Online ShopBefore the big day
The chief bridesmaid’s work starts here!
Two months to go
One of your more fun duties is to arrange the hen night celebrations. This could be anything from an evening in a restaurant to an action-picked weekend away.
For loads of ideas for some great hen parties, check out our Hen & Stag section.
If the bride is having a dinner for her hen night, or you are throwing her an American-style bridal shower, you will probably be expected to make a speech, so now’s the time to start thinking about what you might say.
You’ll find plenty of ideas and material in our Speech Centre.
Now’s the time to encourage the bride to start a course of facials, manicures and pedicures so she will look her best on the day. (And of course, you’ll benefit as well...) Book an appointment with her hairdresser so you can both try out wedding hairdos.
The strain of the wedding planning may be getting to the bride at this point so make sure she keeps calm and relaxed. The Confetti Wedding Book of Calm might be just the thing to give her, for last-minute tips on staying frazzle-free.
One week to go
As chief bridesmaid you should attend the wedding rehearsal so that you know where you and other attendants should stand, when you should sit down and the exact order of the ceremony.
If the couple have a dinner after their wedding rehearsal, it is also traditional for you to make a toast then.
Phone all the other attendants to make sure no one’s suffering from last-minute nerves or problems that they’re too nervous or embarrassed to speak to the bride about. Check in with the best man. Don’t forget yourself too. There’s nothing worse than spending all your time ensuring the bride looks beautiful and all the attendants are happy, only to discover at the last-minute that your underwear is uncomfortable or you can’t find your shoes.
