The Bridesmaids

"An entertaining beach read... [and] a nice way to provide your besties with reading material for the bachelorette weekend."—Lauren Conrad WHAT DO A FORMER FASHION MODEL, AN EX-NUN, AND A FRAT BOY HAVE IN COMMON? VIRTUALLY NOTHING, EXCEPT THAT EACH HAS EXPERIENCED A UNIVERSAL RITE OF PASSAGE: BEING A BRIDESMAID. Each year 11 million bridesmaids lead their best friends down the aisle. Most wear matching dresses, and nearly all have a thing or two to say about the bride. In this uproarious oral history, editor and journalist Eimear Lynch offers us an intimate glimpse at the moments the wedding photographer failed to capture. From the accidental bridesmaid who helped sew the bride into her "designer" gown to the tomboy who struggled to carry Princess Diana's twenty-five foot train, The Bridesmaids lifts the veil on the Big Day. Opening with her own experiences as a five-time 'maid, Eimear gives us stories that are by turns heartfelt, funny, scandalous, and sometimes downright strange. An ode to the good, the bad, the strapless chiffon, and the occasional three-piece suit—and, above all, to the supporting actresses and actors who wore them—The Bridesmaids is a colorful walk down the aisle that you won't want to miss, and the perfect companion for every bridesmaid-to-be.

From the author of Carnegie Hill, comes Jonathan Vatner's The Bridesmaids Union, a captivating novel of family, Facebook groups, and bridesmaids gone rogue. Iris Hagarty has just about had it with weddings. After witnessing one too many meltdowns over flower arrangements, she takes to the internet to vent about the trials and tribulations of being a bridesmaid to demanding and ungrateful brides. She finds she is not alone, and soon becomes the moderator of a Facebook group full of other bridesmaids, eager to share their own horror stories. Enter Iris’s sister Jasmine, the golden child and their parents’ obvious favorite, newly engaged and wanting none other than Iris to be her maid of honor. Knowing full well that Jasmine doesn’t need a wedding to bring out her spoiled side, Iris buckles in for a bumpy ride. At least now she has an outlet—one full of new online friends hungry for juicy details. But as the Bridesmaids Union grows, Iris finds it harder to keep under control. And she even has some doubts about whether there will be a wedding after all. While Jasmine’s fiancé, David, seems smitten with his bride-to-be, Iris is less sure about her social-climber sister’s intentions. Though that could just be because Iris is having trouble keeping her own eyes off of the groom. Brimming with family drama, and set in the ever-encroaching world of Instagram DM's and Facebook flame wars, The Bridesmaids Union shows the power and limits of alliances we form on social media, and how to make the most of the ones we’re born into.

A daughter’s moving search to understand her mother, Carolyn Scott—once a bridesmaid to Princess Grace and one of the first Ford models—who later in life spent years living in a homeless shelter. Nyna Giles was picking up groceries at the supermarket one day when she looked down and saw the headline on the cover of a tabloid: “Former Bridesmaid of Princess Grace Lives in Homeless Shelter.” Nyna was stunned, shocked to see her family’s private ordeal made so public—the woman mentioned on that cover, Carolyn Scott Reybold, was her mother. Nyna’s childhood had been spent in doctor’s offices. Too ill, she was told, to go to school like other children, she spent nearly every waking moment at her mother’s side at their isolated Long Island estate or on trips into the city to see the ballet. The doctors couldn’t tell her what was wrong, but as Nyna grew up, her mother, who’d always seemed fragile, became more and more distant. Now Nyna was forced to confront an agonizing realization: she barely knew the woman on the magazine in front of her. She knew that her mother had been a model after arriving in New York in 1947, living at the Barbizon Hotel, where she’d met the young Grace Kelly and that the two had become fast friends. Nyna had seen the photos of Carolyn at Grace’s wedding, wearing the yellow bridesmaid gown that had hung in her closet for years. But how had the seemingly confident, glamorous woman in those pictures become the mother she knew growing up—the mother who was now living in a shelter? In this powerful memoir of friendship and motherhood, Nyna Giles uncovers her mother’s past to answer the questions she never knew to ask.

The perfect gift for little bridesmaids on their special day. Each two colour page is gorgeously designed to capture the magic of the wedding; from romantic-themed puzzles and games, including a bride and groom spot the difference, to a quiz to find out the name of your true love, how to make confetti and much, much more. Complete with things to do in the countdown to the wedding and activities to keep them entertained on the day itself, this beautiful book will become a treasured memento.

Will you be my bridesmaid? It’s flattering, isn’t it? A romantic celebration, and you’ll be playing a supporting role. But what if being a bridesmaid means committing to a year of party planning and splurging on an unflattering dress you’ll wear at the wedding--and never again? How does a friendship survive strained budgets, bridal duties, and toilet paper games? Bridesmaid veterans Sarah Stein and Lucy Talbot are here with a manual that will prepare you for one of the greatest tests of female friendship. From dress shopping (for hers and yours) to budgeting for and planning the out-of-town bachelorette weekend (it’s her only request!) to delicately declining other bridesmaids’ bad ideas, you’ll learn how to accomplish all your duties without an ounce of bitterness and with total grace. With the advice, tips, timetables, and lists provided here, you’ll confidently slip into your new role and look forward to creating amazing memories of this exciting time in both of your lives.

After years of watching couples come to blows over ice sculptures, Abby wants no part of the family business. She’d rather spend weekends kicking a soccer ball or antagonizing Noah, the cute son of a famous pastry chef–not doing the Electric Slide. Then Abby’s barely legal sister, Carol, does the unthinkable–she announces she’s getting married and wants Abby to be her maid of honor. Clearly, Carol has lost her mind! Will Abby soon lose hers? So what if Carol turns into Bridezilla? So what if the dresses are hideous? So what if the invitations get messed up? So what if Noah looks extra hot with frosting in his hair? Abby can handle it. After all, it’s just one day. Right?

Being asked to be a bridesmaid is a great compliment from one woman to another. But it’s also an invitation to become her unpaid fashion consultant, party planner, backstage dresser, and emergency psychotherapist. The Bridesmaid’s Handbook helps take some of the stress out of these responsibilities, and makes sure the entire experience, from the shower to the ceremony itself, is joyful for bride and bridesmaids alike. Filled with checklists, money-saving tips, and strategies for success (such as “Focus on your friendship” and “Have a sense of humor”) the book offers ideas for sensational showers (consider wine-tastings and spa treatments) and even gives the bridesmaids a game plan for getting dresses they’ll actually like!

Being a fabulous bridesmaid these days calls for much more than dyeing your heels to match your dress, especially now that the Internet is the bride's best friend. Fortunately, this all-new edition from bridesmaid expert Kate Chynoweth shares how to be the very best bridesmaid possible. Learn how to host the loveliest bridal shower, throw an unforgettable bachelorette party, use social networking, and support the bride on her big day. Fully updated and with templates for invitations, party games, and more, this illustrated and informative guide is the perfect resource.