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Photography By Hannah Whitaker
She doesnt want to wear sage-green chiffon.
She doesnt want to look down and see 349 unread WhatsApp messages.
She doesnt want to be told low buns are great but ponytails are a no.
She doesnt want to drink Pinot Grigio out of penis straws.
She doesnt want to settle up on Splitwise.
She doesnt want to risk damaging an important friendship over something as ridiculous as this.
And let the record show we wholeheartedly agree with her.
As do youadmit it.
We could blame Instagram or TikTok or influencers.
We could blame the pandemic.
We could blame prosaic boomers or entitled millennials.
But in truth, it doesnt really matter.
Being a bridesmaid can be joyful.
It can also be the unpaid internship of friendship.
The hard costs of being a bridesmaid are difficult to quantify.
Factor in inflation, and thats closer to $1,500 to $2,300 today.
And should she forget this for even a second, she will be swiftly reminded.
Saying its an honor to be a cog in the wedding industrial complex merely adds insult to injury.
Still, we do it.
But until that happens, its on us to speak up before the demands get out of hand.
Gift after gift after gift!
The financial demands that come with being a present-day bridesmaid have veered from suboptimal to full-on psychotic.
It’s time for engaged women to reframe their expectations, but also for bridesmaids to start speaking up.
Women are burned out,and being a bridesmaid isnt helping.
Lets make being a bridesmaid greator at least tolerableonce and for all.
