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3 Weddings in 3 Weeks - How I Survived
Nothing screams "30s approaching" like my camera roll right now. Wedding season is well and truly in full swing!
Energy levels low, bank balance even lower. Nobody warns you about that bit. The truth is, three weddings in three weeks is a financial event in itself, and my 2026 calendar was ringfenced long before the year began. It meant budgeting from the first sight of each engagement ring, though in all honesty, Klarna and a 0% interest credit card became my closest companions (not recommended). A special shout out to all the girlies who came to our National Wedding Show events too, making every one of those extracurricular dates more than worthwhile.
The past month has been so exciting, albeit slightly exhausting, as I got to watch my long-distance bestie, a childhood friend, and my brother and now sister-in-law all get married.
As Campaign Manager, I'm no stranger to stain remover wipes, safety pins and meticulous makeup briefs, but there's a different kind of magic (and a whole new level of commitment) in taking those practices into the "real thing." One destination wedding and two slightly more local affairs, each full of thoughtfully designed details, unforgettable celebrations and beautiful memories. What I found most inspiring was how each couple made the day completely theirs, their personalities written into every last detail.
Being both a bridesmaid and a wedding guest, I got to experience every side of the big day, picking up a few survival tips along the way and falling for the little touches that made each celebration so unique to the happy couple.
After the first wedding, my four-year-old niece asked me, "what do bridesmaids do?" and I wasn't quite sure how to answer. So, in my post-wedding-season reflection, here's what I did, what I wore, and how I (just about) survived.
Having the honour of being bridesmaid for my best friend, Meg, was an incredible and surreal experience. As the first of our friends to get married, it was emotional and overwhelming in all the best ways.
To celebrate Meg marrying her high school sweetheart, I decidedly took on the role of MOH. Meg had made us all bridesmaids to relieve any unnecessary pressure, but in truth, I'm just type A af, so I took the whole wedding weekend, and my responsibilities, very seriously. And there was plenty to take seriously: Meg now lives in Australia, and had planned the wedding from the other side of the world, flying back for a whirlwind fortnight of henning, bridal showering and actually marrying!
Meg coming in from Australia changed the stakes: less time together meant an even stricter schedule and a scarily close 'hen to wedding' timeline. Meanwhile, the bittersweetness of your first friend marrying and living a world away was something I hadn't really considered.
From the lead-up of hen planning to helping with last-minute requests from the bride, I approached this event READY for my role. It all started months prior, with the hen: an epic weekend in Menorca with a bunch of old school friends and others of Meg's nearest and dearest, who I can now confidently call my besties too. To get ahead and keep costs down, I forward-planned, lived in Canva and got crafty. Turns out the handmade decorations and itineraries went down a treat.
For the wedding itself, at the charming Welsh manor Garthmyl Hall, Meg opted for pale blue in our Signature Sculpt fabric, and the day was beautiful beyond words. I chose our Arielle halterneck style, which went perfectly with the other bridesmaids in Lorna and Willa. The exact colour match created a seamless consistency, making us Meg's "something blue," while the ruching across each style flattered every body type and filled us with confidence. Best believe we were comfortable as can be in that soft stretch fabric too, as our shapes on the dance floor can confirm.
From there, my key duties read like a list only a bridesmaid would understand: spending months persuading Meg (now a fully fledged Bondi beach babe) that the weather is both unimportant and entirely uncontrollable; transporting the cake to the venue, stored low in the footwell with the A/C cranked high; planting that all-important sausage; and keeping cool when grey skies wouldn't let up (top tip: mimosas). I had the honour of helping Meg step into her dress, shocked expression at the ready for the first-look photos, and played BTS photographer on my point-and-shoot, narrowly avoiding getting under the actual photographer's feet while capturing the "inners" of the day (another one for the film fanatics: Kodak Gold for a gorgeous warm, vintage-y effect). But our favourite part, one we've laughed about since, was getting her into her second look: I leaned on my old lingerie-shop days and meticulously laced her into her corset, while the bridesmaids, Meg's mum and her brand-new husband stole a quick breather from the dance floor.
That's the thing about being bridesmaid for someone you grew up with. The same friend I once laced into a deeply questionable fancy-dress outfit before a house party, who stood beside me in school shows (drama kids, obviously), was now getting married. The mixed wildflower bouquets, the smatterings of stems tying the tablescapes together, the simple but effective two-tier cake by Bibi's Bakes (scattered with pearl detailing, very much giving our Mae and Anya dresses), all of it built towards the moment we’d been waiting for: dancing the day and night away in the venue's "secret underground club." By then I'd appointed myself in charge of morale, rounding everyone up for Fireball shots to toast the newlyweds and onto the dance floor. Not a hard sell, with Pitbull on the soundtrack. 
I was lucky enough to be invited to a dear childhood friend's special day, and honestly, being a guest is a whole different experience. Not being in the party was equal parts freeing and frustrating for a type-A, wedding-obsessed girly like me. Old habits die hard: I still felt the pull to be on hand for any dress emergency (turns out you can take the girl out of the bridal party, but not the safety pins out of her clutch), and I still appointed myself a mainstay on the dance floor, in spite of the overwhelming heat. But this time it was a choice, not a duty, and there's a real freedom in that.
Because for once, I got to just be there. No 6am alarm, no nerves about tripping down the aisle, no praying my hair and makeup would survive the day. I could soak it all in. The bride is a friend I've had since we were three years old, from dancing classes to riding her horses (a farm family through and through), so watching her marry felt less like attending a wedding and more like watching a whole life come full circle.
Of course, it wasn’t all ease. It was also the hardest to settle into. Straight off Meg's, where I knew every face, I suddenly knew far fewer, some old schoolmates I hadn't spoken to in ten years, and I spent the day torn between my itch to be useful and keeping my plus one (hi Mum) company. The lesson? Choose your plus one carefully.
Off duty for once, I finally had the headspace to notice the details I'd normally be too busy fixing to see. In a style so true to the happy couple, the setting was a beautiful barn nestled in rolling hills, and lucky for them, it landed right at the peak of that one week of summer we actually got. Framed photos of the high school sweethearts, from their earliest days as a couple right through to their latest travels, were such a simple but lovely touch, while a highland cow mooed happily in the field nearby, very apt for two countryside lovers.
The one responsibility I couldn't escape? Dressing myself. Being a guest is somehow so much more pressure, who knew?! On the hottest day of the year, my main objective was to stay cool while still adhering to the dress code, and as the bride had also chosen powder blue for her bridesmaids, that shade was off limits. So I went for a lightweight maxi dress in a summery print (I know, "florals, for spring? Groundbreaking."). I actually wore a Six Stories sample that never quite made it to production, one of the many perks of the job. Floaty, floral and feminine, and the perfect weight for a hot day, it's also a prime example of why I think we should make more occasion wear for guests, so PLEASE get in touch if you agree! I finished the look with my favourite accessories: my trusty tortoiseshell sunglasses and a leather maxi clutch, roomy enough for my hairbrush and styling kit… just in case.
My mum came as my plus one, fitting, given she's known the bride almost as long as I have. Between us we gifted the couple an ornamental diffuser and a handwritten card of well wishes, plus a beaded 'honeymooning' tee for their travels, because of course I couldn't resist sending them off in style.
A family wedding is another kind of magic. I'm not sure what was most special: the fact it was my brother, and he has (somehow) bagged an absolute BOMBSHELL. A destination wedding and a stunning sunlit ceremony. Being a bridesmaid for my (now officially) sister-in-law. The whole family together, everyone on absolute top form and so ready for a boogie. Or the fact I got to wear my favourite lemon yellow satin bridesmaid dress! Either way, being bridesmaid for the woman marrying your brother hits a little different.
Tom and Romaana planned an unforgettable day at a Turkish retreat, surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking mountain views as far as the eye could see. Being a destination do, I viewed the whole thing as a much-needed family holiday (handy, given I had precisely zero annual leave left). We were lucky to stay in a heavily subsidised villa, and I booked flights well in advance, tracking price changes to land the best deal.
The night before, the Bridesmaids gathered at the villa to sit down to dinner together: Turkish kebabs and plenty of tzatziki, which called for a very thorough toothbrush-and-mouthwash session before the big day. Then a late-night run-through of the ceremony against the aisle music, no easy feat with a gaggle of giggly girls and two toddlers way past their bedtime. (My niece, the cutest thing to ever exist, then slept through most of the actual day, so consider this my PSA to anyone with little ones: do not forget the pram.) I'd also appointed myself in charge of steaming, which pushed way past my bedtime, my inner Campaign Manager refusing to allow a single crease, however much my sister teased me for it.
Romaana spent the morning keeping cool and comfortable yet effortlessly chic in a lace camisole and our chiffon-sleeved maxi robe, allowing for some seriously stunning getting-ready pics. Meanwhile, I spent mine in a face mask, which led to one of my biggest learnings: take off the face mask. Like, as soon as you see the camera. 
Tom and Rom are both so unbelievably laid-back (I simply could never), and between a 5pm ceremony and a genuinely relaxed bride (no mean feat with 11 bridesmaids), the day unfolded without a rigid schedule. The serene setting complemented an emotional, intimate ceremony, one that had me clutching my "happy tears" tissue as the vows were read. We're not the most expressive family at the best of times, so hearing my brother put his love into words, and watching him step into life as a husband and dad to their dreamy little family, got me far more than I'd bargained for. Even the villa owner’s cat came for the occasion, stretching out across the aisle to steal the show before prowling off right on cue for the bride's entrance.
Being family as well as bridesmaid came with its own logistics: making sure to speak to everyone - especially the family members not seen for at least 5 years, keeping my mum calm in the moments it hit her that her "little boy" was all grown up, and the small matter of me trying to play photographer (again). With just 36 shots on my film camera, a bride with an enormous family and the aforementioned scene-stealing niece, capturing everyone - plus the aesthetic shots - was far harder than it sounds.
Then came the celebrations. After a delectable wedding breakfast (shout out to the stain remover wipes again, saving my dad from a serious beetroot houmous blunder), I danced until my flip flops fell apart. No, literally, thanks Havaianas. A personal favourite touch was the personalised tambourines, perfect for this party-ready guestlist who love to make some noise.
The bridesmaids chose their own dresses for a mix-and-match scheme, letting each girl show her personality while staying in complete comfort. Bouquets of white calla lilies and green anthuriums tied into the bridal party's tonal greens and yellows, a palette achieved with satins, Signature Sculpt and even saris. Thoughtful nods to the bride's Pakistani heritage ran through the day, honouring her roots in the loveliest way. Her second look stopped me in my tracks: a deep red two-piece rich with gold embroidery, a softly draped dupatta and a delicate gold headpiece framing her face. I tried to honour the day in my own small way too, choosing our Eliza bandeau dress styled with a dupatta-inspired scarf. She also kindly gifted us each a necklace with our names in Arabic, which I loved peeping out beneath the neck scarf.
Gift-wise (hoping they don’t read this far): ok, so I’m a little late on the gift front, my budgeting skills could only go so far. But, the couple have recently renovated their forever home - yes, they simultaneously planned a wedding, raised a toddler, and have been renovating their house. Of course I snapped many a film piccy, so I plan on jumping onto Etsy to find someone to create a lovely print of my favourite photo of the two - perfect for their gallery wall (they’re a cool couple - not that I’d ever tell my brother this!). I will also be picking up one of our brand new ‘Just married’ sweats for Romaana, because it is so her, and the quality is 10/10.
A few hard-won truths
Get the girl a DRINK
Wait on the brides like they're the Queen of Sheba. Those girlies wear a weighty dress and train all day, and share their deepest feelings in front of everyone they love, in all weathers. They will be grateful for a sip of water, even if their adrenaline has let them forget!
More is more (the brief)
When it comes to hair and makeup, the more detail the better. Bring Pinterest references, or photos of looks you've loved on yourself, and get specific. Eyeshadow shades, skin tone preferences, coverage levels: consider them all and share them with specificity to save yourself time and concern.
The same goes for photos
MORE IS MORE! Unless you're told otherwise, I'd resist whipping your phone out during the ceremony; the photographer is there for exactly that and is nowhere near as invested in the couple's story as you are. Every other moment, though? Go wild. That 500-file shared folder might look overwhelming at first, but I've had so much joy combing back through it since, not to mention the group chats popping off as everyone gets their turn.
Set a makeup schedule
Sort it beforehand so everyone knows where to be and when. Going last can be a blessing for a longer-lasting look, but it caused a little panic the time I was one of 11 bridesmaids and the Zoom tripod still needed setting up.
Scissors
Okay, perhaps not my finest recommendation, given mine got confiscated at security on the way home from the destination wedding. But for loose threads, stubborn tags and last-minute ribbon, nothing beats them on the day.
Three weddings, three very different days, and the same lesson every time: the magic is in the people, not the production.