Five minutes before her wedding was supposed to begin, one bride looked at me and asked a question I never expected to hear. The venue was full, months of planning had gone into the day, and everything was ready. Yet, standing there in her dress, moments before walking down the aisle, she realized that she could not go through with it.
Another bride had booked me, met with me and led me to believe she wanted me to stand with her on her big day, all to find out she actually wanted my help calling it off. People are always surprised when I tell them stories like this. They assume my job is all champagne toasts, flower arrangements, lavish vineyards and picking shades of blush pink, but after more than a decade working as a professional bridesmaid, I have learned that weddings often reveal much more than love.
I started Bridesmaid for Hire in 2014 after realizing that so many brides need someone by their side who is not a friend or relative, but rather a professional who could help them navigate the stress, drama and unexpected challenges that come with getting hitched. What began as a buzzy idea in my bedroom quickly took on a life of its own. I posted an advertisement on Craigslist offering my services as a professional bridesmaid, and the response was overwhelming.
Eventually, my millennial gig turned into a fully-fledged business that has allowed me to work with couples all over the world. At its core, my job is simple, I become the support system people need during one of the most emotionally charged periods of their lives. I am hired to be a bride's behind-the-scenes support system.
I do everything your real best friend would do, except I am a stranger. I handle family drama, give a maid of honor speech, plan the bachelorette and more. The catch is that usually it is a secret.
The bride does not tell anyone she hired me, not even the person she is marrying. I have a fake name and backstory. That may sound unusual, but weddings are often the hardest and most complicated times in a person's life.
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