There are handfuls of old school wedding traditions that modern day brides are eager to kick to the curb, whether it’s waiting until the ceremony to see their partner for the first time or wearing a veil and covering up their gorgeously airbrushed and naturally glowing face until right before they say I Do. But one tradition that brides are still hugging onto very tightly is having bridesmaids.

 

Brides lean on their bridesmaids to help them get through the wedding planning stress, turn to them to help get the party started, and count on them to be the first ones taking baby steps down the aisle on the wedding day.

 

On the flip side of things, being a bridesmaid is infamous for being a role that’s draining on one’s wallet, one’s free time, and one’s carefully moderated stress levels.

 

When most people think of the word bridesmaid, they think of having to wear an ugly polyester dress, or spending a couple hundred dollars on a weekend bachelorette party where after all is said, seen, and done, they’ll swear off drinking anything, ever again, that comes in a shot glass.

 

But just like the old school wedding traditions that brides are saying a big NO to, bridesmaids are putting an end to the ancient rules of the past and instead, doing tings their way, in their style, on their dime.

 

Here are ten ways bridesmaids are breaking the rules and why it’s an utterly awesome and much needed way for them to shake up a role that’s been around for centuries.

 

 

 

1. They are buying their own dresses

Bridesmaids aren’t showing up at weddings looking like bridesmaids anymore. They are wearing dresses that they can actually wear again, on a date, to a party, or even at a future wedding. That’s because they are skipping the bridal stores to browse for dresses and instead going to stores that they buy their everyday wardrobe at to snag a bridesmaid dress.

 

2. They’re Wearing Mismatched Looks

The trend of having bridesmaids wearing the exact same color and style dress to the wedding is becoming something, thankfully, of the past. Instead, bridesmaids are empowered to shop around for a dress that flatters their body type and a style that makes them feel like themselves and not like they are playing dress up at a Broadway musical or a 90’s themed prom.

 

3. They’re Adding on Accessories

Move over gold and silver necklaces and earrings, bridesmaids are adding on a pop color with their accessorizes, giving a beating pulse to a pastel or black colored dress. Whether it’s a bold statement necklace, a bracelet with different colored stones, or a pair of waterfall earrings that match the colors of the wedding, bridesmaids are upping their look and turning heads even more as they saunter down the aisle.

 

4. They’re Going Cool & Comfy With the Shoes

Most rookie bridesmaids will make the mistake of wearing chunky high-heels that make their feet go numb or ache with blisters by the end of the ceremony. So instead of the fancy pumps, bridesmaids are opting-in for lower heels, flats, or even a fun pair of casual sneakers. This way, by the time the band starts cranking out the tunes, their feet are still in the mood to spend the night breaking it down on the dance floor.

 

5. They’re Taking Their Hair Down

The days of pinned back wedding updo’s are over! Bridesmaids are opting for simpler hairstyles that let them add decorative hairpins or clips to their wedding day look. Whether it’s loose curls or a half up, half down look, bridesmaid hair styles are more casual and less bee-hive looking.

 

6. They’re Bringing the Wedding Together With Technology

Whether it’s helping the bride create a hashtag for her wedding, setting up a picture sharing app, or even live-streaming the ceremony on their cell-phone for out of town wedding guests who couldn’t make the trip, bridesmaid’s are now helping the wedding couple make their wedding more of a public and online shared event that will live on forever.

7. They’re Clutching Onto Something Unique

To give the bridesmaid dress and overall bridal party style a more individual and personal look, bridesmaids are pairing their gowns with a clutch or handbag that’s bold, bright, and has a hint of their own personality. Since their bag isn’t something that is seen in pictures, they can get creative with the bag they pick and hold on to it during cocktail hour and throughout the reception.

 

8. They’re Getting Nontraditional With Gifts

While wedding registries are helpful for guests to know what exactly they should purchase the couple for their big day, bridesmaids are going offline and doing DIY gifts with a stronger meaning, or buying something a little more personal for the couple, that you can’t find from at a traditional home store. Plus, instead of splitting their cash amongst multiple gifts throughout the wedding adventure, bridesmaids are pooling together their money and splurging on just one gift, given on the wedding day.

 

9. They’re Being Wise With Their Dimes

Being a bridesmaid can be a whole lot of fun but can it can also be a whole lot of money. There are expenses that pop up along the way that can start to break your bank. Whether it’s buying the bridesmaid dress, booking travel to the wedding, or purchasing gifts for the bride along the way. Bridesmaids are now setting a budget, early on, and sticking to it, making it affordable to say YES to a role of a lifetime.

10. They’re Saying No More Than Yes

Being an agreeable bridesmaid is a better route than being an argumentative bridesmaid, fighting and flipping out about every decision the bride or the maid-of-honor makes. But if during the wedding adventure, there are things the bridesmaid can’t afford (the dress, the bachelorette party debauchery, the gift for the bridal party) they are saying no and asking for compromise so that their savings account doesn’t go extinct.

 

11. They’re Doing a Mid-Wedding Outfit Change

Brides aren’t the only ones changing into a second dress at their wedding anymore. Bridesmaids will often bring a second, more flattering, fun, and easy-to-dance in dress with them for the final few hours of the reception and to carry them through the after party. Ditching the polyester early for their favorite party dress is one way to end their bridesmaid role on a high note.