Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride

By: Vlady Peters
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:24:00
Print this article | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Like the best man, in times past, there was no such thing as a bridesmaid who was married herself. The whole object of being a bridesmaid was to eventually achieve the status of becoming a bride herself. A girl who was being constantly solicited to be a bridesmaid, without ever negotiating to the next level of being a bride herself, was deemed to be doing something wrong. After all, she was out there, in front of all those eligibles, so why was she missing out in the bridal sweep stakes?

That it seemed inexplicable that a young woman could be so often a bridesmaid without attracting a husband herself, was first noticed in 1917 by composers Fred W Leigh and Charles Collins who between them composed this bridesmaid’s lament:-

‘Why am I always a bridesmaid,

Never the blushing bride?

Ding! Dong! Wedding bells

Always ring for other gals.

But one fine day –

Please let it be soon –

I shall wake up in the morning

On my own honeymoon.’

The subject vexed many other brains besides those of the composers. But it was a Company which had been manufacturing Listerine since 1879 that felt it had uncovered the reason for the existence of the eternal bridesmaid. Their findings were made public in the early twentieth century with the revelation of the life of Edna.

Edna, it seems, was reaching that dangerous age of thirty, and still an unattached young woman. And as frightening as that was, the most mortifying bit was that year after year, she sat at the bridal table, playing the role of a bridesmaid to all the girls she’d attended high school with. Talk about ‘All my friends are getting married’.

Well, it seemed Mr. Listerine & Co had found the problem. Undiscovered until then, it was one of those delicate things that even your best friend couldn’t bring herself to tell you. Fortunately for the world – and the bridesmaid - Mr. Listerine & Co had no such scruples and disclosed them for all the world to see.

The fact that the Listerine profits rose from $100,000 per year in 1921 to more than $4 million in 1927, would suggest that their revelation made a lot of bridesmaids happy.

Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant authorized to perform marriages in Australia. She also performs general ceremonies such as Baby Naming, Renewal of Vows and Commitment Ceremonies. To learn more about Vlady, visit her at http://www.weddings-celebrant.com

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Marriage category

  • 70th Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas - By: Michelle Taylor
    A couple who has been married for 70 years is truly amazing. A 70th wedding anniversary celebration should not be overlooked! What are suitable gifts and celebrations for this special 70 year anniversary couple?
  • Five Ideas for an Amalfi Coast Wedding Reception - By: Kimberly Murgatroyd
    Amalfi coast weddings are the most romantic way to get married in Italy. Brides who have Amalfi coast weddings get to enjoy the rich culture and history of Italy, stunning landscapes and romantic wedding venues. Often touted as the most beautiful stretch of shoreline in Italy.
  • How to Get Your Wedding Dress to Your Wedding in Italy - By: Kimberly Murgatroyd
    You have decided to have your wedding in Italy. Everything seems perfect. You have chosen a stunning place to have your destination wedding in Italy. Now, all you need to do is pack and get to Italy.
  • Top Five Picturesque Villages to Host Your Amalfi Coast Wedding - By: Kimberly Murgatroyd
    Dreaming of a romantic Amalfi Coast wedding in Italy? The seaside cliffs of Italy's Amalfi Coast is the most perfect and enchanting location for an outdoor Amalfi Coast wedding in Italy. There are many venues to host romantic wedding receptions, from the finest hotels, private villas for Mediterranean wedding receptions, stunning panoramic restaurants overlooking the sea to private terraces enjoying spectacular vistas.
  • How To Choose A Perfect Italian Wedding Photographer - By: Kimberly Murgatroyd
    Getting married abroad can limit your opportunity to have in person meetings with the people that you hire to make your wedding in Italy perfect. Face to face meetings are optimal, but unless you plan to visit Italy prior to your wedding, you may have to rely on email, phone calls, websites and recommendations when making wedding arrangements. Having an Italian wedding planner can make this process easier, but it can also limit you to who your Italian wedding planner uses on a regular basis.
  • An Italian Wedding in the Positano Town Hall - By: Kimberly Murgatroyd
    My Amalfi Coast wedding was truly a heavenly experience on earth. La Costiera Amalfitana as it is called in Italy is one of the places where I have experienced heaven. It is known to the whole world as the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It is quite easy to see the reasons why I have been captivated with this beautiful place. You only need to see the place for yourself so you would understand what I am talking about.
  • Positano Wedding: A dream wedding come true - By: Kimberly Murgatroyd
    Having a wedding in Italy is a dream wedding come true. But, having an Amalfi Coast wedding is one event in our lives that we will cherish forever. I am no expert when it comes to planning weddings, but I do know how to get married in Italy. I actually had my own Amalfi Coast wedding in this picturesque town called Positano.
  • Top Five Wedding Venues In Italy - By: Kimberly Murgatroyd
    There are many wedding venues in Italy. Italy is filled with quaint villages and medieval towns where getting married in Italy is a dream! I have put together a list of my top five wedding venues in Italy.
  • Ten Tips to Choosing the Perfect Accommodations for Your Amalfi Coast Wedding - By: Kimberly Murgatroyd
    Your Amalfi Coast wedding is one of the most important experiences and will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life! You want to make your Amalfi Coast wedding as easy as possible. Part of making it easy is finding a great hotel to accommodate your guests and possibly to host your Amalfi Coast wedding reception following your ceremony.
  • How to Apply for a UK Spouse Visa Thailand - By: Dennis Ramm
    A citizen of Thailand immediately starts the qualification for a UK Spouse Visa if he or she gets married to a citizen of UK. The success of the application process depends on two things: one, how complete the documents of the applicant are and two, how convincing the applicant and his spouse are during the interview.