My niece, British born Emma Russell, who now lives in Los Angeles, was recently a bridesmaid or maid or honour, both in the Uk and the USA. Here she is at her friend Mandy’s wedding (you can tell this is the USA because of the amount of bridesmaids the bride had!). She is fourth from the left.

Emma (fourth from the left) was one of many bridesmaids at her friend Mandy’s beautiful wedding.

A recent email was leaked from a bride dictating that her bridesmaids have to be ‘on call’ for around seven months. If they want to take holiday between these dates, it has to be cleared with her first! Although this behaviour is more than a little extreme, I thought it would be worthwhile doing my own do’s and don’ts when it comes to bridesmaids.

1. Do ask the opinion of your bridesmaids when it comes to what you want them to wear but…

2. Don’t ask them to find their own dresses without you seeing them. They might have impeccable taste, but their dresses have to complement the colour scheme of your wedding.

3. Do assign them with specific tasks like organising your hen night.

4. Don’t feel pressurised into having bridesmaids who your family want you to have. It is your wedding after all.

5. Do ask your best friend and chief bridesmaid/maid of honour to accompany you when going wedding dress shopping. Not only will you hopefully have fun, but they will give you an honest opinion on the dresses that suit you.

6. Don’t choose white or cream as the predominant colour for your bridesmaids’ dresses. Yes, I know Pippa Middleton wore white on her sister’s big day, but I think all eyes should be on YOU, and not your bridesmaids.