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they must pay for parties that the bride wants to have before the wedding, it has become customary for the bride to present the bridesmaids with gifts as a sign of gratitude for the support and financial commitment that comes with their roles. It has become equally customary for women who are invited to serve as bridesmaids to first ask about the amount of time, energy, and money that the bride expects from them before accepting this position, and to decline or resign if this is more than they will be able to give. In some
American weddings, each bridesmaid may be asked to spend US$ 1,700 or more, with travel to
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315:, brides were susceptible to kidnapping at weddings by rival clans and hooligans. Shouldering the responsibility to protect the bride, bridesmaids were dressed up like the bride to lower the risk that she might be identified and taken. As legal protections for marriage were established, this was no longer necessary, and the role of bridesmaid took a more symbolic turn.
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177:, "Contrary to rumor, bridesmaids are not obliged to entertain in honor of the bride, nor to wear dresses they cannot afford." If it is customary in the bride's area to have a bridesmaids luncheon, then it is hosted, and therefore organized and paid for, by the bride. A junior bridesmaid has no responsibilities beyond attending the wedding.
108:. Today, the number of bridesmaids in a wedding party is dependent on many variables, including a bride's preferences, the size of her family, and the number of attendants her partner would like to have as well. Many modern couples do not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, which eliminates all the associated expenses and logistical effort.
136:, it is (or has been) customary for bridesmaids to be small girls rather than grown women. They may carry flowers during the wedding procession and pose with the married couple in bridal photos. In modern English-speaking countries, this role is separate from that of the bridesmaid, and the small child performing it is known as a
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The bride (center) with her maid of honor (third from left) and bridesmaids. The maid of honor can be distinguished by her dress, which differs somewhat from that of the other bridesmaids, as well as by her position in the traditional place of honor at the immediate right of the principal party. From
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The duties and costs of being a bridesmaid are parsed out between a bride and her attendants in a variety of ways. Since modern bridesmaids, unlike their historical counterparts, can no longer rely on having their clothes and travel expenses paid for by the bride's family, and are sometimes even told
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n polite society...the bridesmaids' only duties are to make a special fuss over the bride by gathering around her at the wedding and, in the weeks before, by pretending to be interested in all the wedding details. It is also nice, but not obligatory, for them to plan a girlishly informal gathering—a
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Aside from being the bride's right hand, the maid of honor is responsible for leading the rest of the bridal party through the planning of any pre-wedding events. For example, the principal bridesmaid will be the one to make the arrangements for the bridal shower, including invitations, decorations,
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Often there is more than one bridesmaid; in modern times the bride chooses how many to ask. Historically, no person of status went out unattended, and the size of the retinue was closely calculated to be appropriate to the family's social status. A large group of bridesmaids provided an opportunity
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In North
America, a wedding party might include several bridesmaids, but the 'maid of honor' is the title and position held by the bride's chief attendant, typically her closest friend or sister. In modern-day weddings, some brides opt to choose a long-time male friend or brother as their head
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On the day of the wedding, her principal duty is to provide practical and emotional support. She might assist the bride with dressing and, if needed, help the bride manage her veil, a bouquet, a prayer book, or the train of her wedding dress during the day. In a double-ring wedding, the chief
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Although many exceed the minimum, the bridesmaids' required duties are very limited. They are required to attend the wedding ceremony and to assist the bride on the day of the wedding. Bridesmaids in Europe and North
America are often asked to assist the bride with planning the wedding and a
233:. The term 'bridesmaid' is normally used for all bridal attendants in the UK. However, when the attendant is married, or is a mature woman, the term 'matron of honour' is often used. The influence of American English has led to the chief bridesmaid sometimes being called the maid of honour.
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The activities of the principal bridesmaid may be as many or as varied as she allows the bride to impose upon her. Her only required duty is to participate in the wedding ceremony. Typically, however, she is asked for help with the logistics of the wedding as an event, such as addressing
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The origin of the
Western bridesmaid tradition likely arose from a combination of many factors. The most-likely factors include, but are not limited to, socioeconomic class and status, family size, socialization standards of the day, and religion.
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In the United States, the role of attending to the groom has diverged from that of escorting guests to their seats, and the two positions are no longer synonymous and are often, if not usually, filled by different persons.
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food, and any games or activities that will be played. He or she will also be in charge of planning the bachelorette party, including any travel or lodging accommodations that must be arranged.
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In ancient times, originally the bride and all the bridesmaids wore exactly the same dress and veiled their faces heavily, for the purpose of confusing jealous suitors and evil spirits.
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is a girl who is clearly too young to be married but who is included as a bridesmaid anyway. In the United States, typically only the maid or matron of honor and the
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after the ceremony. If there is a reception after the wedding, the maid of honor may be asked to offer a toast to the newlywed.
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wearing a long white wedding dress, and her bridesmaids matched the color of her gown.
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traditional wedding ceremonies. A bridesmaid is typically a young woman and often the
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until it is needed during the ceremony. Many brides ask bridesmaids if they are
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ceremony. Traditionally, bridesmaids were chosen from unwed young women of
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Miss
Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Freshly Updated
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61:'s close friend or relative. She attends to the bride on the day of a
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The principal bridesmaid, if one is designated, may be called the
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37:"Maid of honor" redirects here. For the UK royal court title, see
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In some cultures, such as in Norway, the
Netherlands, France and
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301:(29:24, 46:18) as the origin of bridesmaids. These women were
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Etiquette in
Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home'
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and pre-wedding parties usually being the biggest expense.
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attendant, using the title 'best man' or 'man of honor'.
361:"How Much Can I Really Ask My Wedding Guests To Pay?"
205:"Maid of honor" redirects here. For other uses, see
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457:. Funk & Wagnalls Company. pp.
423:. New York: Crown Publishers. pp.
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41:. For the Justice League episode, see
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328:Prince Albert
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320:Victorian era
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175:Judith Martin
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167:bridal shower
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112:Related roles
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82:maid of honor
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19:
1476:Consummation
1258:Brunei Malay
1180:Groom's cake
1175:Cookie table
1165:Wedding cake
1119:Unity candle
1012:
981:Participants
972:Wishing well
952:Wedding cord
919:
901:Opera gloves
886:Evening gown
874:Bridal crown
869:Contemporary
780:Gretna Green
610:
599:
561:
549:. Retrieved
545:
536:
524:. Retrieved
520:
510:
498:. Retrieved
494:
485:
453:
443:
419:
412:
403:
389:
380:
368:. Retrieved
364:
354:
317:
310:
307:
276:
272:
255:wedding ring
251:
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191:
159:
154:gagra cholis
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89:
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50:
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47:
1408:Philippines
1360:Zoroastrian
1219:By religion
1099:Polterabend
1089:Money dance
1069:First dance
1054:Ahesta Bero
1023:Flower girl
994:child bride
827:Semi-formal
687:Pre-wedding
668:Handfasting
590:Bridesmaids
449:Post, Emily
303:handmaidens
243:invitations
138:flower girl
51:Bridesmaids
18:Bridesmaids
1370:By country
1221:or culture
1210:Place card
1205:Loving cup
1047:Traditions
1013:Bridesmaid
1001:Bridegroom
704:Engagement
658:Collective
495:Modern MOH
346:References
1497:Elopement
1463:Honeymoon
1418:Sri Lanka
1243:Ayyavazhi
1038:Officiant
1028:Groomsman
1018:Bridesman
942:Las arras
896:Debutante
891:Ball gown
832:Black tie
815:White tie
785:Las Vegas
768:Locations
663:Elopement
340:Bridesman
281:story of
219:Minnesota
217:1929, in
118:groomsman
1567:Category
1512:Newlywed
1441:Scotland
1403:Pakistan
1378:Ethiopia
1350:Timorese
1305:Mandaean
1275:Catholic
1084:Lychgate
1033:Page boy
844:Informal
794:Clothing
673:Same-sex
647:Weddings
500:12 March
451:(1922).
388:(2005).
334:See also
279:Biblical
94:best man
67:marriage
1453:Vietnam
1446:history
1423:Ukraine
1388:Iceland
1330:Punjabi
1320:Persian
1290:Islamic
1263:Chinese
1200:Korovai
1109:Pyebaek
937:Chuppah
931:Objects
913:Garters
551:2 April
526:2 April
425:136–137
370:27 July
365:The Cut
318:In the
63:wedding
55:Western
1413:Russia
1345:Shinto
1335:Quaker
1310:Mormon
1300:Jewish
1280:Hajong
1124:Walima
921:Casual
810:Formal
479:. CNN.
431:
396:
291:Rachel
259:adults
144:Duties
126:usher.
124:as an
106:wealth
1485:Other
1393:India
1285:Hindu
1094:Music
989:Bride
881:Dress
678:White
461:–337.
295:maids
283:Jacob
231:queen
221:, US.
59:bride
1315:Odia
1295:Iyer
1238:Ayie
1233:Arab
849:Suit
553:2018
528:2018
502:2019
429:ISBN
394:ISBN
372:2024
289:and
287:Leah
459:335
311:In
169:or
65:or
1569::
544:.
519:.
493:.
467:^
427:.
402:.
363:.
140:.
100:.
73:.
639:e
632:t
625:v
569:.
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209:.
45:.
34:.
20:)
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