Posted on 02/24/2008 5:23:22 AM PST by Huntress
Bridesmaids may soon be forced to sign contracts agreeing not to put on weight or get pregnant before a friend's wedding.
One in five brides-to-be is so concerned that her bridesmaids might let her down that she would ask her maid-of-honour to sign a written "pre-nuptial agreement", according to a new poll.
A bridesmaid contract is the latest American-style trend for brides
Despite the fact that 61 per cent of brides picked a best friend as their choice of bridesmaid and 49 per cent chose their sister, 48 per cent would sack a bridesmaid who failed to stick to the rules.
The survey of 1,000 women, commissioned by You & Your Wedding magazine, asked women which clauses they would put in their contract.
It found that respondents' biggest gripes were with bridesmaids who put on weight, became pregnant or changed their hairstyles before the big day.
A series of suggested clauses included that bridesmaids should not consume more than 10 units of alcohol or make any advances towards "inappropriate male guests" - or the groom.
Many women who had already married reported stories of their bridesmaids letting them down on their big day.
One woman said her maid-of-honour left her dress at a service station on the way to the wedding after deciding she didn't like it, while another revealed a bridesmaid had left 30 invitations unsent in her desk drawer.
Colette Harris, editor of You & Your Wedding magazine, said: "Planning weddings can be a stressful time for brides and while our contract is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, the survey demonstrates that issues with bridesmaids are of concern to many readers.
"Perhaps official contracts are the way forward for brides struggling to keep the peace."
Siobhàn Craven-Robins works with hundreds of brides a year in her role as wedding planner and has organised the weddings of celebrity clients including Joan Collins and Barbara Windsor.
"There has been a spoof contract like this on the internet in recent years but I'm not sure if the brides I know would actually use the real thing," she said.
The bridesmaid's contract is the latest American-style trend for brides. It follows the opening in Berkshire of the country's first bridal boot camp for women determined to shape up to fit into their dresses.
Trudy Dixon, the director of Bridal Boot Camp, said while many of the bridesmaids that work out at the boot camp had complained about the colour or style of the dresses chosen for them, few brides she knew would resort to such draconian measures to keep their ladies in line.
"I've been a bridesmaid several times and if I was presented with a contract, I would suggest they found another friend to do the job" she said.
brides need to get over themselves. It’s one day and these pricess di and charles recreation ceremonies are really out of hand. Most people at the wedding couldn’t care less about being there and would much rather be doing something else. when most people get a wedding invitation they’re reaction is usually, “ugh another wedding”. They aren’t going to remember what the invitations looked like, the flowers and any of the other crap. I know that is shocking to some who think the world revolves around them and they’re american royalty.
My daughter is planning an August wedding and we're trying to avoid this problem. Her bridesmaids all sew for starters. They will have the option of making their own. We've seen one line of "bridesmaid" dresses that she would like to emulate by having a 2-piece gown, and each friend can decide from several different complementary skirt and bodice styles and colors that match the theme. I think the line that does this is Alfred Angelo, or something similar if anyone's interested and wants to google it.
My mother’s first wedding dress - vintage 1964 - she cut up and made into a bassinet cover for me (vintage 1968).
Her second wedding dress - circa 1974 - became bathroom curtains.
She was forward-thinking, knew for a fact that the dresses would never again be back in style, so she did the next-best-thing and did not waste the lovely material -- good for her! 
So?
People have gone insane. There are times — and this is one of ‘em — when I’m actually glad I’ll never get married.
I never had any of the three brides I attended offer to pay one cent for the dress they requested I wear for them, nor particular shoes that had to be dyed-to-match as well. The only thing in my ensemble that was provided at no expense was the floral hairpiece the first time, the bouquet the three. And the GROOM in each case paid for those, his obligation to pay for the flowers.
The story, or the posts in the thread? 
Mike
“SO?”
So I guess no one had to sign a weight contract. That IS the subject of this thread.
You think abusing women is okay and call me drunk. You think vows mean nothing and call me a DRUNK.
Still raping kids today as everyone who thinks cheating is okay does?
I see that you were finally able to chew through the straight jacket straps.
Do you actually realize how crazy you appear? Well, you have gone past “appear” to “are”.
You really need help because if the rest of your life is as screwed up as you present yourself here then you are nuts and are a danger to all around you.
One real question, I have had friends, my wife and my son vouch for me and you have had zero support. You are also a n00bie and I am far from it. Does that tell you anything?
You are a troll. You are a hateful human.
I read somewhere that you lost a lot of weight - congrats on that. But I suggest either you stop taking whatever pills you are taking to make you slimer or gain the weight back. Bitter, hateful & nasty is no way to go through life.
Sox Sisters – I am in need of moral support. According to kerrywhatever, my husband beats me weekly, he has given our children AIDS, he cheats on me, does not take our vows seriously, does not believe in God, cheered when fat people died on 9/11 (because he hates fat people).
What do I do? What do I do? Kerrywhatever has made me see the light, an epiphany if you will. What do I do? What do I do?
Before we discuss this further I would like to remind you to wear your “WWGSD” bracelet.
It will help you to make the right decision.
I'm reading through...so far, I see quite a bit of moonbattery.
Eaker, you evil wife-beater, you. Shame!
I'm proud to say that the Eakers good friends of mine. It's quite clear that you don't know them at all.
Oh...and your numbers are off. It's not weekly beatings; it's daily beatings.
Do I really need the sarcasm tag?
Wouldn’t that make the wieght of the bridesmaids even more important. You don’t want to go to a wedding and see someone that looks like a sack of dead cats.
BILL CLINTON IS A MEMBER OF FREE REPUBLIC!
HE CALLS HIMSELF EAKER!
Just sayin'........
L
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