By WICF Editor Liz McKeon
Good morning!
What, rough weekend?
Showing posts with label bridesmaids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bridesmaids. Show all posts
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, May 14, 2011
'Bridesmaids' is Ambitious, and as Complex as Its Main Character
By Contributor Meghan O'Keefe
Bridesmaids is a funny and charming film. Like Clueless, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion and Mean Girls, it will probably be quoted by teenaged girls and drunk twenty-somethings for the next decade or two. Is it the groundbreaking comedy masterpiece that some people were hoping? No. It's not going to reinvent how comedians approach their writing or performances. It will, however, help bring more female comedians to the forefront. So, in that way, it's a completely successful film. It's funny, is doing great box office business and shows producers that women can carry comedy films.
The movie follows Annie (Kristen Wiig) as she copes with her life falling apart at the same time that her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) is getting married. Kristen Wiig is probably best known for her large, over-the-top, "look at me" characters that she performs on "Saturday Night Live." The weird thing is, I think Wiig's greatest talent isn't pushing herself to the extreme, but revealing truth through nuance. Thankfully, Bridesmaids gives her the opportunity to do both. Whether it's her subtle facial reactions to anything the snooty Helen (Rose Byrne) says or having a temper tantrum at a fancy bridal shower, Wiig brings the funny and she brings it hard.
The rest of the cast is also great. In particular, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne and Rebel Wilson stand out with comedic performances that should redefine the directions of each of their careers. If you had told me even one year ago that the biggest star to come out of "Gilmore Girls" would be Melissa McCarthy, I would be nonplussed. I know some of my friends objected to her characterization in the trailers, but she really comes off as the biggest discovery in this film. She's fearless and finally breaks out of "sweet supportive best friend" mode. Byrne is the only actress without a comedy background, so it's delightful to see her nail every angle of Helen. She was great in Get Him To The Greek, but I think after this film we'll hopefully see her transition from supporting dramatic roles to starring in comedies. I was unfamiliar with Rebel Wilson before this film, but after seeing her bizarre roommate schtick, I want more. I expect American producers will, too.
If these three women were able to stand out, then it has to be noted that it was very disappointing to see Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper and Wendi McLendon-Covey being woefully underutilized. Rudolph gets very little opportunity to flex any of her comedic muscles. She's the sweet best friend caught in the middle of Annie's breakdown, so everything she does is to ground everyone else around her. Kemper and McLendon-Covey are set up to have hilarious character arcs, but the story stops following them halfway through the film. Each of these women shine when they have a chance, but you get the feeling that some of their best moments may have been cut to accommodate the larger story.
If Bridesmaids has one great weakness, it's that it's trying to be too many things for too many people at once. What this means is that there's something for everyone, but it also means that everyone I've spoken to about the film is disappointed that there wasn't more of one specific thing. It's an ensemble comedy, it's a gross-out fest, it's a love story between best friends, it's a coming-of-age film, it's a romance film, it's a study in a woman's breakdown, it's an argument for never having children (seriously, every child in this film is a foul-mouthed hellion), it's a springboard for previously unknown comedic talent, it's Kristen Wiig's first starring vehicle and it's an ode to the cuteness of puppies. The film does it's best to address all of these angles (and it does do a good job), but you get the feeling that so much was cut. How did an Irish man become a Minnesota police officer? Does Annie start making plans for a new bakery at the film's close? What happens to Ellie Kemper and Melinda McLendon-Covey's characters? How did Annie know Bill Cozbi and her mother had AA in common? WHO'S CAROL?? I'm sorry, but if you drop Melanie Hutsell in as Annie's tennis partner then I need to know where she came from and why she also hates Helen.
In a way it's really good that I desperately want to know more about all the little flourishes in Bridesmaids's world. It shows that the film exists in a dense universe and that there are more stories to be told. But it's also a sign that maybe there was a lack of focus in production. In the press coverage for Bridesmaids, it was revealed that producer Judd Apatow was the mastermind behind the raunchier parts of the film. He created the "ladies in pretty dresses puke and poop all over the place" scene and pushed for the film to be called Bridesmaids instead of its working title, Single. Apatow's influence on the film seems to be about taking a film that focuses on one woman's spiral into and out of self-loathing and turning it into a riotous crowd-pleaser. It's also clear that the film still doesn't know whether it's about a bunch of bridesmaids or that single woman. The first half is set up like the uproarious female ensemble comedy that the billboards advertised, but after a scene where Annie acts out on a plane, the film drops the group and follows only her. What's interesting is that I enjoyed both movies that Bridesmaids was trying to be. I loved watching a group of brilliant female comedians work off of one another, but I also loved the way Annie's story highlighted that people need to take responsibilities for their mistakes and stop blaming others for their own setbacks.
Bridesmaids will be remembered as an incredibly ambitious film. People will probably remember that this film was touted as the ground-breaker for female comedies, but it's the scope of the story itself that's also ambitious. What's amazing is that the film, while not perfect, doesn't disappoint. It shows women as funny, unique and complex. Hopefully, this signals that in the future we'll get to see more funny, unique and complex women in movies. Because, seriously, we're all funny, unique and complex and it's about time Hollywood took notice.
Meghan O'Keefe is a comedian in NYC. She covers this topic and more at megsokay.tumblr.com.
Bridesmaids is a funny and charming film. Like Clueless, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion and Mean Girls, it will probably be quoted by teenaged girls and drunk twenty-somethings for the next decade or two. Is it the groundbreaking comedy masterpiece that some people were hoping? No. It's not going to reinvent how comedians approach their writing or performances. It will, however, help bring more female comedians to the forefront. So, in that way, it's a completely successful film. It's funny, is doing great box office business and shows producers that women can carry comedy films.
The movie follows Annie (Kristen Wiig) as she copes with her life falling apart at the same time that her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) is getting married. Kristen Wiig is probably best known for her large, over-the-top, "look at me" characters that she performs on "Saturday Night Live." The weird thing is, I think Wiig's greatest talent isn't pushing herself to the extreme, but revealing truth through nuance. Thankfully, Bridesmaids gives her the opportunity to do both. Whether it's her subtle facial reactions to anything the snooty Helen (Rose Byrne) says or having a temper tantrum at a fancy bridal shower, Wiig brings the funny and she brings it hard.
The rest of the cast is also great. In particular, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne and Rebel Wilson stand out with comedic performances that should redefine the directions of each of their careers. If you had told me even one year ago that the biggest star to come out of "Gilmore Girls" would be Melissa McCarthy, I would be nonplussed. I know some of my friends objected to her characterization in the trailers, but she really comes off as the biggest discovery in this film. She's fearless and finally breaks out of "sweet supportive best friend" mode. Byrne is the only actress without a comedy background, so it's delightful to see her nail every angle of Helen. She was great in Get Him To The Greek, but I think after this film we'll hopefully see her transition from supporting dramatic roles to starring in comedies. I was unfamiliar with Rebel Wilson before this film, but after seeing her bizarre roommate schtick, I want more. I expect American producers will, too.
If these three women were able to stand out, then it has to be noted that it was very disappointing to see Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper and Wendi McLendon-Covey being woefully underutilized. Rudolph gets very little opportunity to flex any of her comedic muscles. She's the sweet best friend caught in the middle of Annie's breakdown, so everything she does is to ground everyone else around her. Kemper and McLendon-Covey are set up to have hilarious character arcs, but the story stops following them halfway through the film. Each of these women shine when they have a chance, but you get the feeling that some of their best moments may have been cut to accommodate the larger story. If Bridesmaids has one great weakness, it's that it's trying to be too many things for too many people at once. What this means is that there's something for everyone, but it also means that everyone I've spoken to about the film is disappointed that there wasn't more of one specific thing. It's an ensemble comedy, it's a gross-out fest, it's a love story between best friends, it's a coming-of-age film, it's a romance film, it's a study in a woman's breakdown, it's an argument for never having children (seriously, every child in this film is a foul-mouthed hellion), it's a springboard for previously unknown comedic talent, it's Kristen Wiig's first starring vehicle and it's an ode to the cuteness of puppies. The film does it's best to address all of these angles (and it does do a good job), but you get the feeling that so much was cut. How did an Irish man become a Minnesota police officer? Does Annie start making plans for a new bakery at the film's close? What happens to Ellie Kemper and Melinda McLendon-Covey's characters? How did Annie know Bill Cozbi and her mother had AA in common? WHO'S CAROL?? I'm sorry, but if you drop Melanie Hutsell in as Annie's tennis partner then I need to know where she came from and why she also hates Helen.
In a way it's really good that I desperately want to know more about all the little flourishes in Bridesmaids's world. It shows that the film exists in a dense universe and that there are more stories to be told. But it's also a sign that maybe there was a lack of focus in production. In the press coverage for Bridesmaids, it was revealed that producer Judd Apatow was the mastermind behind the raunchier parts of the film. He created the "ladies in pretty dresses puke and poop all over the place" scene and pushed for the film to be called Bridesmaids instead of its working title, Single. Apatow's influence on the film seems to be about taking a film that focuses on one woman's spiral into and out of self-loathing and turning it into a riotous crowd-pleaser. It's also clear that the film still doesn't know whether it's about a bunch of bridesmaids or that single woman. The first half is set up like the uproarious female ensemble comedy that the billboards advertised, but after a scene where Annie acts out on a plane, the film drops the group and follows only her. What's interesting is that I enjoyed both movies that Bridesmaids was trying to be. I loved watching a group of brilliant female comedians work off of one another, but I also loved the way Annie's story highlighted that people need to take responsibilities for their mistakes and stop blaming others for their own setbacks.
Bridesmaids will be remembered as an incredibly ambitious film. People will probably remember that this film was touted as the ground-breaker for female comedies, but it's the scope of the story itself that's also ambitious. What's amazing is that the film, while not perfect, doesn't disappoint. It shows women as funny, unique and complex. Hopefully, this signals that in the future we'll get to see more funny, unique and complex women in movies. Because, seriously, we're all funny, unique and complex and it's about time Hollywood took notice.
Meghan O'Keefe is a comedian in NYC. She covers this topic and more at megsokay.tumblr.com.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Oh 'Bridesmaids,' This Is How You Treat Melissa McCarthy?
By WICF Contributor Rachel van der Steur
My esteemed colleague Meghan O'Keefe recently posted her excitement about the upcoming movie Bridesmaids, and I share her glee. An ensemble comedy packed with undeniable female talents written by 2 chicks? What's not to celebrate? This movie is a giant leap forward for women in comedy. There is nothing not to rejoice about here.
Except.
Except for Melissa McCarthy. I LOVE Melissa McCarthy. She nailed the "best friend/wacky sidekick/voice of reason" role as Sookie St. James on "Gilmore Girls" for 7 years. She was great alongside Christina Applegate in "Samantha Who?" She's hilarious and relatable in the current series "Mike and Molly". She is extremely beautiful. And this movie wastes her. In Bridesmaids, Melissa plays an aggressively unattractive tomboy. Greasy hair, unflattering clothes, gas problems. I'm not suggesting that women have to be beautiful all the time. Certainly not. But, and let me be candid here, why's it gotta be the fat girl?
I'm a fat girl. A lot of my friends are fat girls. And we manage to be attractive, smart, and really funny at the same time. It's obvious from her other work that McCarthy can do that, too. I know ensembles require a variety of personality types to work. I know that if this movie were The Hangover, she'd be Zach Galifianakis. It's a characterization that fits well in a movie like this. But why couldn't she be played by Ellie Kemper? Or Wendi McLendon-Covey? Or Rose Byrne? Why does the women already viewed by most of society as undesirable have to play the ugly girl?
Hollywood doesn't like overweight people. Neither does the fashion industry. Neither does this writer for Marie Claire. But shouldn't we like ourselves enough to refuse to play these bigoted reindeer games? Shouldn't we be secure enough in our talents to not let our appearance be the joke?
I'm still excited about Bridesmaids. I'll probably still see it opening weekend. But my ass won't be the only thing weighing heavily when I do.
My esteemed colleague Meghan O'Keefe recently posted her excitement about the upcoming movie Bridesmaids, and I share her glee. An ensemble comedy packed with undeniable female talents written by 2 chicks? What's not to celebrate? This movie is a giant leap forward for women in comedy. There is nothing not to rejoice about here.
Except.
Except for Melissa McCarthy. I LOVE Melissa McCarthy. She nailed the "best friend/wacky sidekick/voice of reason" role as Sookie St. James on "Gilmore Girls" for 7 years. She was great alongside Christina Applegate in "Samantha Who?" She's hilarious and relatable in the current series "Mike and Molly". She is extremely beautiful. And this movie wastes her. In Bridesmaids, Melissa plays an aggressively unattractive tomboy. Greasy hair, unflattering clothes, gas problems. I'm not suggesting that women have to be beautiful all the time. Certainly not. But, and let me be candid here, why's it gotta be the fat girl?
I'm a fat girl. A lot of my friends are fat girls. And we manage to be attractive, smart, and really funny at the same time. It's obvious from her other work that McCarthy can do that, too. I know ensembles require a variety of personality types to work. I know that if this movie were The Hangover, she'd be Zach Galifianakis. It's a characterization that fits well in a movie like this. But why couldn't she be played by Ellie Kemper? Or Wendi McLendon-Covey? Or Rose Byrne? Why does the women already viewed by most of society as undesirable have to play the ugly girl?
Hollywood doesn't like overweight people. Neither does the fashion industry. Neither does this writer for Marie Claire. But shouldn't we like ourselves enough to refuse to play these bigoted reindeer games? Shouldn't we be secure enough in our talents to not let our appearance be the joke?
I'm still excited about Bridesmaids. I'll probably still see it opening weekend. But my ass won't be the only thing weighing heavily when I do.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
'Bridesmaids' Has Its Place in the Pantheon
By Contributor Meghan O'Keefe
It’s a movie about women who get into fights with each other over a wedding. We’ve seen it before, right? Quite a few times, in fact. We’ve seen it enough times that although we know a tight script and charming performances can make the story enjoyable, we also know that girl fights and the idea that a wedding day is the most important day of any woman’s life can be jarring to feminist sensibilities.
So why am I getting ridiculously psyched about Bridesmaids and what it means for women in comedy? Look at that line-up:
Why did I spell all this out? Because we’re looking at the first ensemble female comedy that boasts an ensemble of female comedians. These are not pretty ingénues put in a high school comedy with a couple of supporting assists from “SCTV” alums. This is a pantheon of comedy goddesses. Yes, Fey & Poehler did Baby Mama, but that’s a buddy film. Yes, I’m aware of a film called Spring Breakdown, but it was released straight to DVD. Look at this poster. The producers mean business. They mean for this to be as big a summer comedy as Wedding Crashers, The Hangover, or Knocked Up.
I had to write an article recently about the issue of female comedies and why a lot of them are dismissed as chick flicks by the comedy mainstream. During my research (which was super serious and involved drinking a lot of wine while watching movies while wearing a fish hat) I realized that maybe the reason a lot of female comedies aren’t given much thought by male comedians is because the actresses in them don’t often come from a comedy background. These women have those chops. Male comics are sitting up and buzzing about this film. So, if this film does do great box office, it’ll show that women who come from stand up, improv and “SNL” can star in comedies and pull in the same money that male stars from those backgrounds do. Which means … more female comedians in starring roles in comedies. Big deal, guys. HUGE. The film could be about knitting circles or a finishing school. I wouldn’t care. The very existence of this film is a pro-female statement.
So, that’s why I’m crossing my fingers and holding my breath that Bridesmaids is an incredibly funny film. It should be. I mean, look at that talent. These women could hiccup hilariously on camera together for two hours and it would be amazing. More importantly, I’m hoping that people turn up to see it. I’m hoping that the box office receipts reflect the talent involved because, in Hollywood, money makes the big decisions. So, I know already no matter how broke I am come May 13, 2011, that I’m going to see this film in the theaters. Anyone else want to join me?
Meghan O'Keefe is a comedian in NYC. She covers this topic and more at megsokay.tumblr.com
It’s a movie about women who get into fights with each other over a wedding. We’ve seen it before, right? Quite a few times, in fact. We’ve seen it enough times that although we know a tight script and charming performances can make the story enjoyable, we also know that girl fights and the idea that a wedding day is the most important day of any woman’s life can be jarring to feminist sensibilities.So why am I getting ridiculously psyched about Bridesmaids and what it means for women in comedy? Look at that line-up:
- Melissa McCarthy started her career as a PA on her cousin Jenny’s sketch comedy show and as a stand-up comic. Then, she was on “Gilmore Girls” — you know, that show lauded for its quippy dialogue, ability to balance heart with comedy, and dense collection of fully realized background characters. Now she’s on one of the highest-rated sitcoms in the country (love it or hate it, it’s TRUE). McCarthy has comedy cred.
- Wendi McLendon-Covey was a member of the Groundlings from 2002-2009. So, she has straight up improv comedy cred. Add to that her time on “Reno 911!,” and we’re talking obscene comedy cred.
- Ellie Kemper started doing improv at Princeton and then went on to be in Big Black Car at the P.I.T. in NYC. You guys know Big Black Car, right? Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler, and Matt Oberg’s troop. Everyone on that team is an improv god. Oh, yeah, she’s also on “The Office.” Kemper has serious comedy cred.
- Kristen Wiig. Um … do I need to start? Groundlings, “Saturday Night Live,” bit parts in numerous Apatow productions and other comedies. She’s considered by many to be the star of “Saturday Night Live” right now. Wiig clearly has massive comedy cred.
- Maya Rudolph. Again with the Groundlings and again with “Saturday Night Live.” Do I even need to affirm Rudolph’s comedy cred?
- Rose Byrne. The lone dramatic actress in the bunch. However, she is an amazing character actress and character actors usually acquit themselves brilliantly with comedy. She already did with her Lily Allen-meets-Cheryl Cole impression in Get Him to the Greek. Byrne doesn’t have comedy cred, per se, but she’s got credibility.
Why did I spell all this out? Because we’re looking at the first ensemble female comedy that boasts an ensemble of female comedians. These are not pretty ingénues put in a high school comedy with a couple of supporting assists from “SCTV” alums. This is a pantheon of comedy goddesses. Yes, Fey & Poehler did Baby Mama, but that’s a buddy film. Yes, I’m aware of a film called Spring Breakdown, but it was released straight to DVD. Look at this poster. The producers mean business. They mean for this to be as big a summer comedy as Wedding Crashers, The Hangover, or Knocked Up.
I had to write an article recently about the issue of female comedies and why a lot of them are dismissed as chick flicks by the comedy mainstream. During my research (which was super serious and involved drinking a lot of wine while watching movies while wearing a fish hat) I realized that maybe the reason a lot of female comedies aren’t given much thought by male comedians is because the actresses in them don’t often come from a comedy background. These women have those chops. Male comics are sitting up and buzzing about this film. So, if this film does do great box office, it’ll show that women who come from stand up, improv and “SNL” can star in comedies and pull in the same money that male stars from those backgrounds do. Which means … more female comedians in starring roles in comedies. Big deal, guys. HUGE. The film could be about knitting circles or a finishing school. I wouldn’t care. The very existence of this film is a pro-female statement.
So, that’s why I’m crossing my fingers and holding my breath that Bridesmaids is an incredibly funny film. It should be. I mean, look at that talent. These women could hiccup hilariously on camera together for two hours and it would be amazing. More importantly, I’m hoping that people turn up to see it. I’m hoping that the box office receipts reflect the talent involved because, in Hollywood, money makes the big decisions. So, I know already no matter how broke I am come May 13, 2011, that I’m going to see this film in the theaters. Anyone else want to join me?
Meghan O'Keefe is a comedian in NYC. She covers this topic and more at megsokay.tumblr.com
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Always a Bridesmaid, Never Not Funny
I've been invited to six weddings this year, nine if you expand the definition of "year" to December 2008-January 2011. What no one tells you when you graduate college is that you are about to enter a solid decade of wedcation*. So it is with no hesitation that I say I was happy to interview WICF marketing guru Rachel Rosenthal about the launch of her new site, Bridesmaiding.com. Because Rachel gets it. And she wants you to, too.
*wedcation — noun The time in your life when all of your vacation decisions revolve around going to other people's weddings (and, maybe, your own one or two).
WICF: What are you aiming to create with Bridesmaiding.com?
Rachel: Oh, hi!
I am aiming to create a fun and easily accessible resource center for bridesmaids who are REAL women … like the people I am actual friends with! If you search the internet for help with bridesmaid duties — you’ll find a heck of a lot of toilet paper hats and penis cakes. You’ll also find a lot of info aimed at the bride — but not at the actual bridal party attendants. Whenever I was in a wedding and needed assistance, I found it difficult to find help when going against the grain. I hope for Bridesmaiding.com to become that place where women can get ideas, share stories, and have a laugh at the moments in between.
WICF: How would you describe the main features of your site?
Rachel: The site is a combination of resources (articles, advice and how-tos) and a blog. On the resources side, we have anything you may need to be a good bridesmaid — gift ideas, money-saving tips, how to plan a bridal shower, etc. On the blog side, we have true-life stories (both funny and touching), as well as fictional wedding toasts and “just for fun” anecdotes. I like to share a lot of great photography whenever possible, as well.
WICF: I know it's not meant to be a straight comedy site (right?), but it's definitely funny. Who are your contributors?
Rachel: It’s definitely not meant to be straight-up comedy, but I’m well aware that my writing style sounds a lot like [the way that] I speak! And let’s be honest … I’m hilarious. (ha ha) I hope that when people read the website, they will feel like a friend is advising them — not just a random wiki page. Due to the fact that I am an improviser and comedian — a lot of comedy has made its way onto this site. I am lucky enough to have some hilarious contributors. Friend and fellow performer Shannon Connolly shared her entire experience of being a bridesmaid for the first time — which was amazing. (You can see [all of the posts] in “Shancon’s Corner.”) I have also had the honor of writer/author Sara Faith Alterman contributing a weekly column, “Toasted,” [in which] she creates hilarious (fictional) wedding toasts as if she were the world’s worst bridesmaid. What I find interesting is that many of the comedian writers have written truly touching stories — rather than straight-up comedy. (See? We can turn it off!)
Other contributors have been friends, improvisers, strangers on the street — whomever. This site is a really fun way to get your stories out there and I encourage anyone to write a story (or contribute an idea for one) so we can share it with the world (wide web).
WICF: How has your reception been from your reading audience? Have you heard about any ruffled bridal feathers as a result of a post?
Rachel: So far, the reception has been really encouraging! It’s not surprising we haven’t ruffled any bridal feathers, considering that an uptight bridezilla is likely not reading Bridesmaiding.com. Also, this site isn’t meant to be anti-wedding or anti-bride. On the contrary, I think that being asked to be a bridesmaid has sadly become a chore, rather than an honor. The truth of the matter is — weddings should be fun. It’s just a huge party with your closest friends. Hopefully, the content on our site can help you get there with the least amount of drama and the most amount of fun.
Anyone can contribute anonymously but for the most part — our writers have just put it all out there! Check out Chris Cuddy’s hilarious, true-life, “It's a nice day for a White(trash) wedding” story to see what I mean
WICF: You've recently moved — have you discovered that your experience differs from city to city, or is bridesmaiding truly pan-regional?
Rachel: There is a reason there are a million wedding TV shows… there is always going to be another wedding, another bride…and therefore — another bridesmaid. Not only is bridesmaiding more than regional — it’s international. I have spoken with women in Canada and Europe who have found the site helpful and have passed it along to friends and colleagues going through the wedding planning thing.
WICF: What are your goals for the site in the future?
Rachel: I’d love to get more interaction with the readers and actual bridesmaids. I keep trying to address questions that I had when I was in weddings – but obviously every person has a different experience. I want the ideas to come straight from the source, so we can give our readers whatever it is they truly need! I also want to work with more contributors (writers and photographers) for the future. Bridesmaiding.com is the perfect place for photographers to show off their work and for the rest of us to enjoy it!
Ideally, it’d be pretty awesome if we could be the next IndieBride — but for the bridal party instead of just for the bride. :)
WICF: Any links you'd like to include?
Rachel: Please become a fan (err “like” us!) at www.facebook.com/bridesmaiding or follow us on twitter @Bridesmaiding. That is the easiest way to keep up with the latest!
If you would like to contribute a story or idea — you can do that right on the site at Bridesmaiding.com or contact me at rachel[at]bridesmaiding.com.
Inteviewed for WICF by Liz McKeon.
*wedcation — noun The time in your life when all of your vacation decisions revolve around going to other people's weddings (and, maybe, your own one or two).
WICF: What are you aiming to create with Bridesmaiding.com?
Rachel: Oh, hi!
I am aiming to create a fun and easily accessible resource center for bridesmaids who are REAL women … like the people I am actual friends with! If you search the internet for help with bridesmaid duties — you’ll find a heck of a lot of toilet paper hats and penis cakes. You’ll also find a lot of info aimed at the bride — but not at the actual bridal party attendants. Whenever I was in a wedding and needed assistance, I found it difficult to find help when going against the grain. I hope for Bridesmaiding.com to become that place where women can get ideas, share stories, and have a laugh at the moments in between.
WICF: How would you describe the main features of your site?
Rachel: The site is a combination of resources (articles, advice and how-tos) and a blog. On the resources side, we have anything you may need to be a good bridesmaid — gift ideas, money-saving tips, how to plan a bridal shower, etc. On the blog side, we have true-life stories (both funny and touching), as well as fictional wedding toasts and “just for fun” anecdotes. I like to share a lot of great photography whenever possible, as well.
WICF: I know it's not meant to be a straight comedy site (right?), but it's definitely funny. Who are your contributors?
Rachel: It’s definitely not meant to be straight-up comedy, but I’m well aware that my writing style sounds a lot like [the way that] I speak! And let’s be honest … I’m hilarious. (ha ha) I hope that when people read the website, they will feel like a friend is advising them — not just a random wiki page. Due to the fact that I am an improviser and comedian — a lot of comedy has made its way onto this site. I am lucky enough to have some hilarious contributors. Friend and fellow performer Shannon Connolly shared her entire experience of being a bridesmaid for the first time — which was amazing. (You can see [all of the posts] in “Shancon’s Corner.”) I have also had the honor of writer/author Sara Faith Alterman contributing a weekly column, “Toasted,” [in which] she creates hilarious (fictional) wedding toasts as if she were the world’s worst bridesmaid. What I find interesting is that many of the comedian writers have written truly touching stories — rather than straight-up comedy. (See? We can turn it off!)
Other contributors have been friends, improvisers, strangers on the street — whomever. This site is a really fun way to get your stories out there and I encourage anyone to write a story (or contribute an idea for one) so we can share it with the world (wide web).
WICF: How has your reception been from your reading audience? Have you heard about any ruffled bridal feathers as a result of a post?
Rachel: So far, the reception has been really encouraging! It’s not surprising we haven’t ruffled any bridal feathers, considering that an uptight bridezilla is likely not reading Bridesmaiding.com. Also, this site isn’t meant to be anti-wedding or anti-bride. On the contrary, I think that being asked to be a bridesmaid has sadly become a chore, rather than an honor. The truth of the matter is — weddings should be fun. It’s just a huge party with your closest friends. Hopefully, the content on our site can help you get there with the least amount of drama and the most amount of fun.
Anyone can contribute anonymously but for the most part — our writers have just put it all out there! Check out Chris Cuddy’s hilarious, true-life, “It's a nice day for a White(trash) wedding” story to see what I mean
WICF: You've recently moved — have you discovered that your experience differs from city to city, or is bridesmaiding truly pan-regional?
Rachel: There is a reason there are a million wedding TV shows… there is always going to be another wedding, another bride…and therefore — another bridesmaid. Not only is bridesmaiding more than regional — it’s international. I have spoken with women in Canada and Europe who have found the site helpful and have passed it along to friends and colleagues going through the wedding planning thing.
WICF: What are your goals for the site in the future?
Rachel: I’d love to get more interaction with the readers and actual bridesmaids. I keep trying to address questions that I had when I was in weddings – but obviously every person has a different experience. I want the ideas to come straight from the source, so we can give our readers whatever it is they truly need! I also want to work with more contributors (writers and photographers) for the future. Bridesmaiding.com is the perfect place for photographers to show off their work and for the rest of us to enjoy it!
Ideally, it’d be pretty awesome if we could be the next IndieBride — but for the bridal party instead of just for the bride. :)
WICF: Any links you'd like to include?
Rachel: Please become a fan (err “like” us!) at www.facebook.com/bridesmaiding or follow us on twitter @Bridesmaiding. That is the easiest way to keep up with the latest!
If you would like to contribute a story or idea — you can do that right on the site at Bridesmaiding.com or contact me at rachel[at]bridesmaiding.com.
Rachel, in one of her finer moments (managing to look freakin' adorable).
Inteviewed for WICF by Liz McKeon.
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