We're back with another featured post for our Twirl Bride, Miss Mary Stallard, VERY soon to be Mrs. Mary Rouse! This week she's sharing with us about how she went about choosing her bridesmaids. For some, this can be a daunting task so we asked Mary for her advice on it all to try and ease your minds and remind you of the importance of choosing your ladies wisely. Enjoy her little nuggets of wisdom for today's Twirl Bride Tuesdays.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the ross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” HEBREWS 12:1-2
Hi again! It’s me, Mary, Twirl’s featured bride blogger! This month I am talking about my bridesmaids! I couldn’t think of a better subject to talk about because I love my girls! When I think about my wedding day, I get SO excited about sharing my special day with my best gal pals because as much as my wedding day is about me and Daniel, it is also just as much about our friends that will stand next to us not only at the alter of our wedding ceremony, but throughout the rest of our lives.
When I contemplate what a bridal party is and what it represents during the ceremony of a wedding, I think about the verse from Hebrews that I shared at the beginning of this blog. You see, we were not meant to do this life alone. We were made for community to be surrounding us because life is hard and it becomes even harder when we try to isolate ourselves from being known and loved by other people. My bridesmaids and Daniel’s groomsmen serve as our “great cloud of witnesses” so that throughout our marriage we are able to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely” while also allowing us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” Our people help us by keeping us accountable, asking us how we’re doing and simply just doing life with us.
Y’all, I cannot do this life without my friends and I certainly will not be able to do a marriage without them helping me every step of the way. This is what I had in mind when I thought about whom I wanted with me during the process of preparing for marriage. I have a lot of friends but I wanted to make sure that the people that I would spend my most special day with would also be people that in ten years are asking me how my marriage is doing and helping me to be the wife that the Lord has called me to be.
So, with all of that being said I started out with a good idea of who my bridesmaids would be. Not only did I want them to be committed to being lifelong friends but I also wanted my bridesmaids to represent different parts of my life that have all lead up to where I am now. From my best friend of 7 years, to my roomie, to my college best friend and sorority sisters, to my very first best friend and cousin, I absolutely cannot wait to celebrate my wedding and marriage with these girls! They each represent a part of me and a part of life that has gotten me to this point and I think that is what makes them each so special!
To any bride trying to make a decision about who to ask to be their bridesmaids: do not stress over this! First and foremost, your marriage and wedding day goal should be making Christ known and glorified above anything else. Secondly, you can’t ask every friend of yours to be a bridesmaid. This is a truth that you need to come to terms with as soon as possible. Although I know it would be great to have 20 bridesmaids, unless your budget is super large, that will not be possible. There are multiple other ways to honor your special friends and to incorporate them into your wedding day without having them be a bridesmaid. You can have scripture readers, guest book attendants, etc.
Remember, the wedding planning process does not have to be stressful so don’t let it! Yes, these are big decisions but at the end of the day, you get to be married to the man God has made for you and that will be the greatest gift of all!
Such great insight, right?! Thanks so much for sharing all of this with us, Mary, and letting us in on how you walked through choosing your girls. I (Liz) cannot wait to stand by your side as your become Mrs. Rouse! XOXO
