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Being asked to be a bridesmaid is a privilege and an honour, and is not something you get to do every day!
If you’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid it means you are a truly trusted and valuable friend. It can be a chance to create great memories and enhance friendships, but it can also be very busy, expensive, and stressful so before you accept the responsibility make sure you can afford the time, energy, and extra money the job may take.
Weddings are hard work to organise – particularly for the bride – and a bridesmaid’s job is to help relieve the stress so it would be unfair to accept if you can’t give 100% support and commitment.
Duties Traditionally bridesmaid’s duties include assisting the bride with errands and wedding plans, paying for her own dress, organising a bridal shower and/or hen’s night, and attending to various jobs on the big day such as keeping an eye on the guests, handing out cake, opening the wedding presents at the reception and keeping a record of who gave what gift so the bride can send personalised thank you notes later on. Of course each wedding and each bride is different – some are less traditional than others – so check with the bride to make sure you have all your responsibilities covered.
Hen’s Night One of the main events leading up to the wedding is the hen's night (Check out How to throw a hen's night). This is usually up to the maid of honour to organise, and the bridesmaids pitch in where needed. There are many different types of hen's nights – and these days they don’t all have to be rowdy drunken nights on the town! When planning a hen's night, it’s really important to keep the bride in mind, and make sure you plan something she will enjoy and be comfortable with. Whether you decide on a day at the spa, or the ever popular stripper and drinks combination, give the bride a day to remember. A good way to do this, no matter what you decide to do is to give the bride a gift containing a photo album, a disposable camera, and a list of photo “suggestions” that she must take on the night. These can range from embarrassing (i.e. getting a kiss from a barman) to sentimental (a group shot of all her closest friends). Not only can this be an icebreaker to get the party going, but the bride will end up with something she will always treasure. The Day Itself On the big day, it’s a good idea to take an “emergency kit” along. Pack a large bag with everything and anything that might prevent a crisis later on. Some ideas could be breath mints, hair spray, bobby pins, safety pins, needle and thread, tampons, notebook and pen, nail polish, rescue remedy, spare pantyhose, cell phone, band-aids, deodorant, tissues – make sure you’re prepared for anything that may happen!
Although a fun and exciting time, weddings can also put a strain on friendships. Just remember it’s the bride’s big day, and keeping her happy is paramount! If there’s something you’re not happy with (maybe a bridesmaid outfit that cost you a fortune and looks like a tent) feel free to express your opinion if the bride asks for it, but don’t push the matter if she doesn’t share your point of view.
And lastly, remember to have fun on the big day – after all, you’ve earned it!
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Being asked to be a bridesmaid is a privilege and an honour, and is not something you get to do every day! 
Traditionally bridesmaid’s duties include assisting the bride with errands and wedding plans, paying for her own dress, organising a bridal shower and/or hen’s night, and attending to various jobs on the big day such as keeping an eye on the guests, handing out cake, opening the wedding presents at the reception and keeping a record of who gave what gift so the bride can send personalised thank you notes later on. Of course each wedding and each bride is different – some are less traditional than others – so check with the bride to make sure you have all your responsibilities covered.