W
e are all familiar with this term, whether from a reality show or first-hand experience. Camouflaged in the body of a beautiful woman, this creature is not a force to be reckoned with nor can it be tamed. Simply stand back and let it run its course. We’ve put together some outrageous bridezilla moments for what-not-to-do and a case of cool and collected bridal behavior during a time of crisis. For all the brides-to-be, please keep these stories in mind when mishaps arise before you release a fury strong enough to destroy a Japanese city.
The Good: FANtastic Attitude As we all know, outdoor weddings in the south can be absolutely breathtaking… ly hot. My brother and sister-inlaw were married at a gorgeous plantation home on June 6 in Mobile, Ala. As a sweet gesture, the bride’s parents gave each member of the bridal party a “goodie bag” that included a battery operated fan. It came time for pictures of the bride and groomsmen, and after several poses, the photographer decided to loosen things up a bit. He had the brilliant idea of having the groomsmen hold the fans up around my sister-in-law. Anxious to get the perfect shot, the photographer had the guys lean in. Closer…closer…too close. Groomsman’s fan catches bride’s immaculate updo. Curious about the commotion, I walked outside to find my future sister-in-law with alligator tears welling up in her eyes. Next thing I know, tears vanish and make-up is saved. She looks at her maid of honor and simply says, “Cut it out. Just cut it out.” No questions asked, the bridesmaid released her hair from the fan in one snip. I have never been more impressed.
The Bad:
Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe A good friend of mine was approached by someone she thought was a close friend (I mean, she was the maid of honor in her wedding) about being a bridesmaid. A few months later, my friend stumbled upon the bride’s wedding blog. After scrolling through the details, she noticed that she was absent from the bridesmaid roster. Confused, she contacted the bride to find out why she had not received any information about wedding festivities. The bride replied to her via text that she had changed her mind about having her as a bridesmaid and that she just didn’t feel as close to her anymore. Brides, refer to The Bridesmaid Diaries: Part 1. Choosing your bridesmaids should not be done on impulse. If you feel like there is a mutual understanding that you and your friend have grown apart-grow up and talk to her about it. If you cannot have an adult conversation with a friend, maybe you aren’t adult enough to get married…
Camera Ready If you have ever been involved in the planning of a big event, you are fully aware that there are going to be a few minor hiccups during the main event. A toddler serving as a flower girl or ring bearer in a wedding ceremony is always a risk because of a child’s unpredictable behavior. I attended a wedding where this was exactly the case. The groom’s niece looked absolutely adorable walking down the aisle. It wasn’t long before she became restless during the vows and started pulling on her mother’s bridesmaid’s dress. The bride noticed what was going on and instead of ignoring this, she made a scene by rolling her eyes and releasing a rather loud sigh. If this was not enough, there was a short delay with her music after the “happy” couple was introduced. The look on her face was enough to make all of the guests uncomfortable, and her facial expressions were all anyone could talk about during the reception. Remember ladies, it is all in how you handle it. Go with the flow, and there is a good chance no one will even notice!
The Ugly: Seeing Red
A friend of mine was part of a wedding last summer where the bride decided that everyone had to use the same bright purple nail polish for their manicures. A bit odd but not a big deal. That is, until one of the bridesmaids showed up without her nails done and the bride went postal. The weeping involved a lot of “How could you do this to me? The pictures will be ruined,” that sort of thing. Nobody had a bottle of the polish with them, so she forced the poor bridesmaid to go to a drugstore and purchase the polish — an hour before the wedding ceremony was to begin. Faced with that time crunch, the bridesmaid sweetly suggested that she might be more useful if she could help the bride get ready. Infuriated, the bride instructed the photographer not to take any pictures with the un-manicured bridesmaid.
Little Mrs. Overkill I recently heard a story about a bride that was obsessed with having her wedding featured in a popular wedding magazine. She had meticulously planned every last detail and may have gone a little overboard. Lots of brides choose color palettes, but she sent out the precise color of the bridesmaids’ dresses — along with suggested complimentary colors for our jewelry and lipstick. A little demanding but not that big of a deal, right? But then she decided to instruct guests on what to wear, sending out a PDF with color combos and her preferred fabrics. In the end, she did get a spot in the wedding magazine but developed a new reputation among her friends as Mrs. Control Freak.