When Did I Become A Matron?
A while back I wrote about brides who’re telling their bridesmaids to get plastic surgery so they, too, can look good on the bride’s Big Day. Honestly, I was relieved to learn I wasn’t the only one who thought this crossed the line. Then again, I’ve found myself disgusted by those who are reluctant to ask their overweight friends to be part of their bridal party because they won’t look as good as skinny friends in the dresses the bride’s picked out.
Equally annoying, although less shockingly so, are those who forget the thoughtful tradition of the bridal party gift: keepsakes designed to not only honor the bridesmaids’ role in the wedding but also to commemorate the occasion. They’re the kind who don’t send Thank You cards to their wedding guests whom, they believe, really ought to be thanking them for having been allowed to participate in the bride’s special day. (These, incidentally, are the same women who’ll wonder, a few years down the road, why no one shows up at their second wedding.)
And don’t get me started on the type of bride who cheaps out on the gifts so she can budget more for her shoes (which no one will see under her dress, anyway). Rather than giving her bridesmaids a meaningful and thoughtful wedding party gift like a crystal photo frame or jewelry box, she opts for a boring pen-and-pencil set from the office supply store. As if that makes up for all of her prima donna tantrums, right?
Recently, a not-so-close acquaintance asked if I’d be in her wedding as one of the “bridal matrons” (a stupid expression to describe the involvement of a married, 41-year-old woman in a 30-something’s first wedding). She’s the type who just doesn’t have a lot of female friends — probably because she thinks up stupid expressions like “bridal matron” — and I wasn’t up to the task of explaining that I’m not one of them, either. Fortunately, calendar conflicts will prevent me from both participating in and attending her wedding… whenever she picks a date. Pity, because I could’ve used a new pen-and-pencil set.
aTags: bridal party, brides, bridesmaids, matrons, second wedding, wedding guests, wedding party gift
Totally funny and I bet you can’t wait to shop in the “matronly” department too!
I dunno where my daughter got her good taste and good sense from, but she agonized over her gifts to her bridesmaids. She ended up getting them a silk stationery box, each one their favorite color.
She chose her best friends and sisters for bridesmaids. They ranged from 15 to 30, 90lbs to 250lbs, 4′9 to 6′1. Again, she agonized over choosing a bridesmaid dress that they would all look good in, and more importantly be comfortable in.
We ended up designing our own, and individually fitting each one. I made the wedding gown too. I have not touched my sewing machine since except for minor repairs, but I got the best compliment from one of the (young male) guests who’d found out I made the dresses: “I’ve never been to a wedding where ALL the bridesmaids looked gorgeous.”
geez… I’m glad they’re all married now!
Comment by Donna B. on September 19, 2008 at 6:03 pm
- Strip formatting from MS Word or other apps so you can paste straight into blog entries. From Chubby Mommy: • My a-ha moment about exercise - It doesn’t have to be grueling to do some good. •When did I become a matron?- Here’s a wedding I won’t be participating in, whenever it happens. From Electric Venom: • Informal straw poll - What the press says about Obama’s appeal doesn’t seem to jive with what blog commenters think.
- Strip formatting from MS Word or other apps so you can paste straight into blog entries. From Chubby Mommy: • My a-ha moment about exercise - It doesn’t have to be grueling to do some good. •When did I become a matron?- Here’s a wedding I won’t be participating in, whenever it happens. From Electric Venom: • Informal straw poll - What the press says about Obama’s appeal doesn’t seem to jive with what blog commenters think.
- Strip formatting from MS Word or other apps so you can paste straight into blog entries. From Chubby Mommy: • My a-ha moment about exercise - It doesn’t have to be grueling to do some good. •When did I become a matron?- Here’s a wedding I won’t be participating in, whenever it happens. From I Think Therefore I Blog: • How to freeze summer fruits and vegetables - Grocery stores and farmer’s markets are practically giving away summer
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