Bridesmaids are essential member of bride of wedding party that are typically young women, and often a close friend or sister, who are usually about the same age of the bride. Traditionally, bridesmaids were chosen from unwed young women of marriageable age.

The bridesmaids attend pre-wedding parties and also help out in anyway the bride requests. If she needs anything from picking up candelabras, to setting out place cards—these are the girls to ask. Bridesmaids are not obliged to entertain in honor of the bride. They wear matching or coordinating dresses to the ceremony but usually not to wear dresses they cannot afford (usually paid for themselves).

The number of the bridesmaids for a wedding ceremony is depend on the number of the guests, For example, to have attendants representing 10 percent of the guest list for a wedding ceremony with 70 guests will look disproportionate. For a small wedding, three or four bridesmaids are fine. But for a larger bash (150 and up) more bridesmaids is needed.

Bridesmaids, nowadays, can no longer rely on having their clothes and travel expenses paid for by the bride’s family, and are sometimes even assessed fees to pay for parties that the bride wants to have before the wedding, it has become customary for the bride to present the bridesmaids with gifts as a sign of gratitude for the support and financial commitment that comes with their roles. It has become equally customary for wary women who are invited to serve as bridesmaids to first ask after the amount of time, energy, and money that the bride intends before accepting this position.