Always a Bridesmaid, never...

For some people, being asked to be a bridesmaid is an honor. Perhaps you grew up planning weddings together down to every last detail, or maybe you went through college, parties and study abroad moments together and now are taking the logical next friendship step? 

If this is your first experience being on "the other side" take a deep breathe and keep telling yourself it will all be over in (enter number of days +1 until the wedding). You may literally be asked to participate in every last detail, this is what your are signing up for. The recognition that you have allowed yourself to become a friend's personal slave for upwards of two years. But really, no one has ever died from being a bridesmaid... that I know of, so you will probably be fine. We have all survived, and with this guide you will too!

What we hope to teach is not just survival, but a way to really flourish in this strange land of bridal bliss. Similarly to when a friend becomes pregnant, suffers through menopause and a horrible break up, you will see sides of the bride that you may not have thought humanely possible. Stay calm, eventually they will return to normal and will be thankful that you did not give up on them. What are friends for anyways? 

Perhaps you are wondering what makes me so confident? Well I come to you having been involved in four weddings, two more expected this June. But I am not alone, my co-author has made it through her fair share of weddings in a variety of roles. Along with the experience between the two of us, we will enlist the help, opinions and stories of friends and family. A simple reminder that you are not alone and others have probably suffered far worse than you will.

Fear not little bridesmaid, help is on the way!