It’s 2021 and the bridal party has a new moniker –– #bridesquad, hashtag compulsory! What was unspoken before with no clear boundary definitions of roles is now a charter that brides are asking their BFFs to sign before embarking on this journey. This charter is an evolving document as brides are redefining what and how they want their wedding to be, Pinterest be damned! So what are these redefined duties of the bride’s best friends on the most important day of their friend’s life? Let’s explore!

It all begins with the hashtag

Your work starts way before the wedding preparations do. It begins on the day of the proposal as you have to immediately think of a hashtag for the happy couple. It must reflect the ethos of the bride and groom while also being a pun on their names. Try to steer clear of cliches and laziness because you might end up with a last-minute hashtag coined by that ancient aunt who is really trying to be cool on social media like #RanjanaDasWedsAniruddhSenapati!

Planning a bachelorette

Counting down to the last few days of your friend’s single status, bachelorettes are oftentimes international trips these days with popular destinations being South Asian countries. They provide the perfect setting for flaunting that wedding body by the beach and are easy on the pocket. There is always Dubai for the party and shopping-freak bride. As a bridesmaid, one needs to plan this to the T.

Actors Alia Bhatt and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor at a friend’s wedding

Coordinated clothing

It is imperative for the bridesmaid to have at least one event that has T-shirts/robes that have “bride-to-be” and “bridesmaids” emblazoned on them. Pinterest and Instagram have set the bar really high and one has to keep up. There are individual kits being customised for each bridesmaid and the maid of honour must sit with the bride and discuss these plans in depth.

Have good things to say

Speeches have become quite customary at weddings these days. There might be a wet eye or two and your bride might just take offence if you don’t appropriately shed a tear when they enter the mandap with Din shagna da playing in the background. Who cares that you have probably watched her nail this walk 15 million times during private rehearsals on sleepovers, tears must be shed and overwhelming words of how you are going to be ‘third-wheel’ for the happy couple for their lives, must be said.

Alanna Panday with her bridesmaids at her recent engagement party

The unofficial photographer

We all know how long it takes for the final, edited wedding pictures to arrive. Instagram is waiting for no one. Moreover, in a post-pandemic world, there is always going to be friends and family who miss out on the fun. One must keep them updated. Enter bridesmaids with a wedding-Insta –– a special profile made just to upload wedding pictures for everyone to follow and stay updated. These pages will have frequent stories and live sessions for everyone to enjoy and who better to curate this feed than your bridesmaids?

Tip: Said bridesmaid also must post a story herself saying ‘Can’t believe this piece of my heart got married today’!

Sonam Kapoor with Rhea Kapoor on the latter’s wedding day

Wedding wish genie

The bridesmaid also has the subtle yet important job of being the wedding whisperer! What is that you may ask. It will be your job to go to the groom and subtly drop hints on things the bride might appreciate as a ‘surprise’. This is done post a clear discussion with the bride of course. Honeymoon destinations to wedding night gifts, it will indeed be your responsibility to ensure the seed of the idea has been planted in the groom’s mind!

Choreography is your second job

From the dance of keeping that alcoholic uncle away from that aunt from Lucknow, to an actual dance to be executed on stage, the bridesmaid needs to execute choreography with elan. Doesn’t matter if you can actually dance well or not, you will have to put up a performance on a medley of songs, one of which will have you wearing cool sunglasses! Sorry, we didn’t make the rules!

Mira Kapoor at the wedding of her BFF

The bride’s sanity depends on you

From thwarting calls from violent exes who might threaten to show up at the wedding uninvited, to ensuring that some of the alcohol from the car’s boot reaches the bride in a masked glass –– the bridesmaid must ensure the bride ‘keeps calm’ throughout the process. If that requires you to make the peg Patiala size, so be it!

If you are lucky and your BFF turns out to be a chill bride, know that you must still follow these rules! Remember to not outshine the bride or steal her thunder by doing something outrageous (remember Rachel hiding her pregnancy on Monica’s wedding in Friends?) and you will be good to go. Most importantly, don’t forget to have some fun along the way because you never know when you might be next!