Day 18: The Professional Bridesmaid

I feel like a professional bridesmaid.  I have been a bridesmaid 10 times.  I consider this a compliment because the bride doesn't ask just anyone to be in her wedding.  She asks only those closest to her.  The number of colored dresses that hang in my closet are a testament to my ability to maintain friendships.  I actually "pride" myself on this.  My friends are as important to me as my family, so I put forth great effort in my friendships.  I am only child, so my friends truly are like my brothers and sisters.

I began my job as a bridesmaid at age 7.  I started out as flower girl, but the wedding took over a year to plan, so I was promoted from flower girl to junior bridesmaid.  I was only 7, but I can pretty much tell you every detail of this wedding, and to this day, it remains the best one I've ever attended.  I'm hoping my own wedding will dethrone it, but for now, hands down, the best!  I was a bridesmaid in my aunt's wedding when I was a tween, and then my career as a professional bridesmaid really took off in my 20s.  I've even been kicked out of a wedding!  That's a story for another day.

My duties as a professional bridesmaid have included selecting the engagement ring -- talk about nerve wracking, throwing the engagement party, the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, shielding the bride from drama between bridesmaids, supporting the bride when she asks one of her maids not to attend the wedding, calming the nerves of the bride, arguing with the wedding planner, holding up the dress so the bride could go to the bathroom, wiping away tears, signing the marriage license, spending hours cutting photos and stuffing them into photo coasters (never again!), putting together scrapbooks, decorating the rehearsal dinner space, wearing unattractive dresses, planning special surprises just for the bride, and all in all, doing whatever the bride wants.  The bride who kicked me out of her wedding would disagree with this statement, but I take my bridesmaid/maid of honor duties very seriously.  

I enjoy being a bridesmaid, but look forward to the day I am the one in the white dress!