A bride is a woman who is about to marry. She may be accompanied by her bridesmaids or her maid of honour. In Western cultures, she wears a white wedding dress, which originated from the custom of throwing grains of wheat (e.g., ears of corn, wheat berries) over the bride to celebrate her forthcoming marriage. The word bride has roots in Old English and Germanic languages. In the early days of Christianity, the bride was often adorned with herbs and flowers to symbolize fertility. Today, the term is used mainly in formal contexts, such as in wedding ceremonies and receptions.
As she prepares for the big day, the bride needs to know that her loved ones are behind her and supporting her. Give her the encouragement she deserves by sharing your favourite qualities about her – if you have an anecdote or special memory that sticks out, make sure to include it! You could also offer some marriage advice or a warm wish for her and her future husband.
The bride’s internal beauty, infused with her daily “yes” to her feminine vocation, is her most stunning quality. She is the embodiment of God’s finest creation put on this earth as a gift for you. On her wedding day, and every other day, remember to take the time to truly see her.
If you’re the maid or best man of honour, it’s your job to help the bride feel confident and supported on her wedding day. A few small things you can do to show her just how much she means to you can go a long way: send over some extra snacks for her dressing room (we love this idea from Something Borrowed Blooms), or ask the DJ to play one of her favourite songs as she’s getting ready. Also, be sure to let her know she’s on your “bride physical well-being” duty – check that she has eaten, had enough water, sat down, doesn’t have blisters, and so on! You might even want to include a list of emergency items, like painkillers, tampons, back-up flat shoes, etc.