Dear Wedding Party, You Have One Job

First off, let me just say that I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful men and women at our weddings! I don't know how, but we've managed to find THE BEST Brides and Grooms and wedding parties!

For the rest of you out there who have the honor of being asked to be a bridesmaid or groomsman, I just want to remind you that you have one job.

Yes, you will be asked to look pretty, stand up at the altar next to your friend and sit at the head table with the rest of the party and it's wonderful! You'll also get to celebrate at the bachelorette and the wedding showers and yes, that will be a lot of planning and work, but worth it to make your friend feel special and loved and will truly be so much fun! Enjoy it!

You will also be responsible for helping with all aspects of the wedding leading up to the big day. Seems like a lot of jobs right?

When it comes down to the wedding day, I'm telling you, you have ONE JOB and for the love of all that is good, please don't forget it!

Your job: PROTECT THE BRIDE AND GROOM AT ALL COSTS!

Things will go wrong on the wedding day. It happens, it always happens. Little things, big things, we've seen it all. But all the things that will go wrong, it's for you, as the wedding party to know and handle. When the wedding day ends, your bride and groom should be able to leave feeling like their day went absolutely perfect. They may hear of a couple of little mishaps, but nothing that brought them worry or stress.

If you're hair isn't finished, your nails not done, your shirt not tucked comfortably but you hear of anything out there that may stress your bride or groom, you jump up and intercede before news can get to them. You run around, make the phone calls, run the errand or find someone to do so... but protect them. The flowers are running late, the bar tender doesn't show up, the food is wrong- you send a team running and handle it and improvise. If and only IF the bride and groom must know about the mishaps, then say it with ease no matter how stressed you are about it and let them know people are handling it and if they want to help figure it out that's fine, but let them know you have their back and that it's all going to work out.

Make sure they eat food and drink water. Keep tabs on the time. Listen in on conversations about logistics so that you know who is supposed to be where and when and see to it that it happens. Yes, they want you to be there to share in this special time and look good doing it- but you are also their protectors.

I can not stress this enough. When I was in wedding planning and experienced all different sorts of situations, I can't tell you how many times bridesmaids and groomsmen would run up to the bride or groom in a panic about their dress zipper or the flowers not there, or the ring bearer being sick and so on... and I just could NOT handle it! Even when shooting, we as the photographers now, will intercede if we hear ANYTHING.

These crazy stories will be funny and fun to tell when the bride and groom come back from their honeymoon after all is said and done... please help their day "flawless" by making them feel that it was. Let them know that they are loved, that they are supported. Ask them what they need, how you can help. Be there, be present, calm them, laugh with them and bring joy to every situation no matter how chaotic... all of this come down to your one job: PROTECT YOUR BRIDE AND GROOM!