Maid of Dishonour

So the big day has finally arrived. Saturday is the day when one of my oldest and closest friends is tying the knot. Its been a whirlwind romance, 2 months after they met they moved in together, four months after that they decided to quit their lives in London for new adventures abroad in India and Thailand and after a trying their hands out in yoga, travel writing and photography came back home. All in all its been about 18 months since they day they met til the day of their wedding. For many looking on this may seem too quick perhaps - but for them, it is just right. While they were away I had an email asking me to be Maid of Honour, "why yes of course," I said. And whilst overjoyed for the happy couple didn't quite compute what it was they were asking of me. Sure, I'll be there on the day to help carry your train, stay with you the night before, organise your hen....the Maid of Honour doesnt need to make any speeches ( pheeeeeeew) -no pressure, easy!

In the last few weeks however I realised that a MoH is so much more. On a practical level I had no idea how much went on behind the scenes to organise a wedding, working in event management wasnt really a bonus as this was all so alien to me - the colours of the sashes on the chairs, table names to reflect something important to thhe bride and groom, party favours....the list went on and on. Yes I did the usual MoH duties - a night out in London for the Hen, buying the garter and something blue for the bride, liaising with the Best Man about the running of the day, dress fittings, shoe fittings, hair and make up....these were the norm.

But actually, being the MoH is so much more. What is supposed to be the most important day for the  Bride was rapidly becoming one of the most important days for me too. When she was stressed I was supposed to be there to take it away, when she was sad I had to cheer her up and tell her everything was going to be ok, having a fat day required reaassurance that she was going to be the most beautiful bride ever. Not to say any of this is easy, it wasnt and we had a few fallings out along the way. The boyfriend who is ever so wise, reminded me that weddings are essentially selfish things - in an unintentional way of course - and told me that I would be exactly the same, if not worse because on ones wedding day you want everything to be PERFECT.  And I get that. I want everything to be perfect every day, so god knows what I would be like on my wedding day.

More than anything being her MoH has been indeed, as the name suggests - an Honour and I am so proud to walk behind her down the aisle and be there for her on this her most special day. For the rest of our lives when we look at photos from the wedding, there I will be next to her, on the day of the wedding I will be introduced as her MoH. I hope I do her proud - just as I am so proud to have been asked. So if anyone asks you to be MoH just to let you know it is not light work, emotionally and physically ( if writing name places is seen as serious physical exertion) but it is without doubt one of the most rewarding, priveledged and complimentary positions of responsibility I have truly ever had.

So if you are reading this, Thank you for asking me, it was an absolute pleasure . Love you. xxx