Bridesmaid
Bridesmaidsare members of the bride's party at someWesterntraditional wedding ceremonies. A bridesmaid is typically a young woman and often thebride's close friend or relative. She attends to the bride on the day of aweddingormarriageceremony. Traditionally, bridesmaids were chosen from unwed young women ofmarriageable age.
The principal bridesmaid, if one is designated, may be called thechief bridesmaid.She may also be called themaid of honorif she is unmarried, or thematron of honorif she is married. Ajunior bridesmaidis a girl who is clearly too young to be married but who is included as a bridesmaid anyway. In the United States, typically only the maid or matron of honor and thebest manare the official witnesses for thewedding license.
Often there is more than one bridesmaid; in modern times the bride chooses how many to ask. Historically, no person of status went out unattended, and the size of the retinue was closely calculated to be appropriate to the family's social status. A large group of bridesmaids provided an opportunity for showing off the family's social status andwealth.Today, the number of bridesmaids in a wedding party is dependent on many variables, including a bride's preferences, the size of her family, and the number of attendants her partner would like to have as well. Many modern couples do not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, which eliminates all the associated expenses and logistical effort.[1]
Related roles
[edit]The male equivalent is thegroomsman,also known inBritish Englishas anusher.In the United States, the role of attending to the groom has diverged from that of escorting guests to their seats, and the two positions are no longer synonymous and are often, if not usually, filled by different persons.
In some cultures, such as in Norway, the Netherlands, France andVictorian Britain,it is (or has been) customary for bridesmaids to be small girls rather than grown women. They may carry flowers during the wedding procession and pose with the married couple in bridal photos. In modern English-speaking countries, this role is separate from that of the bridesmaid, and the small child performing it is known as aflower girl.
Duties
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Although many exceed the minimum, the bridesmaids' required duties are very limited.[2]They are required to attend the wedding ceremony and to assist the bride on the day of the wedding. Bridesmaids in Europe and North America are often asked to assist the bride with planning the wedding and awedding reception.In modern times, a bridesmaid often participates in planning wedding-related events, such as abridal showerorbachelorette party,if there are any. These, however, are optional activities; according to etiquette expertJudith Martin,"Contrary to rumor, bridesmaids are not obliged to entertain in honor of the bride, nor to wear dresses they cannot afford."[3]If it is customary in the bride's area to have a bridesmaids luncheon, then it is hosted, and therefore organized and paid for, by the bride.[4]A junior bridesmaid has no responsibilities beyond attending the wedding.
The duties and costs of being a bridesmaid are parsed out between a bride and her attendants in a variety of ways. Since modern bridesmaids, unlike their historical counterparts, can no longer rely on having their clothes and travel expenses paid for by the bride's family, and are sometimes even told they must pay for parties that the bride wants to have before the wedding, it has become customary for the bride to present the bridesmaids with gifts as a sign of gratitude for the support and financial commitment that comes with their roles. It has become equally customary for women who are invited to serve as bridesmaids to first ask about the amount of time, energy, and money that the bride expects from them before accepting this position, and to decline or resign if this is more than they will be able to give.[5]In some American weddings, each bridesmaid may be asked to spend US$1,700 or more, with travel todestination weddingsand pre-wedding parties usually being the biggest expense.[5]
Maid of honor
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In the United Kingdom, the term "maid of honour"originally referred to the female attendant of aqueen.The term 'bridesmaid' is normally used for all bridal attendants in the UK. However, when the attendant is married, or is a mature woman, the term 'matron of honour' is often used. The influence of American English has led to the chief bridesmaid sometimes being called the maid of honour.
In North America, a wedding party might include several bridesmaids, but the 'maid of honor' is the title and position held by the bride's chief attendant, typically her closest friend or sister. In modern-day weddings, some brides opt to choose a long-time male friend or brother as their head attendant, using the title 'best man' or 'man of honor'.
The activities of the principal bridesmaid may be as many or as varied as she allows the bride to impose upon her. Her only required duty is to participate in the wedding ceremony. Typically, however, she is asked for help with the logistics of the wedding as an event, such as addressinginvitations,and for her help as a friend, such as attending the bride as she shops for her wedding dress.
Aside from being the bride's right hand, the maid of honor is responsible for leading the rest of the bridal party through the planning of any pre-wedding events. For example, the principal bridesmaid will be the one to make the arrangements for the bridal shower, including invitations, decorations, food, and any games or activities that will be played. He or she will also be in charge of planning the bachelorette party, including any travel or lodging accommodations that must be arranged.[6]
On the day of the wedding, her principal duty is to provide practical and emotional support. She might assist the bride with dressing and, if needed, help the bride manage her veil, a bouquet, a prayer book, or the train of her wedding dress during the day. In a double-ring wedding, the chief bridesmaid is often entrusted with the groom'swedding ringuntil it is needed during the ceremony. Many brides ask bridesmaids if they areadults,to be legal witnesses who sign themarriage licenseafter the ceremony. If there is a reception after the wedding, the maid of honor may be asked to offer a toast to the newlywed.
Origin and history
[edit]The origin of the Western bridesmaid tradition likely arose from a combination of many factors. The most-likely factors include, but are not limited to, socioeconomic class and status, family size, socialization standards of the day, and religion.
Others[who?]cite theBiblicalstory ofJacob,and his two wivesLeahandRachel,who both literally came with their ownmaidsas detailed in theBook of Genesis(29:24, 46:18) as the origin of bridesmaids. These women werehandmaidens(servants or slaves) instead of social peers.[citation needed]
In ancient times, originally the bride and all the bridesmaids wore exactly the same dress and veiled their faces heavily, for the purpose of confusing jealous suitors and evil spirits.[7][8]
InChina during the feudal era,brides were susceptible to kidnapping at weddings by rival clans and hooligans. Shouldering the responsibility to protect the bride, bridesmaids were dressed up like the bride to lower the risk that she might be identified and taken. As legal protections for marriage were established, this was no longer necessary, and the role of bridesmaid took a more symbolic turn.[9]
In theVictorian era,white was the official color for both male groomsmen and female bridesmaids. This trend originated withQueen Victoriawhen she marriedPrince Albertwearing a long white wedding dress, and her bridesmaids matched the color of her gown.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Cowles, Charlotte (11 July 2024)."How Much Can I Really Ask My Wedding Guests To Pay?".The Cut.Retrieved27 July2024.
- ^Martin, Judith(2005).Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Freshly Updated.Kamen, Gloria. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 383.ISBN0-393-05874-3.
[I]n polite society...the bridesmaids' only duties are to make a special fuss over the bride by gathering around her at the wedding and, in the weeks before, by pretending to be interested in all the wedding details. It is also nice, but not obligatory, for them to plan a girlishly informal gathering—a luncheon or shower—for her beforehand.
- ^Martin, Judith (1999).Miss Manners on weddings.New York: Crown Publishers. pp.136–137.ISBN0-609-60431-7.
- ^Post, Emily(1922).Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home'.Funk & Wagnalls Company. pp.335–337.
- ^abSteinberg, Stephanie (28 June 2011)."How much does it cost to be a bridesmaid?".CNN.
- ^"Maid of Honor Duties: A Modern Day Checklist of Roles and Responsibilities".Modern MOH.Retrieved12 March2019.
- ^Thompson, Jenn."Bizarre origins of wedding traditions - CNN.com".edition.cnn.com.Retrieved2 April2018.
- ^"History of Bridesmaids".oureverydaylife.com.Retrieved2 April2018.
- ^"The dangers of being a bridesmaid in China mean some brides now hire professionals".
External links
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Media related toBridesmaidsat Wikimedia Commons- A Salute to Bridesmaids- slideshow byLife magazine
- Do’s and Don’ts for Maid of Honor Speeches- blog written byNew World Diamonds
