MaidofHonor.com

About MaidofHonor.com!

Several years ago, I was in two big weddings in Chicago within one year (while living in Denver), and I couldn’t find a good resource on how to be a great Maid of Honor. I thought I’d write a book, and I bought this domain name to support the book idea. Later I realized I no longer turn first to books when I need information. I go online, and I’m betting you do, too.

I learned a LOT from those Chicago weddings. Rebecca’s sister was her Maid of Honor because her Mother insisted, even though her sister is notoriously unreliable. Rebecca had to pick up her own cake and drive herself while her sister missed most of the wedding shower … for a tanning appointment. This girl is the proverbial train wreck. My role was to be bride’s shoulder to cry on, make up for what her sister didn’t do the day of the wedding, and sort out the damage later on. Even my Mom helped out! (My Mom is awesome that way ☺)

As Emilie’s Maid of Honor, I participated in dress shopping via emailed digital photos. I flew in early for dress shopping and later for the perfect bridal shower. I created handmade shower invitations with a Chicago RSVP, supported by a fabulous bridesmaid who did a lot of the work locally. The Best Man and I, who had met in college, reconnected during the wedding planning and have now been a couple for five years. You never know what good can come of being a dedicated Maid of Honor!

If you haven’t been a Maid of Honor or bridesmaid before, you may not know what’s expected of you. That’s why we’re here with ideas, suggestions, ways to save money, and ways to not get overwhelmed. Hopefully we can provide some of those things for you, because most of the bridal industry really isn’t interested in you. Since they make money on selling things to the bride, all of the focus is on her – as it should be, since it’s her wedding!

However, the industry can be almost hostile to bridesmaids. A bridal industry journal recently suggested that salespersons should ignore disgruntled bridesmaids, so that if you dare to disagree with the bride, the salesperson will be the one on her side. Bridesmaids are described in the article as “an accessory.” Another article suggested being respectful to you just because you may come back to shop for your own wedding gown some day. In a magazine that discusses brides as financial targets, you’re considered to be in the way. Makes sense, since you have her best interest at heart, and they want her money!

You deserve better than that. You’re a dedicated, loving friend, or you wouldn’t be the Maid of Honor. You want to be resourceful, fun and sophisticated in your role, and help make the bride’s big day everything she’s dreamed of. We hope to make your job easier and fun, and we're not trying to sell you dresses like many of the other sites geared toward the bridal party. We know the final decision is the bride’s anyway. You’ll accept her decision and move on, because you love her or you wouldn’t be her Maid of Honor. We do offer a few other things for sale, things you need and/or want, to save you the trouble of sorting through the monstrously huge collections aimed at the bride’s money. (Planning her wedding will take over her life. It shouldn’t take over yours.)

When things don’t go well, YOU will be there for her. When things go perfectly, she’ll be beaming, and you’ll know you helped make it happen. It’s what a good Maid of Honor does. You’ll throw a wonderful shower, a fabulous bachelorette, and be the one to save the day as needed. Be dedicated, flexible and patient. Understand that she may need to vent to you because others are not so sympathetic. And let us know how it goes, because we’re here for you, as you’re there for her.

So with assistance and advice from many friends, and inspired by some wonderful brides and one particularly lousy Maid of Honor, we are pleased to present www.MaidofHonor.com, Her Wedding, Your Website.

With Love - Sheila

Sheila thanks the following for their various help with MaidofHonor.com:

Allison Beilke, designer of Gigi http://www.allisonbeilke.com/

Vici for photo day hair-do’s http://www.vicicapilli.com/

ICC and Botanical Gardens for photo shoot sites www.italianconference.com and http://www.county.milwaukee.gov

Dawn, Tracey, Jen & Britt, photo session models www.shahalaw.com (Dawn’s site)

A Perspective Photography, for photo session

Corporate Identity Solutions for web development (link)

Dana for editing beyond the call of duty www.barefoot-marketing.com

Rebecca and Emilie, for ideas and inspiration

Rick Ruggles, for advice on developing online business www.rickruggles.com

Tom Isdera, for more advice and the comfort of a backup plan www.bachelorette.com