28 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® WEDDING GUIDE 2025-2026 BRIDESMAIDS + GROOMSMEN Scour the internet and you’ll find plenty of horror stories from those who have had the honor of being a bridesmaid or groomsman. Some are so absurd that there is no way they could be made up. There is the story of the bachelor party from the day before the wedding, where the groom drank more than a little too much and passed out on the couch, having what could be considered more than just a little accident in his pants. The groomsmen, i.e. the absolute heroes of this story, cleaned him up. There is the bride who invited her bridesmaids over for a party at a medical spa, only so she could request them to get Botox to “make sure we looked our best for her wedding,” one of the bridesmaids recalled. Yes, being a groomsman (or -maid, or -person) or bridesmaid (or -man, or -person) can be a stressful time. But for the marrying couple, having their best friends by their side can also make it one of the best times of their lives—if they know how to set reasonable expectations. If you’re invited to be a bridesmaid or groomsman, accept. It is an incredible honor to be chosen to play such a major role in one of the most important decisions of someone’s life. With great power comes great responsibility, as the saying goes. If you are the couple, how should you yield that power? If you are choSuper Standbys The bridesmaids and groomsmen are here to make the special day run as smoothly as possible. By Erik Chalhoub RYAN CHARD SMITH RYAN CHARD SMITH
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