It’s an honour being asked to be your best friend’s Maid of Honour. The flowers, the planning, dress shopping and making wedding decorations – it can feel like a full-time job! There are so many things that can happen in the run up to the big day, that any bride will need a right-hand gal to help keep things running smoothly.
Weddings on Female First
Recently crowned Nation’s Favourite Bridesmaid (voted by Red7 readers), we asked 26-year-old Jessica Greener, to tell us exactly what it takes to rule the roost when it comes to being an amazing chief hen.
Personalise the party
Make every event personalised to the bride. It’s so important to plan a hen party that reflects the personality of your friend getting married. My friend Lauren wanted your typical hen do – with all of the cheesy whistles and sashes. On the other hand, Nicole loved that we planned a festival-themed celebration to mirror where she met her husband to be!
Budget, budget, budget!
The biggest challenge when planning a hen party is the financial element. The party has to be special for the bride, but equally you never want to out price it for the rest of the hen group. Set the budget out clearly and save money where possible. The girls always take the mick out of me for the spreadsheets that I manage hen parties from!
Jump straight in
The beginning stages of all wedding plans are super fun and exciting. This is when you and your bestie can pour over wedding magazines, discuss theme colours and the finer details of how her dream day should go. Lend a helping hand where you can – your mate will thank you for it!
Get crafty!
Pinterest is like a bridal bible when it comes to discovering cute centre pieces, bunting and creative name settings. Cut back on costs by making things yourself. I once made a photo booth for a hen party from a decorated cardboard box – looked great and saved the hens loads of cash!
Honesty is the best policy
For most brides, the dress is the all-important element of the wedding (apart from the ‘I do’ bit!), so it’s got to be perfect. It’s your duty as a bridesmaid to be completely honest when it comes to the style of the dress. If the shape or material isn’t working for the bride, tell her. The perfect dress is out there, you just have to find it together.
Be there for her
Planning a wedding can be stressful. There is so much to organise that sometimes your best friend might just need to have a proper heart-to-heart. Whatever she needs, be that support. She might just need a chin-wag over a cuppa!
Stay cool, calm and collected
I’m a self-proclaimed ‘bridesmaidzilla’, but it’s important to keep your cool throughout the planning process, especially on the big day itself. Whatever happens in the run up to the wedding, protect the bride from any unnecessary stresses.
Come prepared
Wardrobe malfunctions happen. Full Stop. Hopefully not with THE dress, but you never know. Bring a needle and white thread just in case! You don’t want to have to scramble for a sewing kit at a local supermarket whilst wearing your full wedding attire…
Top up the Prosecco
Every bride gets the jitters - it’s perfectly natural. On the morning of the wedding, keep the champers topped up. It will go down a treat to sooth any pre-wedding nerves and will help the wedding party feel relaxed and excited before the harps begin to play. Just don’t go overboard.
Enjoy it!
How many opportunities do you get to celebrate such a lovely day with your best friend!? Enjoy the ride. Yes, there will be lots to do, but there’s so much to look forward to as you help plan your best friend’s beautiful day.
Jessica’s tops tips for how to be a good bridesmaid were founded by Red7, the leading group travel expert specialising in hen and stag dos. Red7 provides groups with an extensive range of seriously fun activities in the UK and overseas. Visit their website to enquire about a trip or call us today on 01273 872200 to speak with one of our Group Travel Gurus about organising your perfect hen party. www.redsevenleisure.co.uk
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