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Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #805761]

Wed, 16 January 2008 05:36

AlyssaJ01 is currently offline

AlyssaJ01
Messages: 30
Registered: October 2007

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Does anyone have ideas about alternative names for bridesmaids and maids of honor? Would you consider calling a married woman a bridesmaid? I considered the term "bridesmatron", but it sounds so archaic and matronly, lol! I also considered "honorary bridemaid", but most of my "bridesmaids" are married (or soon to be married), and I didn't want only one person referred to as a bridesmaid.

What are some unique titles that you all have used for your weddings? Thanks

[Updated on: Wed, 16 January 2008 05:39]

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #805774]

Wed, 16 January 2008 08:52

BrowncoatBride is currently offline

BrowncoatBride
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Registered: December 2007
Location: Richmond, VA

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Attendants or "Crew of the Such-and-Such" because one of my "bridesmaids" is male.

"Yes, sir, Captain Tightpants!"-Kaylee Frye, Firefly

They can have my brass goggles when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers!

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #805797]

Wed, 16 January 2008 10:12

Bebel78 is currently offline

Bebel78
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Registered: January 2008
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Bridesmatron sounds weird, though maybe technically correct.

I'm hoping we do the following: "Honor Attendant" (for FW's MOH and my "Best Woman") and then just call the rest either "Bride's Attendants" and "Groom's Attendants" since I have two other women standing up for me. I feel this would eliminate the whole Maid of Honor/Best Woman action and "Groomsmaid," which just sounds weird to me. (I also heard one of my girls refer to herself as "Groomsmaiden"!) I'll probably lose on the MOH and BW stuff, though.

I'd say just stick with Bridesmaid or call them all "Attendants." All of my FW's attendants are married and no one seems to mind.

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #805810]

Wed, 16 January 2008 10:42

GeekBride
Messages: 101
Registered: June 2007

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You might get a kick out of this earlier thread: What are you calling them? There are a number of fun gender-neutral and marital-status-neutral titles that people are using.

I replied there with my personal pet name for my girls (the boys are also now the Groovymen Wink

Wink

) But on our programs I'm considering naming each girl as the Maid of Something - Honor, Adventure, Good Sense, Sisterhood, etc etc. Various virtues that recognize something special about them. It's an idea I'm kicking around anyway, and I think Matron of Sensibility (or whatever) doesn't sound TOO awful.

Our friends who recently got married didn't give any of the wedding party titles. They were simply listed in the program as "(Bride name)'s attendants" and "(Groom name)'s attendants" with their names listed along with how they each knew the bride and/or groom. I thought that was lovely.

October 11, 2008 - "Life is only life forevermore, together wing to wing and oar to oar."

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #806032]

Wed, 16 January 2008 15:23

book owl
Messages: 251
Registered: December 2007

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GeekBride wrote on Wed, 16 January 2008 10:42

You might get a kick out of this earlier thread: What are you calling them?I'm considering naming each girl as the Maid of Something - Honor, Adventure, Good Sense, Sisterhood, etc etc. Various virtues that recognize something special about them.

I am doing the same thing! I have six girls, so I have a Matron of Advice, and Maids of Honor, Organization, Sanity, Compassion and Calmness. They all love their titles!

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #806101]

Wed, 16 January 2008 17:07

AlyssaJ01 is currently offline

AlyssaJ01
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Registered: October 2007

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Quote:

But on our programs I'm considering naming each girl as the Maid of Something - Honor, Adventure, Good Sense, Sisterhood, etc etc. Various virtues that recognize something special about them.

I LOVE that idea! Thanks

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #813581]

Fri, 01 February 2008 20:21

jet2west
Messages: 167
Registered: January 2008

Member

Oh, I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this here thread! I was just telling one of my women-formerly-known-as-a-bridesmaid how much I hate the term "bridesmaid." All I can think of is "Lady Jooooooliette! Make haste! Make Haste! You Mother craves a word!!!" I can't help these silly associations. I'm a total poptart through and through - even with Shakespeare.

I also LOVE the idea of referring to them by their own amazing virtues. I was just telling the person formerly known as my "Maid of Honor" (although I'm still referring to her on here as 'MOH' for simplicity's sake) how much I loved every member of my bridal party for who they are.

My "MOH" is now my "Woman of Honor". We've been thick as thieves since age 12, and she is one of the strongest forces in my life. My "Woman of Serenity" is that ultimately positive voice that I crave whenever I'm in a precarious situation. My "Woman of Courage" (also my FSIL) has some serious ovaries. She is one of the only people involved in the wedding who I can count on to tell it like it is. Gosh...I really love my FFamily!

What about the flower girl? I personally like the title as is, but I'm wondering if anyone has any other ideas for their own purposes...

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #813645]

Sat, 02 February 2008 02:41

Crentist the Dentist is currently offline

Crentist the Dentist
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I started calling my MOH and bridesmaid my "barmaids." It has nothing to do with weddings, but I just think it's way cool Very Happy

Very Happy

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #813828]

Sun, 03 February 2008 01:23

old wives tale is currently offline

old wives tale
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i'm calling them my stand-up girls..
because not only are they 'stand-up' in character, but they also have to stand during the ceremony with me, while everyone else gets to sit... Wink

Wink

(it follows that we are calling the groomsmen, stand-up boys)

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #823199]

Sun, 24 February 2008 20:44

Morgen1045 is currently offline

Morgen1045
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Location: Charleston, SC

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I had no doubt who I wanted by my side (other than my FH) along the journey to the altar. My BFF is a very cool feminist, and had no problem with being referred to as my MOH, but that title just didn't feel right to me. After considering all that we'd been through since meeting in college back in '92, it just came to me the other day. "Honored Friend". This title can apply to a male or female.

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #823586]

Mon, 25 February 2008 18:12

pumagirl
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Registered: February 2008
Location: New England

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This bothered me for a really long time - the servile aspect just makes my skin crawl. I'm not having them there to serve me, they're my backup. So attendants was also out.

After a ridiculous amount of thought, one day it struck me that i could have "bride's women" - punctuated just like that. They are my women (in relation, not possession, to be clear).

But I think in the program they're just all being lumped together as "wedding party". (not bridal, because it's his too!)

We thought about posse, but didn't know what the individual members would be. Smile

Smile

All I could come up with was Hos. (And I'd promised the married one that I'd never call her a Matron of anything.)

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #824501]

Wed, 27 February 2008 15:08

nene is currently offline

nene
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Registered: August 2007

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My friend called all of us 'babes of honor'. I think it works for men and women.

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #851752]

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:46

LPAfromNJ is currently offline

LPAfromNJ
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Location: Englewood, NJ

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I was really struggling with this because I have my 3 sisters and a friend as my girls. I decided that I wouldn't call them anything, but rather put why I chose them in the ceremony program (i.e. She is my inspiration or she is my better half). Smile

Smile

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #852997]

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:35

swirlgrrrl is currently offline

swirlgrrrl
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Location: NJ

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my "maid-of-honor" is my bestest cousin. i'd like to call her "best woman" to remain neutral about her marital status. not that it's some secret, but it's not an issue within the title of the best man, so why should hers be disclosed?

but would "best woman" seem as if she's my FH's best man, who happens to be a female? his brother is his best man. i mean, everyone who is attending the wedding knows she's my best friend, or is at least NOT my FH's best friend or family member.

any suggestion for another marital-status-neutral title, but one that gives her the most honor?

10*25*08 was the date!

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #853399]

Tue, 06 May 2008 06:31

Flamekat
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Registered: February 2008
Location: Shanghai

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swirlgrrrl - I don't think anyone would confuse the "best woman" as standing up for the groom if someone already has the title "best man". I like it cause it's parallel to best man.

However, "woman of honor" as jet2west is using would work just as well.

"I'm going to go eat some blatantly copied steampunk cake." ~ grandsophy

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #870635]

Fri, 20 June 2008 23:29

kupogirl is currently offline

kupogirl
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We went to a wedding where they were called homegirls and homeboys. Smile

Smile

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #874528]

Tue, 01 July 2008 13:54

alynotfromcali is currently offline

alynotfromcali
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Registered: February 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA

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Since my girls are all bffs with me and each other, I couldn't bare to elevate one of them above the others. So instead of having a maid of honor, I'm callling them Matron of Paper, Maid of Rock, and Maid of Scissors. They don't know this yet, but I think it summarizes them well. Paper works for Kinkos, Rock is an accountant - steady as you go, and Scissors is studying to be a Physicians Assistant.

I'm also considering calling them Maids of Earth Fire and Water. This way I can be Wind.

[Updated on: Tue, 01 July 2008 13:55]

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #934667]

Sun, 18 January 2009 17:40

NotTheBride
Messages: 5
Registered: October 2008

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We are calling our male and female attendants our "All-Star Team."

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #934680]

Sun, 18 January 2009 18:56

smooshmom is currently offline

smooshmom
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Location: madison/ny

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kupogirl wrote on Fri, 20 June 2008 23:29

We went to a wedding where they were called homegirls and homeboys. Smile

Smile

that is awesome! i'm sure no one else would want to use this, but my bff and i have been calling each other bi-otch for ages, so it only made sense that i was her best bi-otch at her wedding and she will be it at mine. neither of us had/will have programs, but she did have me listed on her website as best bi-otch, which was, well, just totally her. i was honored Smile

Smile

my bro (my other attendant) is going to be best brother. i am not sure what FH is going to call his side of the wedding party love-age (as i like to say) but i suspect it will be equally silly.

[Updated on: Sun, 18 January 2009 18:57]

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #934710]

Sun, 18 January 2009 22:38

waterinthefish is currently offline

waterinthefish
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Registered: December 2007
Location: colorado

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bridesbabes. i also wrote the following on cards to each of them:

bridesbabe: noun (ca. 2008) 1: person of honor 2: one who shares wedding festivities and madness 3: friend who adds her wonderful uniqueness to nuptials 4: attendant who willingly rallies against traditional wedding industrial complex

WILL YOU BE ONE OF MINE?

love,
waterinthefish

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #934855]

Mon, 19 January 2009 18:55

greenmonster is currently offline

greenmonster
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Location: Williamsburg, VA

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my girls are my brideschicks...

Made it official 9-19-09!

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #935118]

Tue, 20 January 2009 18:12

cileag is currently offline

cileag
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Location: Minneapolis

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I didn't have attendants, but on Offbeat Bride, there was a wedding featured that had a "Bridal Brigade" and I thought that was awesome! I would totally want to be in a bridal brigade.

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #936123]

Fri, 23 January 2009 23:12

PiperRose is currently offline

PiperRose
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My sister would have been a Matron of Honor, which reminded her of a prison warden, so she was my Best Woman.

Used to be writer_bride, but I made so many typos that the name stressed me out.

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #936221]

Sat, 24 January 2009 15:59

BirdBride is currently offline

BirdBride
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Registered: September 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA

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We've just been referring to them as our "Best People."

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #940630]

Tue, 10 February 2009 21:44

mascara is currently offline

mascara
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Location: boston / hudson valley

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I've been informally calling mine "bridespeeps," which is kinda gender-neutral, even though they're all women. But today, my little sister and I decided that "chief of staff" is a much more appropriate title for her than "maid of honor."
Surprised

Surprised

Mostly inspired by this lolpic of obama's chief of staff:
http://punditkitchen.com/2008/12/10/political-pictures-emanu el-smallest-violin
My sister plays the world's smallest violin for my dad all the time, so it fits. I told her to play it for me if I start getting too wrapped up in wedding minutiae.

Now I just need a politically themed termed for the other three bridespeeps... hmmm.

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Re: Alternative Names for Bridemaids and Maids of Honor? [message #945235]

Mon, 02 March 2009 21:21

Beth725 is currently offline

Beth725
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My cousin and her husband had a LOT of people standing up for them--like 15 or more!--and they called them all "Beloveds." I thought that was really sweet.

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