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I was thrilled when Maddie told me Tim had finally popped the question. They’d been dating for six years and at 33, they were now ready to take that next step. Despite recently going through a horrendous breakup, I felt nothing but happiness for her.
I was equally thrilled when Maddie invited me to a lavish lunch and asked me to be her bridesmaid. Well, she didn’t exactly ask. She gave me a beautiful bespoke nail polish that read “Will you be my bridesmaid?” on the packaging.
It was over the top, yes, but that’s Maddie. And I wouldn’t have her any other way.
As someone who’d never been a bridesmaid before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Suddenly my diary was being filled with dress fittings, cake tastings, flower brainstorms, high teas, bridesmaid dress shopping, accessories shopping and shoe shopping.
Being a lawyer means time is a precious commodity. I don’t have a lot of it and I cherish a quiet afternoon on my balcony with a glass of pinot gris and a good book. But the wedding and my many bridesmaid-y commitments began to eat into any spare time I was saving for myself.
Watch: Brides share their one wedding regret. (Post continues after video.)
Like I said, I’d never been a bridesmaid before, so how was I supposed to know that Maddie was, well, a bit of a Bridezilla? She was my best friend and I was determined to be supportive.
It’d been three months since my breakup with Darren. “Breakup” almost insinuates it was a clean, quick experience. It was far, far from it. I found out he’d been cheating on me with a girl from his work. Someone I’d met at drinks. Someone who’d been sickly sweet, told me I was “so pretty”, yet was having sex with my boyfriend on the side.
My long, brown, wavy hair featured in every photo with Darren. It started to signify the Old Me; someone I had moved on from. I decided that to draw a line behind that time of my life I needed a change. A hair change.
Top Comments
it is your hair ,do what u want.if she is a good friend she will realise how much u need to do this.what would she have done if had changed hair day she asked you, would it have stopped her asking you to be bridesmaid.People make to much of wedding and the money spent is ridiculous. It about the love 2 people have for each other . and celebrating this with friends and family .not showing how much money she can spend or how she has control over everyone.
i also think that it's kind of sad that the bride isn't close enough to her bridesmaids to care about her mental health. if i was a bride, i would chose a hairstyle and color, but if a girl is uncomfortable with it, i'd understand and be fine with it!