The History Behind Bridesmaids And Their Maid Titles

The role of the bridesmaid has evolved over time, and while they are now typically chosen based on their close relationship with the bride, this wasn't always the case. Bridesmaids were traditionally the bride's servants or domestic workers, and their duties were very different from those of modern bridesmaids. So, where did the tradition of the bridesmaid originate, and why were they historically maids?

Bridesmaids were traditionally servants

In the past, bridesmaids were domestic workers who catered to the bride's every need on her wedding day. They were also tasked with protecting the bride from evil spirits or bandits. Brides often presented their grooms with a dowry of money, furniture, and other riches, which made them targets for robbers. Again, bridesmaids served as decoys so that the bride could not be identified.

A maid of honour has always been the bride's right-hand woman. Traditionally, a maid of honour is a type of attendant to royalty, and so it makes sense that it is also a term to describe a chief bridesmaid. In the past, the maid of honour was the bride's "favourite", and was at her beck and call in the weeks leading up to the wedding. She was also responsible for carrying the monetary portion of the bride's dowry, putting herself at great risk.

Today, bridesmaids are members of the bride's party at some Western traditional wedding ceremonies. A bridesmaid is typically a young, unmarried woman and often the bride's close friend or relative. She attends to the bride on the day of the wedding ceremony.

They protected the bride

In ancient times, bridesmaids were not chosen for their close relationship or friendship with the bride, but rather to serve the bride and cater to her every need on the wedding day. One of their main duties was to protect the bride.

Protection from Evil Spirits

Bridesmaids were believed to protect the bride from evil spirits. In ancient Rome, it was believed that bad spirits would descend upon weddings, so bridesmaids wore similar outfits to the bride to confuse the evildoers.

Protection from Robbers

In many cultures throughout history, brides presented their grooms with a dowry of money, furniture, and other riches, which made them targets for robbers. Bridesmaids served as decoys, so that bandits wouldn't know who the actual bride was and lower the risk of her being identified and taken.

Protection from Kidnapping

In China during the feudal era, brides were susceptible to kidnapping by rival clans and hooligans. Bridesmaids were dressed like the bride to protect her identity and lower the risk of her being taken.

Protection from Suitors

In ancient times, the bride and all the bridesmaids wore the same dress and heavily veiled their faces to confuse jealous suitors.

Practical and Emotional Support

Today, the maid of honor (or chief bridesmaid) provides practical and emotional support to the bride. She might assist the bride with dressing, and if needed, help her manage her veil, bouquet, or the train of her wedding dress.

A Right-Hand Woman

The maid of honor is the bride's right-hand woman and is responsible for leading the rest of the bridal party through the planning of any pre-wedding events. She is also in charge of planning the bachelorette party and bridal shower, and may be asked to offer a toast to the newlyweds at the reception.

A maid of honour is the bride's right-hand woman

The role of a maid of honour is to act as the bride's key personal attendant, providing support and a helping hand whenever needed. In the lead-up to the wedding, she will host events such as the bridal shower and plan the hen's night. She also has a managerial role, as she can help to corral and delegate tasks to the bridesmaids.

On the day of the wedding, the maid of honour's duties include helping the bride get dressed, ensuring she eats, and holding her bouquet during the ceremony. She may also be asked to sign the marriage certificate, and she will dance with the best man during the newlyweds' first dance. The maid of honour also provides practical and emotional support to the bride, and she may be entrusted with the groom's wedding ring until the ceremony.

The maid of honour is traditionally a type of attendant to royalty, and she was once considered the bride's "favourite", on call in the weeks leading up to the wedding. She was also responsible for carrying the monetary portion of the bride's dowry, which put her at great risk of thieves. Nowadays, the role is far less dangerous, and the duties are more focused on planning and supporting the bride.

The maid of honour is chosen because of her close relationship with the bride, and she is often a sister or best friend. She should be dependable, able to afford the financial requirements of the role, and available to join the bride for various activities and planning sessions.

Bridal showers were about collecting dowry money

In the past, bridal showers were about collecting dowry money from loved ones. This was often because the bride's family didn't have enough money to contribute to a dowry, or because her family didn't approve of the marriage. The maid of honour, or chief bridesmaid, was responsible for carrying the monetary portion of the bride's dowry, which put her at great risk of theft.

The origin of the Western bridesmaid tradition likely arose from a combination of factors, including socioeconomic class and status, family size, and the socialisation standards of the day. In ancient Rome, it was believed that evil spirits would descend upon weddings, so bridesmaids dressed similarly to the bride to confuse the evildoers. In many cultures throughout history, brides presented their grooms with a dowry of money, furniture, and other riches, which made them targets for robbers. Again, the bridesmaids served as decoys so that the bandits wouldn't know who the bride was.

In the past, bridesmaids were not chosen because of their close relationship or friendship with the bride, but because they were domestic workers who catered to her every need on the wedding day. Bridesmaids were tasked with attending to and protecting the bride from evil spirits or bandits.

Today, the role of the bridesmaid is much different. Bridesmaids are typically chosen from the unwed young women of marriageable age who are close friends or relatives of the bride. They are responsible for planning pre-wedding parties and serving as a point of contact on the wedding day. The chief bridesmaid, or maid of honour, is usually the bride's closest friend or sister, and she is responsible for leading the rest of the bridal party in planning any pre-wedding events, such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party.

Bridesmaids wore similar dresses to the bride

In ancient Rome, it was believed that evil spirits would target weddings, so bridesmaids wore similar dresses to the bride to confuse the spirits. In other cultures, the bride would present her groom with a dowry, making her a target for robbers. By wearing the same dress as the bride, the bridesmaids acted as decoys, protecting the bride from harm.

In feudal China, brides were susceptible to kidnapping by rival clans and hooligans. Bridesmaids dressed like the bride to protect her identity and reduce the risk of her being taken.

In the Victorian era, Queen Victoria married Prince Albert wearing a long white wedding dress, and her bridesmaids matched the colour of her gown. This trend was followed by white being the official colour for both male groomsmen and female bridesmaids.

In modern times, bridesmaids' dresses are more likely to be chosen by the bridesmaids themselves, and there is a trend for mix-and-match styles. However, the main goal of bridesmaid attire is still to not outshine the bride.

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