So, what exactly makes a great bridesmaid?
We take a fun look at typical bridesmaids duties in the form of a hypothetical job listing. Brides can be equal-opportunity "employers," so we just want to point out that both men and women can qualify for this position these days.
JOB TITLE: Bridal Attendant
COMPANY: Bride & Groom Inc.
REPORTS TO: Bride-to-Be
POSITIONS: Up to 10 openings available
PAY: I.O.U.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Assist the bride on the wedding day with any specific assigned tasks, along with practical and emotional support. Attend and possibly help organize wedding day and ancillary wedding events and details.
IDEAL CANDIDATES: Positive, cheerful and supportive attitude, problem solver, detail oriented, organized and works well with a diverse group. Does not complain, even during formal wedding portraits in hot or cold weather. ;-)
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND JOB FUNCTIONS:
1. Able to handle heavy lifting (emotional or otherwise).
2. Comes to work prepared and organized with "wedding day survival" bag. Bonus points if bag matches shoes or other accessories.
3. Gets along well with others and is a team player.
4. Has strong command of tools used for wedding preparations and general problem solving.
5. Maintains a tidy workspace free of dust and lint.
6. Good with fastening microscopic jewelry clasps.
7. Has nimble fingers.
8. Helps bride get into dress without getting stuck, falling, or messing up hair and makeup.
9. Knows what "bustle" means, and can figure out how those gosh darn thingies work.
10. Experience in shoe retail is a plus.
11. Assist fellow team members as needed.
12. Set a good example for junior team members and trainees.
13. Excellent conflict resolution skills are a major plus. Confrontations should be avoided on the wedding day, especially with any company board members, such as the mother of the bride. If any conflicts arise they should be handled calmly and discretely, and preferably addressed at another time either prior to or after the wedding date.
14. Having a keen eye for details is essential.
15. Ability to break out into spontaneous comedy or stress relief exercises will be required of all successful candidates for this position.
16. The candidate with the best dress "floofing" skills will quickly be promoted to Head Floofer. This person is responsible for maintaining high quality "floofiness" of the wedding dress throughout the day, especially during the wedding ceremony.
17. Candidates with M.D. degrees, "Masters of Doting," are highly desired.
18. Those who are interested in being considered for the Maid of Honor position must be willing to take on a central role as a team leader, and should also have the ability to give a reception toast that evokes reactions of both laughter and tears, no more than 30 second apart, or optimally, at the same time.
19. Past experience as a cheerleader is helpful, but having great enthusiasm and a supportive attitude is really what matters most.
20. Finally, having specialized party and entertainment skills is not required, but they can certainly be a big advantage.
We dedicate this humorous post in honor of Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday today...and salute all women with a funny bone who help keep us all in good spirits. For more serious tips on how to choose your bridesmaids, and a guide for how to include them in your plans once you have them selected, check out this helpful article on The Dessy Group website.