Bridesmaids' Emergence: Timing And Traditions Explored

Bridesmaids is an American comedy film that was released in 2011. The plot centres on Annie, played by Kristen Wiig, who experiences a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as the maid of honour for her best friend, Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph. The film was written by Annie Mumolo and Wiig, and directed by Paul Feig. It was nominated for two Oscars and received multiple other accolades, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Bridesmaids (2011) movie plot

Bridesmaids is an American romantic comedy film released in 2011. The plot centres on Annie Walker (Kristen Wiig), a single woman in her thirties whose life is a mess. Her bakery has gone out of business, wiping out her savings, and her boyfriend has left her. She works a stressful, low-paying job at a jewellery store and shares an apartment with obnoxious British immigrant siblings Gil and Brynn. She also engages in unfulfilling casual sexual relationship with a wealthy and self-absorbed man named Ted, despite yearning for a serious relationship with him. The only positive presence in Annie's life is her lifelong best friend, Lillian.

When Lillian gets engaged to her boyfriend, Doug, she asks Annie to be her maid of honour. At the engagement party, Annie meets the other bridesmaids: Lillian's cynical cousin Rita, her naive newlywed coworker Becca, Doug's raunchy sister Megan, and Helen, the wealthy, snobby wife of Doug's boss. Annie and Helen are both jealous of each other's friendship with Lillian and become increasingly competitive for her attention.

Annie takes Lillian and the bridesmaids to lunch at a Brazilian steak restaurant before going to a chic bridal shop. However, everyone except Helen, who did not eat at the restaurant, gets food poisoning, ruining their afternoon. Annie's suggestion of a bachelorette party at Lillian's parents' lake house is overruled in favour of a trip to Las Vegas planned by Helen. Worried about her finances, Annie books a ticket in economy, while the rest of the party flies first class. To alleviate her massive fear of flying, Annie accepts a sedative and liquor from Helen, but she begins to hallucinate and suffers a paranoid breakdown that causes the plane to make an emergency landing. The party is forced to take a bus home, and Lillian decides that Helen should take over planning the bridal shower and wedding.

Annie grows closer to Nathan Rhodes, a Wisconsin State Trooper who previously let her off without a ticket for broken brake lights. Nathan repeatedly encourages Annie to open a new bakery, but she is resistant to the idea. After spending a romantic night together, Annie panics and abruptly leaves when Nathan surprises her with baking supplies.

Annie is fired from her job after a profanity-laden argument with a teenage customer and is later evicted by her roommates, forcing her to move in with her mother. She travels to Chicago for the bridal shower at Helen's home, which has been transformed into a Parisian-themed event—an idea of Annie's that Helen previously rejected. Helen upstages Annie by giving Lillian a trip to Paris, and Annie flies into a rage, berating Helen and Lillian and destroying the decor. She is kicked out of the shower and disinvited from the wedding.

On her way home, Annie gets into a car accident, and Nathan responds to the scene. However, when Ted arrives to give Annie a ride, causing Nathan to storm off, she breaks up with Ted after he asks her to perform oral sex on him.

Megan visits Annie and motivates her to take control of her life. Annie resumes baking, gets her car fixed, and tries to make amends with Nathan. On the day of the wedding, Helen appears at Annie's apartment, begging for help finding Lillian, who has disappeared. Helen apologises to Annie, revealing that she feels lonely despite her event planning skills and is unsatisfied in her marriage. With Nathan's begrudging help, they find Lillian hiding in her apartment, overwhelmed by Helen's extravagant wedding planning and afraid of leaving her life in Milwaukee. Annie reconciles with Lillian and resumes her role as maid of honour.

After the wedding, Annie and Helen share a hug, and Nathan arrives to pick up Annie. They kiss and ride away in his police car.

History of bridesmaids

The tradition of bridesmaids has evolved significantly over the years, with the role of these wedding attendants changing drastically since their early days.

The history of bridesmaids dates back to ancient Roman times, when Roman law required ten witnesses to be present at a wedding. These witnesses were usually friends of the newlyweds-to-be, and this is how the concept of a 'bridal party' was born. In addition to being witnesses, bridesmaids also served to protect the bride. In ancient Rome, it was believed that evil spirits would target weddings, so bridesmaids dressed similarly to the bride to confuse the spirits and prevent harm from befalling the happy couple. This practice was also used to deter jealous suitors or bandits, especially when the bride had to travel long distances to reach her groom's town, as was often the case in ancient Rome and feudal China.

In the Biblical story of Jacob, his two wives, Leah and Rachel, were escorted to the wedding by their servants, who acted as bridesmaids. In this case, the bridesmaids were not friends or relatives but domestic workers who catered to the bride's needs.

In the Victorian era, white was the official colour for bridesmaids' dresses, a trend set by Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert in 1840. She and her twelve bridesmaids wore matching white dresses to complement the Queen's satin gown, and this started the tradition of royal brides wearing white instead of silver.

Today, the role of a bridesmaid is much less dangerous and demanding. They are typically chosen because of their close relationship with the bride, rather than for protection or status, and their main duties involve providing emotional support and helping with wedding planning.

Bridesmaids' responsibilities

Being a bridesmaid comes with a long list of responsibilities and duties. Bridesmaids are usually the bride's closest friends and/or family members, and they play a significant role in the planning process and on the wedding day.

Pre-Wedding Responsibilities:

• Emotionally support the bride throughout the planning process and be available and present for her.
• Help plan and pay for the bridal shower and bachelorette party, often led by the Maid of Honor.
• Attend all pre-wedding events, such as the engagement party, wedding shower, rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner.
• Run errands and assist with decorations, DIY projects, and addressing thank-you cards.
• Purchase their own gowns, accessories, and attend fittings.
• Keep a record of gifts at the bridal shower so the bride knows who to thank.

Wedding Day Responsibilities:

• Help the bride get ready, ensuring she has everything she needs and assisting with her hair, veil, and accessories.
• Coordinate communications with vendors and guests.
• Participate in the ceremony by walking down the aisle and standing in the receiving line.
• Assist with organising wedding gifts and keeping them safe.
• Attend to wedding guests, encourage interactions, and create a fun atmosphere.
• Stay until the reception ends, and help with packing gifts and cleaning up.

Overall, bridesmaids are expected to be supportive, proactive, and positive throughout the entire process, offering assistance to the bride and Maid of Honor wherever needed.

Bridesmaids' attire

Bridesmaids attire has changed a lot over time. In the past, bridesmaids were expected to wear similar dresses to the bride, sometimes even wearing veils to cover their faces. This tradition may have started with Queen Victoria, who wore white at her wedding in 1840, and her attendants wore white too.

In the first half of the 20th century, bridesmaids often wore hats and gloves, and later, puffy sleeves and shiny satin were popular. In more recent times, brides have been more inclined to let their bridesmaids choose their own dresses and mix and match styles.

White bridesmaid dresses are now back in fashion, and bridesmaid bouquets are more about colour and style than function and superstition. In the past, bridesmaids carried fragrant herbs and even garlic to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.

Bridesmaids' bouquets

Colour Coordination

Colour coordinating the bridesmaids' bouquets with the bridal bouquet or the wedding theme is a popular choice. This can be done by matching the bouquet to the bridesmaids' dresses or incorporating the wedding colours into the bouquet design. For example, if your wedding colours are lilac and gold, you can create elegant bouquets with lilac flowers and golden accents.

Artificial vs Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers are traditional for weddings, but artificial flowers are becoming an increasingly popular choice for bridesmaids' bouquets. Artificial bouquets are more affordable, realistic-looking, and won't wilt, ensuring they last throughout the day and can be kept as a memento.

Bouquet Style

The style of the bouquet can vary depending on the overall wedding theme and the bridesmaids' dresses. Round bouquets are classic and versatile, while free-form bouquets offer a more relaxed, natural look. Hoop bouquets, where flowers are attached to a wire hoop, are also a unique option.

Flower Choices

When it comes to choosing flowers for the bouquets, the options are endless. Popular choices include roses, peonies, sunflowers, babys breath, and eucalyptus. You can also incorporate greenery or dried flowers for a more rustic or boho feel.

DIY vs Pre-Made Bouquets

Creating your own bridesmaids' bouquets can be a fun DIY project, especially if you're crafty and enjoy a challenge. However, if the idea of making bouquets seems daunting, there are plenty of pre-made options available, including both fresh and artificial flower bouquets.

Size and Shape

The size and shape of the bouquet should complement the bridesmaids' dresses and build. Smaller, more compact bouquets are typically better suited for petite bridesmaids, while taller or plus-size bridesmaids can carry larger bouquets.

Cost

The cost of bridesmaids' bouquets can vary depending on the type of flowers used, the size of the bouquet, and whether you choose fresh or artificial flowers. Pre-made bouquets can also vary in price, with more elaborate designs costing more. It's important to consider your budget when making decisions about the bouquets.

In conclusion, creating beautiful bridesmaids' bouquets involves considering colour schemes, flower choices, bouquet styles, and cost. Whether you opt for fresh or artificial flowers, DIY or pre-made bouquets, the key is to choose something that complements the overall wedding theme and enhances the bridesmaids' look.

Frequently asked questions