We'd like to ask you if you'll be involved in a wedding this year-as part of a bridal party?
Considering that there are approximately 2.3 million weddings per year, and there's an average 10 people in a bridal party (five groomsmen and five bridesmaids), you can quickly do the math to determine that about 23 million of you will be directly involved in a wedding. So what's your job? And how do you handle an invitation to be in a wedding in the first place? Let's say that a bride-to-be calls her dear friend and asks her to be in her wedding, "Hey, Mary, I'd love for you to be a bridesmaid". In the same vein, her fiancé calls a friend of his, "Hey, Tom, I want you to be an usher".
Well, Mary just lost her job and is strapped for cash and is flipping out over the situation. Tom just took on a corporate project which is going to keep him out of the country for most of the year. Should either of these people agree to be a part of this wedding party? NO. They should politely decline and so should you if you're in a similar situation, because it's better to cause a few hurt feelings upfront than cause major problems down the road for the bride and groom.
And if you're this bride or groom, you should understand their situations. Weddings are expensive for bridal party members. Women are responsible for buying their dresses, including all accessories and men are responsible for renting tuxes. Collectively, they are responsible for travel expenses and lodging to and from the wedding. They are also responsible for shower and wedding gifts and the maid of honor and best man are responsible to host a shower and bachelor party, respectively.
To put it bluntly: Weddings, for bridal party members, who are not emotionally and financially prepared, can push them right over the edge!
In summary: It's up to the bride and groom to make the right decisions when it comes to selecting their bridal party. Choose people who are sincere, who have the finances to participate, and who will be available to give you their love and support.
NOTE: If a dear family member is strapped for cash and you want them to participate, then help with the expenses. Make it easy and enjoyable for them, because a gracious host and hostess consider others feelings and situations before their own.
Happy bridal parties make for happy brides and grooms!
© 2008, AAWP™. All rights reserved.
Considering that there are approximately 2.3 million weddings per year, and there's an average 10 people in a bridal party (five groomsmen and five bridesmaids), you can quickly do the math to determine that about 23 million of you will be directly involved in a wedding. So what's your job? And how do you handle an invitation to be in a wedding in the first place? Let's say that a bride-to-be calls her dear friend and asks her to be in her wedding, "Hey, Mary, I'd love for you to be a bridesmaid". In the same vein, her fiancé calls a friend of his, "Hey, Tom, I want you to be an usher".
Well, Mary just lost her job and is strapped for cash and is flipping out over the situation. Tom just took on a corporate project which is going to keep him out of the country for most of the year. Should either of these people agree to be a part of this wedding party? NO. They should politely decline and so should you if you're in a similar situation, because it's better to cause a few hurt feelings upfront than cause major problems down the road for the bride and groom.
And if you're this bride or groom, you should understand their situations. Weddings are expensive for bridal party members. Women are responsible for buying their dresses, including all accessories and men are responsible for renting tuxes. Collectively, they are responsible for travel expenses and lodging to and from the wedding. They are also responsible for shower and wedding gifts and the maid of honor and best man are responsible to host a shower and bachelor party, respectively.
To put it bluntly: Weddings, for bridal party members, who are not emotionally and financially prepared, can push them right over the edge!
In summary: It's up to the bride and groom to make the right decisions when it comes to selecting their bridal party. Choose people who are sincere, who have the finances to participate, and who will be available to give you their love and support.
NOTE: If a dear family member is strapped for cash and you want them to participate, then help with the expenses. Make it easy and enjoyable for them, because a gracious host and hostess consider others feelings and situations before their own.
Happy bridal parties make for happy brides and grooms!
© 2008, AAWP™. All rights reserved.
2 comments:
interestingly enough, i just got off the phone with my ex and he's saying how ppl are getting married because everyone else is doing it...i so agree. now if you're going to get married and what me to be part of it, well it's sImPlE.....all expenses paid complimentary of the bride and groom. afterall, they are the ones getting married and what my presence. what you have to say about that????
I totally agree with you. If you want someone to be apart of your bridal party you definately need to make sure their financial situation and emotional situation is up to par. Besides you don't want someone having a nervous breakdown on your wedding day and you definately don't want to have to foot their bill as well as your own bill for the wedding!
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