National Bridesmaids Day
The annual date that celebrates all the hard work that bridesmaids do, today we are going to look at National Bridesmaid Day and why it matters
Known for being the heroes of the hen party, bridesmaids put in a lot of time and effort into helping to make sure that their bride-to-be has an unforgettable time on their hen party and the wedding day itself. So let us take a look at some bridesmaid facts and trivia as well as plenty of helpful tips and tricks for all the prospective bridesmaids out there!
When is National Bridesmaid Day?
National Bridesmaid Day takes place each year on the 25th March and is marked to celebrate the hard work and contributions that bridesmaids make towards the hen party and the wedding day celebrations. So we, along with many others, take this day to thank all the bridesmaids out there that give it their all!
Bridesmaid Fun Facts
If you have been assigned to the bridesmaid role by the bride-to-be, then we would first like to congratulate you for taking on this special and monumental responsibility! However, defining what exactly a bridesmaid is and what they do can be tough if you have never had the privilege of taking on this role before. With that being said, let us take a look at some bridesmaid fun facts that will help you to define your role more clearly.
What is a Bridesmaid?
In short, a bridesmaid is a member of the bride-to-be’s wedding party in traditional Western weddings.
Typically, the bridesmaid is either a best friend or close relative of the bride and is chosen by her personally. As most wedding parties consist of multiple bridesmaids, those that are put in-charge of the group are often referred to as maids of honour, or matrons of honour if they themselves are already married.
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What does a Bridesmaid do?
A bridesmaid is recruited by the bride-to-be for the purpose of attending to her needs throughout the wedding day. As well as this, the bridesmaid is often given the task of organising and planning the hen party celebrations. Whether it’s booking activities or deciding on what destination to go to, it’s safe to say that this typically a huge part of the bridesmaid’s responsibilities.
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How to Ask Someone to be your Bridesmaid
A tough decision for the bride-to-be to make is deciding who exactly she wants in her squad of bridesmaids on the wedding day. Generally, the girls that the bride chooses are either close friends or members of her family.
When it comes to asking someone to be their bridesmaid, a great way to do this would be asking the prospective bridesmaid/s to brunch, popping the question to them over plenty of delicious food and a few glasses of fizz. However, there are other unique and meaningful ways that a bride can ask that important question, such as over a coffee date or by hosting a wine night for the girls she plans to ask.
Do Bridesmaids Walk down the Aisle?
Yes, they do! On the day of the wedding, it is a custom for the bridesmaids to walk down the aisle behind the bride, either individually or in pairs.
In American weddings, regardless of how many bridesmaids that have been recruited, they will typically stand up-front with the bride to the left side, with the first bridesmaid taking her place furthest away from the bride. When they are at the front of the ceremony, they may, like the groomsmen, stand diagonally so that they all can get a good view of the happy couple when they tie the knot. However, on the other hand, bridesmaids will often return to their designated seats in wedding ceremonies in England and Wales.
How to Choose your Bridesmaids
When it comes to choosing who the bridesmaids will be, the bride will typically ask those closest to her that she can trust the most, such as her best friends and/or family members like sisters and cousins.
There are also a number of important considerations to make such as deciding whether or not to have an equal number of bridesmaids to groomsmen as well as thinking about who will be able to cope with this stressful role on the day with a smile on their face! But at the end of the day, the bride needs to make sure that she is making her decisions based on good reasons - After all, no bridesmaid should be picked on the basis that the bride-to-be feels as though they have to ask them, rather than the decision being made on preference.
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How to be a Good Bridesmaid
When it comes to the roles and responsibilities of the bridesmaid, this job comes with a significant amount of responsibility on the big day!
One of the ways in which a bridesmaid can be great at their job is by keeping the bride calm and collected when she’s having some last-minute nerves before walking down the aisle.
Some other great ways to be a fantastic bridesmaid is by helping to arrange the hen party and hen party activities and helping the bride choose the perfect wedding dress!
Royal Bridesmaids
Arguably the most famous of all weddings are those of the British royal family. Drawing in millions of viewers from around the world and standing as some of the most watched television broadcasts of all time, it’s safe to say that the stress that royal bridesmaids go through must be immense! With that being said, let’s take a look at the royal bridesmaids that have attended the most famous royal weddings in history.
Who were the Queen’s Bridesmaids?
When the then-princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947, she was joined by a total of eight bridesmaids during the ceremony. Those were:
- Princess Margaret (the Queen’s sister)
- Alexandra of Kent (first cousin)
- Lady Caroline Montagu-Douglas-Scott
- Lady Mary Cambridge (second cousin)
- Lady Elizabeth Lambart
- Lady Pamela Mountbatten (Prince Philip’s first cousin)
- Margaret Elphinstone (first cousin)
- Diana Bowes-Lyon (first cousin)
Who were Kate Middleton's Bridesmaids?
In 2011, when Kate Middleton married Prince William, the heir to the British throne, she chose four bridesmaids to join her on the day. Alongside her sister Pippa Middleton, who she chose as her maid of honour, these were:
- Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (Prince Edward’s daughter)
- Margarita Armstrong-Jones (daughter of Viscount Linley)
- Grace Van Cutsem (daughter of the couple’s close friend, Hugh Van Cutsem)
- Eliza Lopes (granddaughter of Camilla, Queen Consort)
Who were Meghan Markle's Bridesmaids?
When Prince Harry married American actress Meghan Markle in 2018, they, like Kate and William, decided that their bridesmaids and page boys would be the young children of their close friends and relatives, choosing a total of five each.
Amongst these were Prince George and Princess Charlotte, as well as two of Meghan’s godchildren. Whilst there were rumours in the press that Meghan would choose Canadian fashion designer Jessica Mulroney as her matron of honour, she inevitably decided that there would be no maid or matron of honour on the wedding day.
Who were Princess Diana's Bridesmaids?
Widely regarded as “the wedding of the century”, the monumental wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981 included five bridesmaids. Those were:
- Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones (daughter of Princess Margaret and the aunt of Kate Middleton’s second bridesmaid)
- India Hicks (daughter of the Queen’s second bridesmaid, Pamela Mountbatten)
- Catherine Cameron
- Sarah-Jane Gaselee
- Clementine Hambro (granddaughter of Winston Churchill)
Conclusion
So with all that being said, we hope that we have managed to help all the bridesmaids out there gain some insight into what this important role entails and how you can be the best bridesmaid in the world! And for all the brides out there, we hope that you have found some useful ways to start recruiting your bride tribe!
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