, a handkerchief) at any time during the preparation for the wedding and on the wedding day.
• Constructive . Supportive but wise. Don't shower the bride with compliments when she sees herself making rash decisions.
• Dynamic. An efficient and energetic person who knows how to get things done and “you can go on reconnaissance with her”!
• Organized . She plans and carries out all tasks assigned to her with attention to every detail.
• Responsible . She is mature, has a common sense approach to every situation and takes responsibility for the tasks assigned to her.
• Resistant to stress . She does not lose her head in the most stressful situations and always tries to solve the problem.
• Assertive . He can state his point of view to the point and say no to all subcontractors and even the family if they are not in favor of the bride.
• Delegation of tasks . She knows she can't do everything alone, so like a true leader, she can manage a team of subcontractors or bridesmaids so everyone knows what to do and when to do it.

Help with wedding preparations

You will have to listen to all the bride’s experiences, accompany her in the wedding salon, and help in preparing the decor. And fulfill a thousand more requests that the bride will make to you during this stressful period.

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Bridesmaid responsibilities:

1. Accompanying the bride on the way to church and during the wedding ceremony . The so-called Bridesmaids' Suite is a Western tradition, but its charm is convincing more and more young couples in Russia.
2. Witness support . There is only one witness, and alone it may be difficult for her to complete her list of responsibilities. It's a good idea to distribute minor tasks among individual bridesmaids.
3. Help from a witness in organizing a bachelorette party . If the nature and size of the planned event requires the help of third parties, it is worth involving all or some of the bridesmaids in the preparations.
4. We entertain guests . This is also the task of the bridesmaid, but she cannot spend the entire wedding on the dance floor, so it is worth supporting the other bridesmaids here.
5. Care for children . If there is no entertainer at the wedding, bridesmaids can spare parents from playing with their children in some parts of the party.

How to choose the perfect bridesmaid?

The ideal bridesmaid is close to the bride's heart. This does not have to be an unmarried person, as is customary in the case of a witness. If a bridesmaid is to be first in the hierarchy, she must meet all the requirements for a bridesmaid. However, if she is part of the retinue, she does not have to be Mac Guyver and Goku Wan rolled into one. It is enough for her to be an important person for the bride, who can also support the witness in minor matters.

For example, if one of the girls is good at making things with her hands, have her help with decorations and sewing adjustments. If fashion is not her passion, she can advise the bride when choosing a hairstyle and monitor her appearance throughout the party.

More than one bridesmaid or bridal team

The bridesmaid cortege is a Western custom that has been gaining popularity in Russia for several seasons. If you are a traditionalist, you will definitely choose only one girl to support you. However, if you don't adhere to wedding standards and you have a lot of sisters or friends and you can't choose just one of them, you might want to consider choosing a larger group. You'll feel better! Women of similar appearance gathered around the bride are a pleasant accent that will add positive energy and freshness to the wedding and reception.

What should a bridesmaid/bridesmaid look like?

If only the witness is present at the wedding, all attention immediately after the bride and groom is focused on her. On the other hand, if you have multiple bridesmaids (supposed to be a maximum of 12!), there's no doubt that such a large group will be the center of attention. This is why in both cases it is so important to choose your bridesmaid costumes carefully. In order not to distract the attention of the main characters of the event, the women accompanying the bride should wear identical dresses.

Nowadays, bridesmaids wear identical outfits, they lose their individuality and each woman has different beauty types or body shapes that need to be taken into account to make everyone feel comfortable and look good. It is important that the group's outfits have a common element, such as color, material or cut, so that the entire procession appears as a cohesive unit.

Most bridesmaids choose the dresses they choose in consultation with the bride. These should be sophisticated and elegant outfits that emphasize the importance of the event, but also form a beautiful backdrop for the bride's image. Most often, women choose airy dresses in pastel colors, with midi or maxi length. For more tips and inspiration, see "The Perfect Bridesmaid Dress A to Z."

How is a bridesmaid different from a witness? Summary

There may be many bridesmaids, but there is only one witness. Bridesmaids form an entourage to accompany the bride, but the wedding can proceed without them. The best man, known as the first or senior bridesmaid, is the person without whom the wedding ceremony and reception cannot take place. Literally and figuratively.

Are you a bride-to-be who will be completing your bridal team? Use the services of a wedding planner who, in addition to being an irreplaceable witness, will help you go through all the stages of organizing a wedding and banquet without any problems!

Themes for hen parties

Ideas for a bachelorette party are endless and depend on your hobbies, interests, time of year and financial capabilities. As a rule, such careful preparation is not needed here as for a wedding - the main thing is a good mood and cheerful company. In warm weather, a great option would be a trip to nature, a picnic with barbecue and active games and competitions. An amusement park or river walk will help you remember your childhood: eating ice cream and cotton wool, riding on swings and carousels. It is worth thinking in advance about a photographer who can capture these fun moments.

A bachelorette party can be held at the dacha

During the cold season, you can go to the skating rink, organize competitions, and warm up with mulled wine. You can go out of town and enjoy nature, relax before the wedding and future experiences.

Bachelorette party at the SPA center: both benefits and fun

It would also be interesting to introduce a dress code for a holiday; if it’s a banquet, then long evening dresses; for home use – pajamas; for a photo shoot, T-shirts with funny inscriptions would be appropriate. It is worth thinking about accessories - a conventional veil for all participants, funny tutu skirts.