10 Wedding Habits That Secretly Annoy Your Bridesmaids

No one who plans a wedding sets out to annoy their closest friends, and yet even with the best intentions, it’s so easy to make decisions that drive your bridesmaids to distraction. These are the people you’ve opted to have stand beside you, after all, so make sure you keep the comfort and joy of the experience in their hearts throughout the journey.

To ensure a smooth experience for all, we’ve compiled 10 popular wedding traditions that secretly irritate your bridesmaids—and how not to be that bride.

Demanding Identical Dresses

Every bridesmaid is built differently and has her own unique style! If it’s unflattering or uncomfortable (and, let’s be real, bridesmaids’ dresses often are), forcing everyone to wear the exact same thing is a quick way to make people resent you. If you’re looking for a unified ensemble, you could give options from a particular color palate or allow for a mix of dress styles.

Overcomplicating the Dress Code With Mood Boards

While providing constructive guidance for your bridesmaids certainly can’t hurt, sending them complicated mood boards with page after page of do’s and don’ts can be overwhelming. Keep it simple, with a loose framework — color palette, length and a few thoughts on style — and let them decide what works for them.

Demanding Professional Hair and Makeup Without Offering to Pay

Expecting your bridesmaids to foot the bill for professional beauty services can be a financial burden, especially if it wasn’t previously talked about. Where possible, wrap at least one service or let your stylists style themselves. In any case, make sure you keep options available so that they can choose looks that work for them.

Bearing the Cost of Expensive Pre-Wedding Trips

A luxurious pre-wedding trip might be an indulgent escape to some, but it’s a financial trap for some bridesmaids. Exchange the destination weekend for a local retreat, facial, dinner that not everyone will have to travel to.

Having Your Bridesmaids Forgot They Have Lives Other Than the Wedding

Yes, your wedding is precious, and to many people, it’s the most important day of your life. Eliminate frequent check-ins and unreasonable expectations to attend events. Keep them updated using a shared group chat, but be respectful of their time when you’re communicating.

Letting Costs Get Out of Hand

Between the attire, travel and events, it can all add up very quickly. Try to alleviate the financial burden by selecting inexpensive dresses, forgoing less important frills, and having honest budget talks. And if they can re-wear something or pull from something they already own, all the better.

Assigning Too Many DIY Tasks

While it should be expected to seek help, as soon as you assign full-blown projects, like homemade decor or food prep, it begins to feel less like a favor, and more like free labor. Leave the heavy lifting to the professionals, and ask your bridesmaids for things they can manage easily.

Planning a Boring or Exhausting Wedding Weekend

Multiple Weddings, weddingg co- wedding bloggers, Huge Rehearsals, dual photo sessions and massive amounts of time in between events also lead to some worn-out bridesmaids. Don’t overcomplicate the schedules and be thoughtful about them. Offer snacks, places to decompress, and well-defined agendas to ensure that they have fun at your event.

Keeping The Schedule Well-Hidden

Your bridesmaids need to know where they need to be, when they have to be there, and what they should bring. Assume they haven’t memorized the details of your wedding. Send out the timeline early, even if it’s on a group message or an email or a basic PDF guide they can follow.

Forgetting to Say Thank You

Gratitude is a game changer. Your bridesmaids are investing time, money, and effort in your celebration—show them gratitude with handwritten notes, toasts from the heart, or small favors. A heartfelt thank-you can carry more weight than you realize.