Bridesmaid Dos and Don'ts: How to Help Your Best Friend Get Down the Aisle

So, your best friend has asked you to do her the honor of being in her upcoming wedding. You say yes to her request, with a big smile across your face. You dream of picking out a gorgeous dress that you totally could wear again after the big day, and helping your bride-to-be best friend organize a beautiful wedding day. Little do you know this you have just signed up for the long haul of best friend experiences. It's not all glamor and glitz. Here are some helpful tips for how to be the best bridesmaid you can be.

DO agree to be a bridesmaid only if you truly understand what that means. It will mean several hundred dollars worth of your money spent on the bridesmaid dress, hair and nails on the day of the wedding, help and money for the bridal shower and bachelorette party, lots of emails and calls regarding the wedding details, etc. etc. etc. Only say yes if you fully understand the commitment.

DON'T agree to walk down the aisle and then not follow through. If you agree to be a bridesmaid, take the job seriously. Your friend will be counting on you to be there for her, to pay your dress deposit as soon as it's due, to wear the ugly dress even if you don't like it... Make sure you call her back and offer help, and then follow through!

DO offer to help often. Planning a wedding is really overwhelming and stressful. Part of your role as a bridesmaid is to be there to support the bride when she is falling apart due to all of the stress accompanying the big day plans. Offer to take some of the load off of her shoulders. Make the phone calls for her. Send her encouraging emails. Go with her to appointments to help ease the tension between her and her overbearing mother. Just be there for her.