Bridesmaids Throughout The Years: How The Bride’s Leading Ladies Have Evolved Over Time

If you've signed on to be a bridesmaid, you most likely know that it arrives with more than a few big roles and responsibilities. In addition to enhancing the bride with the pre-wedding details, you will also be expected to battle evil spirits and bandits that may snatch the bride to be on her big day.

Wait — you didn't learn about that responsibility? Don't worry, this really is fortunately no more a role of bridesmaid dresses today. However, it had been one of the many peculiar bridesmaid duties which were expected from the bride to be's leading ladies in older days.

This duty may seem familiar to modern bridesmaids. Early bridesmaids were likely to help decorate the big day feast making party favors for that guest.

Victorian-era bridesmaids made party favors from white ribbons, lace, and flowers. The bridesmaids would then pin these pretty decorations towards the shoulders of every guest because they left the ceremony.

It may seem strange to us now, but bridesmaids were likely to accompany the newlyweds for their bed-chamber. The bridesmaids would then assist the bride to be by undoing her dress and letting down her hair.

Others were contained in the bed-chamber too, including friends, family, plus some members of the city. In some cultures, it had been common practice for the bride to be to fling her stocking into the crowd of watchers — aka the start of the garter toss tradition. It was thought that whoever caught the bride to be's stocking might have good luck.

The bedding ritual would be a common practice within the medieval period, especially among royals. Fortunately, this ritual started to die out starting within the early 1700s.

In some cultures, it had been customary for that bridesmaids to escort the groom towards the church while his groomsmen accompanied the bride to be to protect her from kidnappers or jealous men.

This practice started to wane in popularity following the introduction of longer trains, heavy wedding fabrics, and frilly clothes within the 18th century. However, evil spirits remained as a concern within the Victorian era, and bridesmaids often carried bouquets of garlic and herbs to ward them off.

Early bridesmaids helped the bride prepare for her big day in many of the identical ways they are doing today. However, these were also of lower status than the bride to be and had many duties which were more maid-like.

Bridesmaids today would scoff at the idea to be a bride's servant — despite the fact that that's what often it feels like. Early bridesmaids were likely to wait on the bride to be's hand and foot, performing various personal duties ,for example dressing her, drawing her bath, and fetching her breakfast during sex.

One from the key duties of the modern bridesmaid is planning the bride to be's bachelorette party. Formerly referred to as a ‘hen party in Europe, the raucous parties. we throw today wouldn't become common practice before the mid-1980s.

Although bachelorette parties today will possess a reputation to be wild and crazy, they may be whatever the bride to be prefers. Modern bachelorette parties now make reference to a get-together of the bride to be's closest friends, maybe it's a drunk night around the town or perhaps a relaxing visit to Cabo.

You could state that modern bridesmaids possess a lot more pressure to ensure that the bride to be's special day goes off with no hitch. In early times, bridesmaids were not likely to handle any mishaps or misfortunes that struck the bride to be and groom.

Today, bridesmaids are likely to do from running last-minute errands to providing the bride to be with emotional support. Although this is an enormous undertaking, many bridesmaids will gladly do it from love and friendship for the bride to be.

When Queen Victoria decided on a white lace dress, it sparked a fashion craze among brides. But today, lace may be used not only on the bride to be's dress, but additionally in her bridesmaids' dresses.

Lace bridesmaid gowns are not an infrequent sight in weddings today. From blush bridesmaid dresses in pastel shades to bold lace separates, this romantic fabric is no more reserved for the bride to be.

In medieval times, a wealthy bride may have her maids draw a lavish bath before the big day, filled with scented oils and herbs. Of course, this bath was required to cover up the foul smell many people couldn't escape within the Dark Ages.

Today, bridesmaids often accompany the bride to be spa treatments within the form of manicures and pedicures. While the bride to be may be generous and purchase her bridesmaids' spa treatments, most bridesmaids will happily purchase their own simply to bond with the bride to be before her special day.

Bridesmaids came a long way within the centuries. Once considered a lowly servant, as being a bridesmaid has become a huge honor that really should not be taken lightly.

Thankfully, the roles and expectations of the bridesmaids have changed significantly because the medieval era. Today, as being a bridesmaid is much more about being part of the bride to be and groom's big day while helping them accomplish one spectacular and unforgettable party.