Columbus, Ohio / Delaware, Ohio Wedding + Engagement Photographer || Tell All Tuesday: Five Ways to be the Best Maid of Honor
Introducing a new series here on our blog and instagram, this is our first post for Tell All Tuesday! Being in the wedding and photography industry for nearly 12 years, we are always happy to share our tips, knowledge and secrets when it helps our clients have successful sessions and wedding days! This series also opens up the opportunity for our following to learn more about us and we can share our stories when it comes to success and creating a business!
We had a few questions submitted on our instagram Monday when we opened submissions, so we decided to go with the first one:
“What can I do to be the best maid of honor?”
When we work with couples on their wedding day, we not only work with them but also work closely with their families and members of the wedding party. Over the years we have seen the positives of supportive wedding party members and the negatives of unfortunate circumstances where wedding party members may be ill-prepared or unfocused. I’ve been a matron of honor myself and while I can’t say I did everything right, I definitely thought about how I could be the best help!
** Disclaimer: This blog content is based on experience, previously given advice and our own opinions. We fully encourage you to speak to the bride, evaluate your own capabilities and do what you feel is in the best interest of your own personal situation!
#1: Be Selfless
The best wedding party members we have ever seen are the selfless ones! These individuals consistently are focused on the bride’s needs. While this might be easy to list, it can be harder to be mindful during wedding festivities. There are situations where you may not like your hair and makeup and want it redone or you forgot your Spanx and want to run to Target/home to get them but please remember these situations set the timeline back 15+ minutes and the bride will start to worry. We’ve seen the most selfless wedding party members forget their shoes, hair fall out, or worse and they still move forward. It literally touched my heart when I heard one maid of honor say, “It’s not my day so I’ll be fine!” Which leads to tip number two…
#2: Consistently Check In
A bride can be overwhelmed on her wedding day because a number of things can be left to her discretion, especially if she doesn’t have a coordinator! If you see that she is overwhelmed, getting questioned a lot, or looking for something - help! But the real scary brides are the silent ones… the ones that are internalizing all the chaos (This was me!) and they need help and won’t ask for it. We suggestion that every hour or so, just ask her, ‘Doing alright?’ or ‘Have you ate? Need a drink?’ - These things will mean the world to her. She chose you to support her on one of the biggest days of her life so make sure you check in to help where you can!
#3: Help Her Pack
The week of a wedding can be just as stressful, if not more so, than the actual wedding day. For some brides, they may be bringing some decorations of their own, managing their own set up, or just simply trying to pack all of their things for their day. This is a great opportunity to help her and be a second set of eyes. Offer to come over to her place and help pack. If she’s already packed, go over a check list with her. Wedding brain is real and helping her double check her bags is such a nice way to help!
#4: Have an Emergency Kit!
You know that scene in The Wedding Planner where Jennifer Lopez has an array of items belted to her waist so that at a moment’s notice she can help? That’s something to strive towards. Listen, even if your bride has a coordinator or planner, have a kit. Why? Because the coordinator/planner is human. They may forget or have used up a product on another situation (Tide pens go dry all the time!) BUT, have this with you at the rehearsal, wedding day, and morning after brunch too! We love this list from our friends at The Knot - https://www.theknot.com/content/the-brides-emergency-kit
#5: Manage Her Phone
Leave this to the Bride’s discretion but I find that bride’s that let their maid of honor manage their phone (and hand over their Apple Watch!) are more at peace and even more present during their wedding day. There is constant texts and calls coming into a bride’s phone on her wedding day. It can be insanity sometimes! But even if she doesn’t want you to answer calls or texts, holding her phone for her is helpful. The last thing she needs is to panic about forgetting where she put her phone. Just holding it and keeping it safe and accounted for can be so helpful to her!
* BONUS TIP *
Don’t forget that you’re responsible for the bride’s bouquet and train! This is such a small thing that can be forgotten but it’s a big deal. During pictures, ceremony, and anytime when the train isn’t bustled, that’s all you baby! (But, you will see me, as the photographer, love to fluff a train too!)
In the End….
When I spoke with Jon about this question, I loved his input so I will end with his words of wisdom. ‘A bridesmaid’s or maid of honor’s job is to help delegate and aid a bride. Those are the best ones I think we’ve seen on wedding days…. the ones that step up to always help.’
We’ve had INCREDIBLE examples of amazing wedding party members of the years. All of our couples have been very blessed with wedding party members that help them down the aisle. I think Jon’s advice is a great blanket statement for how you can be the best maid of honor you can be!
Interested in booking your wedding or a session? Contact us at envphotographyy.com/contact to get more information on booking your portraits! Also be sure to follow us on social media so get updates and announcements from us!
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