Bridesmaids

What is the deal with bridesmaids?  How many should you have?  What’s the difference between a maid of honor and matron of honor?  What if I want a man as my honor attendant?  We are here to answer all of your questions and give you a little history lesson on bridal attendants.  

The tradition of bridesmaids started in ancient Rome.  They were highly honored wedding guests whose jobs were to protect the bride.  They dressed the same as the bride to confuse evil forces.  (Similar to the protection “something blue” was believed to provide in the Four Somethings)  There were always ten bridesmaids and ten groomsmen, simply because ten witnesses were required at ancient Roman weddings.  Eventually the tradition faded away.  Now bridesmaids dress differently than the bride in dresses of the bride’s choosing, and their responsibilities aren’t quite as dire (unless you’re like us and consider planning the perfect bachelorette party dire)

A bride can now have as many bridesmaids as she wants, whether that is 1 or 12.  Of course one of the big decisions is to decide who will be your maid and/or matron of honor for your wedding.  What’s the difference?  Simple: a Maid of Honor is an honor attendant who is unmarried, and a Matron of Honor is an honor attendant who is.  It is perfectly acceptable to drop the maid or matron and just call them Honor Attendants as well.  Honor attendants are typically a bride’s best friend or sister.  Is your best friend a man?  Then have him be your Man of Honor (also if the groom chooses a female as his honor attendant then call her the Best Woman)

The most important thing is to be surrounded with the people who matter most to you on your special day.  They are there to support you, whether that is fixing the train on your dress, or giving you a hug when you need one.  Choose the people who have been there for you and have seen and helped your relationship bloom into the beautiful marriage now taking place.