Being the Best Wedding Party Member
When a friend or family member asks you to be actively involved in his or her wedding, it can be a big honor. However, it isn’t all fun and games. Members of the wedding party are responsible for a number of key duties. Beyond the basic responsibilities delegated to the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the couple may also look to these individuals to help with everything from contacting vendors to purchasing decor. If you want to rise to the occasion, then there are a handful of points to keep in mind at all times.
Keep a Positive Attitude
Planning a wedding is very stressful. You are likely going to encounter times when the couple of honor act out of character. Whether the bride snaps and causes a scene while shopping for dresses or the groom keeps adding more and more demands to the list of tasks you’re responsible for, you need to do your best to keep the right mindset through it all. Staying positive and helpful is going to be the absolute best way to respond to anything that the couple throws your way.
This does not mean, of course, you should be a punching bag or a doormat. Be reasonable with how much you allow the couple to get away with. A small outburst is one thing. A continued bad attitude from the couple is something else and should be addressed.
Learn To Listen
When times get tense, most people simply need to vent their frustrations. Statistics show that couples tend to fight the most when planning for big events like weddings. What’s worse, the couple doesn’t always know how to divert this negative energy away from the relationship. As a member of the wedding party, you need to be there whenever the bride or groom is in a position where some steam needs to be let off. Helping in this way can do a lot when it comes to keeping the peace during stressful moments.
Not only do you need to listen when the bride or groom requires a shoulder to lean on, you also have to hear each request made of you. Since you are responsible for tasks like putting together the bachelor or bachelorette party, you need to listen to what your friend is asking in terms of this event. If he or she says no exotic dancers for the party, then you really want to respect the wishes and not go with what you’d prefer.
Offer Inspiration
Most members of the wedding party are selected pretty quickly after the engagement is announced. This means that you’re going to be involved in some of the preliminary decisions related to the event. If your friend is trying to come up with the right theme for the wedding, then you can do wonders by providing inspiration on decorations. Similarly, you can offer suggestions on caterers, venues, and other vendors that the couple will require as they plan.
Keep Track
The couple is going to have a ton of different things to think about at any given time. As a member of the wedding party, offer to keep track of certain details. For example, you may want to keep track all of the various gifts that are given to the couple. This will make their lives a lot easier when it comes time to send out thank-you notes down the line. Try to determine how you can be most useful and apply yourself however possible.
From providing a shoulder to lean on when times are tough to taking care of sorting out some of the finer details of the event, being a member of the wedding party can include a ton of different responsibilities. By staying open and ready for anything, you can rise to the challenge and come through for your friends.
