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.
That's why I let my bridesmaids pick their own designs. They were all made of the same fabric though. They wore sheer capes so they all looked the same for the ceremony and pictures. I wanted them to have dresses they could (would) wear again. The only problem was my sister, who was pregnant and due near my wedding date. We had no clue what size she would be. She chose a tent-like pattern. She had the baby two weeks before my wedding. She was in another city and had to have last-minute alterations to her tent. LOL.
It also makes it easy to determine out who the best man is. :=)
I think fat bridesmaids are hot
The bride and groom would be much better off if they could get Grandma to pony up for the down payment on a (modest) house and have a small, simple wedding. But, from what you’ve said, that probably wouldn’t occur to them.
Note to self: Edit once, proofread twice.
I had 5, and I’ve had what I would consider a fairly small group of women friends. So.... I could actually picture 27 for very social people. :~)
All taffeta parade float gowns. All hideous.
Uffda!
The bride-to-be turn them into that. They just try to be more over-the-top then their friends:
More longer and boring bridal showers.
More guests.
More expensive dress, dinner, cake, flowers, limos, ect. It goes on and on.
It's just ridiculous some of things I've seen.
I'd print it out and present it to my wife except I'm afraid she'd roll it up and ... well ... she'd count it as one of my weekly anal sex acts.
The guests should never be told what to wear. I wouldn’t go.
“The bride and groom would be much better off if they could get Grandma to pony up for the down payment on a (modest) house and have a small, simple wedding. But, from what you’ve said, that probably wouldn’t occur to them.”
Huntress, you’re absolutely right!....unfortunately the young folks come from the “you-can-have-it-all” school of finance which means they’ve already hit up my mother-in-law for the down payment for the house....some Chutzpah huh?...
thanks everybody for the feedback....now I gotta get off this thread...I get myself to worked up when I think about those parasites....it did me good to vent....thanks for listening, and I hope everybody enjoys the Oscars tonight.
Wear the tux. Trust ME, I never seen a man who didn’t look great in a tux, so do it knowing you will be turning female heads.
And remember, you won’t be causing any trouble, your wife will be happy and everyone who thinks it is out of line to tell people what to wear will be talking about the demanding, bitchy bride, not you, well, yes you, but it will be how HOT you look.
“.my wife says I need do it or it will be a big stink in the family”
I rebelled against family dysfunction and ended up happily single. Teaching my kids not to put up with it causes great distress in the ex’s life to this day.
I have never had a bride pay for my dress. I paid for every dress myself and NEVER wore them again because they were too dorky
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