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.
Do what your wife suggests. Resentment goes away when you see the big smile on your wife's face. jmo...
I’ve seen several brides go through this: A bridesmaid insists on ordering her dress several sizes too small because she’s “going to lose weight by the wedding.” Then the bride has to sweat it out for months, hoping the bridesmaid really does lose the weight.
I think asking a bridesmaid to sign a contract is tacky, though. It’s bad enough the bridesmaid has to wear a usually horribly unflattering dress and spend a whole bunch of money for the “honor” of being in someone’s wedding. My advice is: If you’ve already been a bridesmaid twice, say “Sorry...I’m superstitious. Three times a bridesmaid, never a bride!”
Some people take the wedding day way too seriously. If they devoted as much thought, time, money, effort, planning, energy, etc., to their married life AFTER the wedding, as they do to that one day of the actual ceremony, maybe there wouldn’t be so many divorces.
American style ?
This is just a way to insult Americans. Fat does not “just happen” unless medical.
This sounds more like a “your fat lose weight” hint for women who kept a fat friend and now demand she loses weight so the bride does not have a parade of fat cows to hurt her wedding day egomania.
(grooms be warned.)
I’d take a pregnant bridesmaid as a life-affirming sign of good luck.
Were the people at the wedding as big a jerks as you are? You’re a piece of work to have posted what you did.
I’d say, “You first!”
I saved money by asking to go through my best friend’s closet and helping her pick out a dress from her stack from her sisters’ weddings. It was easier, and cheaper, than getting a new, one time dress.
Marriage used to be a binding obligation. In the old days, it took an act of the state legislature to get a divorce. Then, divorces could be granted could be granted by a judge, but only for 'cause'. Convenient, on-demand divorces have only been around for a few decades.
...OK folks....you’ve convinced me!....I’m gonna throw in the towel and rent that tux....and never mention it again.
Cheap wedding
Get married in a nudest colony forget Bride Maids dresses
My attendants loved me. We had a black and white wedding and the dresses were simple dresses that they’ve all worn since. And they cost about 75 dollars each.
And we found a dress that was decent on everyone. Their heights ranged from my 6’1 future sister in law to my 4’11 best friened. That was a feat.
I actually caused the reverse problem.
I lost 75 pounds from the time I was asked to be a bridesmaid to the wedding for my youngest brother (Lost another 60 since have 10 to go).
They kept having to take in the dress.
We had a formal wedding but the only tuxes outside the men in the wedding party were on the dads and the grandpas and the 2 uncles who did readings.
I’m sure if your wife gained 10 pounds you’d find the nearest whore and say it’s okay because she gained weight. And beat her for it too. NEVER GET MARRIED PLEASE!
I think there should be a year long wait and mandatory counseling. 2 years if kids are involved.
And if either spouse cheats or is abusive THEY LOSE EVERYTHING!
It would end all men’s affairs anyway. The whore is always only after his money (she’s always a whore no exceptions) and would leave him if he lost his money.
Is it for all the guests or family members? Is it your sister or your wife’s sister? Is she in the wedding? If it’s your sister I’m surprised your not a groomsman.
I have yet to have a bride pay for my bridesmaid outfit. Although I did pay for all my bridesmaids dresses, well my parents did.
Haha! GMTA.
If only the bodies we had in our 20's lasted through the 60's and 70's - lol! Ain't gonna happen. Pass me another chocolate, please! ; )
my bridemaids didn't wear ugly dresses... i let them choose the dress... most of my bridesmaids were family... sisters and a niece with a couple of friends... my niece was the maid-of-honor... she has really good taste and she was in charge... she wore the same dress as the bridesmaids... she and my sisters chose it... we were also all in our 30s... i think it helped that we were a little more mature... the dress was not big, not shiny, not some silly color... but yes, you are right... generally, the bridesmaids are there to make the bride look better...
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