Bride to Bridesmaids: You're All on Diets!!

Should a Bride Dictate Her Bridal Party's Weight?

By Maria Grella, published Aug 04, 2006
Published Content: 69  Total Views: 57,597  Favorited By: 1 CPs
Rating: 4.4 of 5
Recently, I watched one of my favorite shows on the WE network. The program is called Bridezillas, and it follows the ups and downs of stressed out brides planning their weddings. While watching this one particular episode, I was left in a quandry. As all the brides were making atrocious demands on their family and friends, the likes of hair requierments, make-up looks and shoe heights, this one bride really took the cake. She insisted on having all her bridesmaids lose weight for her upcoming wedding.

As someone who knows the struggle of weight loss, I couldn't believe my ears! Is society's demand on how a woman should look not enough of a pressure? The insults coming close to home hurt more than a strangers' comments. Shouldn't family and friends be even a little sympathetic towards the difficulty of being a heavier person in a world that values thinness? Doesn't the uncomfortable way you feel about yourself sometimes weigh in at all? Bigger people have feelings, too! How dare she dictate how you need to look! What business is it of hers, anyway! The nerve! 


Then I stepped back and thought...wait a minute...I see her point.


Now hear me out, please! It IS the bride's special day. Of course, she would want to have everything done to live up to her dream wedding. In a perfect world, the bride would be able to look back at the pictures of her union and see everyone she loves in the best light. Let's face facts, people. A chubby person rarely looks better than a thinner one, especially when wearing the same dress. As a bridesmaid, it's already expected that the bride will tell you what dress to wear, what shoes, what hair style...how much of a leap is it really to suggest the weight you ought to be? Sure, one could mention the health risks involved. 'You'll feel better, be healthier, blah, blah, blah.' But what the 'good intentioned' person really means to say is that you'll look better. Who doesn't want that?

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Showing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
 
 
The bridesmaids shouldn't have to be subjected to a one-size-fits all approach when it comes to the dress in the first place. They should be able to be trustworthy enough to be given the colour scheme and choose a dress that suits them best. Telling your bridesmaids to slim down is truly shallow - I agree with April on both her points. And with Brian. The focus should be about the marriage, not the wedding day.

Posted on 08/23/2006 at 7:08:00 AM

 
I'll make two predictions: 1. this bride will not still be married ten years from now. 2. If her bridesmaids knew her well enough to be a bridesmaid, they couldn't have been that surprised; shallowness of that level is apparant in every aspect of a person's life, not just a one-time thing.

Posted on 08/04/2006 at 4:08:00 PM

 
Great topic, though! I think it wil spark debate. :)

Posted on 08/04/2006 at 1:08:00 PM

 
If a bride is so shallow and self-absorbed as to dictate the weight for her bridesmaids, then she is just a you-know-what in my book. This all goes to show that people put too much emphasis on the wedding day itself and focus so much on details that they sometimes neglect what really matters -- an honest celebration with the people you care about.

Posted on 08/04/2006 at 1:08:00 PM

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