Photo: Getty Images
Being part of a friend’s wedding party is a lot of work, but so is being the one wrangling the bridesmaids and groomsmen! Whether it’s taking their time ordering their bridesmaid dress or groomsman tux or (gasp!) not RSVPing on time, it can be pretty frustrating when the ones standing by your side on your wedding day are the ones giving you the hardest time. So how should you handle the non-responsive members of your wedding party? Here are some tips from our experts.
Before you jump to conclusions and decide to fire someone, get in touch with the bridesmaid or groomsman in question and let them know that you really need them to be more responsive. With your wedding date fast approaching, you have every right to say you need a quicker response time and their help getting things checked off your to-do list.
Now is also the time to enlist your maid of honor and best man for help. The best way to avoid being a bride- or groom-zilla is to let someone else be the one sending out all the emails and making all the phone calls! Ask them to do the follow-up, and encourage them to stress how helpful it will be to you, the bride, if some of these details get taken care of ASAP. No one wants to cause a bride undue stress, so some encouragement could be just what they need.
If it’s really getting out of hand, consider a friendly ultimatum. Remind them why you asked them to be a part of your wedding day, and let them know how much their involvement means to you, but emphasize the work and time you’ve put into the celebration. Sure, a groomsman in the wrong color tie won’t ruin your wedding day, but after all of your effort to this point, a little extra effort on their part is well-deserved. And of course, if it seems that they won’t be able to handle the duties after all, offer them an out, and ask them if they’d rather attend as just a guest.
See more: The 49 Mistakes Bridesmaids Always Make