Photo: Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Neal Peters Collection
Welcome to 2015, the year where it's finally so not weird to have your best guy friend, brother or business partner stand by your side on your big day. But how do you include a dude in your bridal party without making him feel like "one of the girls"? After all, he might be a little uncomfortable with all the traditional duties of a bridesmaid or maid of honor.
As wedding planner Sandy Malone of Weddings in Vieques points out, a "bridesman" (often referred to as one of the bride's attendants), isn't in charge of helping with getting the bride beautiful. "In fact, he's usually not very welcome in a room full of half-dressed women the day-of and doesn't want to be there anyway," she notes. "It's much better to assign him reasonable tasks that still make your day run more smoothly without creating an awkward factor for anyone." Um, we concur!
Let him help plan a more guy-friendly shower
A lingerie shower could get kind of creepy for your bro or best guy friend to plan so instead suggest that he help plan a "Stock the Bar" shower for you and provide some insight on ways to make it more fun, especially if it's a couple's event anyway, advises wedding planner Tracie Domino, founder of Tracie Domino Events.
Take advantage of his handyman skills
So maybe he's not the greatest at girly DIY crafts, but if he's handy and the bride needs something built for her big day, he could be just the man for the job, offers Domino.
Have him grab lunch for the girls
While the ladies primp, a man standing up for the bride can be in charge of doing the lunch pickup for the whole bridal party and join you for lunch and laughs too, says Malone. He can also be your de facto bartender and general go-to guy for the day. Have an emergency or simply forgot something? "He can be the one to make any store runs that pop up and put out any little fires that would require leaving the bridal suite," she adds.
See More: For the Groom: How to Choose Your Best Man
Don't dress him like a bridesmaid
If the groomsmen are all rocking blue or green, Malone recommends having him match them. She explains, "You'll want him in some wedding party photos with just the guys too so making him be the one that sticks out is uncomfortable, unless you've got multiple men in the bridal party."
Tell him to be the supportive friend he's always been
According to event designer Ricardo Luna of Luna Gardens Events, a brideman's biggest job throughout the entire wedding is simply being a gentleman and asking, "How can I help?." "Whether it's choosing vendors or lending a listening ear, being a supportive friend is the best way to be there for the bride."