As a bride-to-be, you’ve probably heard the term ‘bridezilla’ thrown around before. The word originally came from a Boston Globe writer named Diane White in a 1995 article she wrote about brides who were demanding, entitled, and otherwise ‘out of control’.
Since then, it’s become a fairly common term used when a bride or bride-to-be takes things a little too far in her pursuit of the perfect wedding. If you’ve been to a few weddings, it’s likely you’ve seen a ‘bridezilla moment’ yourself.
Reddit user BoredLike shared one such moment, during a wedding where she was a guest. “At a wedding I went to, the bride replaced a bridesmaid of hers at the last minute because she dyed her hair a slightly lighter brown the night before,” she writes, in response to a thread asking users to share their own bridezilla stories. “Apparently it didn’t match the dress, which was bright pink.”
Would you consider kicking one of your bridesmaids out of your wedding for something so insignificant? Probably not. But during the stressful process of wedding planning, some brides-to-be may accidentally find themselves slipping into ‘bridezilla’ behavior without meaning to.
If you’re hoping to avoid becoming the subject of your bridesmaid’s ‘bridezilla’ horror story, here are a few tips from experts on how to keep yourself in check.
1. Delegate Responsibilities
While this may seem like a no-brainer to some, many brides-to-be find themselves so afraid that something will go wrong that they try to do everything themselves. As the old saying goes, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself – so many brides do just that!
However, your bridesmaids are more than just set pieces at your wedding. They are meant to support you and provide the help that you need during one of the most stressful times in your life. Don’t be afraid to relinquish control over the small details, and let your girls help you out.
So what if you would have chosen slightly different napkins for the bridal shower? It matters more that your bridesmaids are there for you and ready to lend a hand.
2. Communicate
As amazing as your bridesmaids might be, they aren’t mind-readers. If you don’t tell them what’s bothering you, they aren’t going to pick up on it all on their own. You can’t become cross with them for not realizing that something was wrong.
This is also important to remember when setting appointments, talking to vendors, or other aspects of wedding planning that may be time-sensitive. If you expect your bridesmaids to come dress-shopping with you, for example, you need to let them know how many places you will be visiting, so that they can plan their day accordingly.
Of course, there is such a thing as too much communication, which leads us to our next tip.
3. Take Days Off
Your bridesmaids, ideally, are some of your closest friends and family members. They love you, and are happy to help you with all of the work that goes into wedding planning.
That being said, it’s important to remember that your wedding is not the only thing going on in the world. If you are emailing, texting, or calling your bridesmaids every single day, they will quickly find themselves wishing that your big day was over and done with.
Be sure to take days off of wedding planning. Put your phone on silent, and do your best to focus on the other wonderful things about your life: your spouse-to-be, your friends and family, or any of the other blessings in your life.
4. Be Considerate of Your Bridesmaid’s Budgets
If you are fortunate, you and your spouse-to-be have saved up a sizable amount in order to throw the wedding that you’ve always dreamed of. The venue with the perfect view? Check! Catering from your favorite classy restaurant? Check! A dress that even a princess would envy? Check!
However, when it comes to bridesmaids dresses, accessories, travel, and other expenses that your bridesmaids are expected to cover, it’s important to be more conservative. Your bridesmaids love you, and they want to be a part of your celebration, but they may not be in the same financial situation as you are.
Their everyday needs, their bills and their responsibilities will always come before your wedding, and it’s important to keep that in mind. If it’s very important to you that your bridal party all wear matching headpieces or handbags, consider giving them as gifts.
If you are looking for a great place to find affordable, beautiful bridesmaid’s dresses, we highly recommend Bella Bridesmaids. They have dresses available for nearly any budget, and offer a wide range of styles, colors, and sizes.
Conclusion
No one wants to be a ‘bridezilla’. However, stress and the expectations of others can sometimes get the better of us.
Remember that your bridesmaids are people too – they have feelings, lives, and schedules of their own. Being considerate of others and not stressing about minute details is they best strategy to avoid ‘bridezilla’ behavior.
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