August next year will see one of my best friends finally tie the knot and to say I’m excited would be an understatement. I love a wedding. Everything about them just melts my stone cold heart. I love the sentiment of seeing two people so in love that they are willing to stand in front of their friends and family and vow to keep each other safe in that love for the rest of their lives. I love the joy it brings to families and I love the seed it plants within us all to believe that some things really can last forever.

maidofhonour

A wedding is a very personal thing and although the true meaning of the day is not the dress and all the trappings that go along with saying I do, I think that making sure the biggest day of your life is nothing short of perfect for you is a brides right. We’ve known about the looming nuptials for some time now and to see Emma and Lei begin to start their special journey towards husband and wife is something I feel privileged to be a part of.

bottle

I’ve been given the title of Maid of Honour; a coveted bridal party role and one which I intend to rule at! If you too have been bestowed with such an honour then now is the time to understand that you play a pivotal part in this wedding and if you were thinking your job is to sip champagne, eye up the best man and simply hold the brides bouquet, then boy have you got a lot to learn. If you are about to embark on the sacred duty that is being Maid of Honour then I’ve put together my five top tips to make sure the bride won’t regret choosing you as her right hand woman on her big day…

Thou shalt not drink the bar dry…

wine

This is one of the most important rules there is. When you’re a wedding guest making the most of the free bar is all part of the wedding day fun, but when you’re the Maid of Honour it’s best to stay well away! This is going to be a long day and no one needs a wasted Maid of Honour slurring her speech or looking half cut in the photos. Sip the champers slowly girls and save the drinking until after the speeches.

Thou shalt throw the mother of all Hen Dos…

hen

Whatever you do, do not leave the Hen Do until the last minute. An evening down the local bingo hall and a few cheap bottles of plonk does not a party make. This is your chance to spoil your bestie and prove to her why she chose you in the first place. So get creative and make sure she has the best night possible. And remember your number one responsibility is to make sure she drinks her body weight in shots and that you later dutifully hold her hair back while she vomits into her clutch bag.

Thou shalt not neglect the bride…

dress

Getting married is a stressful time so you better be on call at all times. You must be present for every fitting, cake tasting and wedding shopping trip in the build up to the big day. Clear your roster and be at her disposal. It is also important to remember that while you are integral to the planning, that this isn’t your wedding after all. So while you might favour a lemon sponge over a fruit cake, no one really cares. Your job is simple, be a support system and offer advice when needed, not bombard the bride with your take on her day.

Thou shalt not upstage the bride…

flowers

Leave the personal dramas at home today. Don’t be the one who is crying into the cake because she’s been dumped or whinging about the fact she hasn’t yet to meet Mr Right. Your job today is to smile and support your best friend. Not steal the limelight for yourself.

Thou shalt shut up and suit up…

rings

Now if you are lucky and your best friend doesn’t secretly hate you then you will be wearing a dress you actually like and will have been a part in how you look on the day. And while it is completely acceptable to fight your corner if she is trying to get you in a peach frilled, puff ball dress it is also advisable to proceed with caution. As maid of honour your job is to say yes! Yes to the dress, to the hair, to the makeup and to the shoes, no matter how much you might not have chose that for yourself. This is not about you – It’s about her, so shut up and suit up ladies and always be ready for a photo-op.

About the author

At 5ft 1 (and a half) Sophie may be small but she is certainly fierce. After finding out she was dyslexic at the age of seven she made it her life’s mission to wage a war against words and carve a career out of a craft she admired so much. Hard work, determination and a lot of journals later, Sophie graduated with a degree in journalism. Her obsession and love for the written word has seen her as Editor at Semple to now blogging her way around the world. She’s irrationally angry, partial to a LARGE glass of chardonnay and has an intolerance for most people.

Related Posts