Confessions of the serial bridesmaids

A NEW Hollywood wedding comedy called 27 Dresses tells the story of a woman who is always a bridesmaid and never the bride – and has a closet full of outfits to prove it.

Ahead of the film's release, we speak to three perennial bridesmaids from the Lothians about whether their experiences have ever caused them to despair about making it up the aisle themselves.

TRACY CLARK
The 29-year-old events manager from Dalkeith, admits she was very touchy about being a bridesmaid for the third time.

Having organised weddings at Scotland's finest establishments for more than a decade, Tracy Clark had attended more couples' big days than most.

But when the wedding planner from Dalkeith was asked to be a bridesmaid for the third time at her best friend Sharyn's wedding three years ago, the old adage about "three times a bridesmaid, never a bride," was ringing in her ears.

"I was terrified when I put on a bridesmaid's dress for the third time because I was so familiar with the phrase," she admits, "I didn't have a boyfriend at the time and if you don't have someone on your arm you can feel a bit Bridget Jones."

Tracy, who has been in a relationship for ten months, has organised almost a thousand weddings during her career. She has worked for Dalhousie Castle, The Balmoral, The Carlton, and privately as a wedding planner.

Many of her clients have been American couples who have come to Scotland to elope, usually without family or guests. As a result Tracy often had to step in and perform the functions of a bridesmaid, with a Scots piper serving as best man.

The one down side of being involved in so many weddings is that Tracy is dying for her own special day to arrive.

"I do want to be the bride," she says, with a sigh. "It's like being a midwife who sees babies all the time – you get a bit broody.

"I think: 'when is it going to be me?' and I still get goosebumps when I hear Highland Cathedral."

Tracy was bridesmaid first for her sister when she was 23, then for her friend four years ago and finally for another friend three years ago.

There was gentle teasing from friends and family when she was asked to be a bridesmaid for the third time – though she never considered refusing.

"People close to me knew, but it was such a touchy subject. They knew I would laugh about it but then go away and think about it.

"I was conscious of it. I thought I'm getting older and by the time I meet someone and then spend a few years together, it'll never happen. It's still on my mind. I don't want to be 40 and it doesn't help that my younger sister got married before me and now has two kids."

A major factor in Tracy being asked to be a bridesmaid so often may be because, as a seasoned wedding professional, she is simply so darned good at it.

"The second time I was bridesmaid, the bride would say 'everything is under control' but I would go down and check the cake was OK and the champagne was ready when they were getting their photos. I did the tasks automatically," she says, with a broad grin.

So what will happen if she's asked a fourth time? "I can't see it arising again, but if I wasn't engaged myself it would get me down," Tracy adds, "It would make me very jealous."

HANNAH CARR
The 21-year-old a student from Marchmont, is preparing to be a bridesmaid for the fourth time next May.

The congregation fell silent in admiration as the solemn bridal procession made its way towards the altar.

Gasps for the radiant bride were followed by smiles for the cute three-year-old bridesmaid following her in a tiny peach dress, resplendent with 1980s ruffles.

But suddenly the peace was shattered when the dark haired infant screwed up her face, chucked her posy and dashed off on a more urgent mission.

"I ran down the aisle screaming that I needed a pee," recalls Hannah, with a smile, "I didn't really understand what was going on."

Luckily, the bride saw the funny side, and Hannah, now 21, went on to be a bridesmaid twice more at family weddings. Now she is about to do it again for a friend.

As she prepares for her fourth trip up the aisle, and with no husband of her own in sight, Hannah plays down any social stigma attached to always being a bridesmaid.

"It's more acceptable to be a bridesmaid at a young age," she insists, "My mum jokes that I'm never the bride, but I'm only 21 so it's not that bad. If it were a few years on..."

Generously, the Edinburgh University history student – who has so far walked up the aisle in peach ruffles, a white leotard and most recently a purple gown – says she is happy to wear whatever the bride wants.

"The third time I chose the dress and this time I think I'll have a say. If it was my wedding I'd purposely dress the bridesmaids badly so I'd look well. If my friend does that to me I won't mind."

So what is it about her that makes people keep on giving her a major role on their big day?

"I think I make a good bridesmaid. At the third wedding I was 15 and I had to look after the younger bridesmaids, and at the next one I'll have to plan the hen night, so that's a bit more scary.

"I'll be going through the magazines with the bride, helping her look for the dress – I'm quite excited."

Isn't she a tiny bit jealous of the women she follows down the aisle? "I'd prefer to be the bride," admits Hannah, who is currently single, "though I can't imagine doing it myself. I find being a bridesmaid quite exciting, but if I was still doing it at the age of 30 I'd be more cautious.

"If I'm having a Bridget Jones day it would wind me up, but being asked to be a bridesmaid is a compliment because the bride obviously values you and wants you to be part of her big day."

CAROLINE WHITNEY
The 25-year-old owns upmarket hen party company Ms Bond Events, and admits that after being a bridesmaid for the third time she finally might be ready to settle down.

Caroline, who is in a new relationship with a "charming young man", admits she was well aware of the old saying, "three times a bridesmaid, never a bride" before she walked down the aisle for the third time.

She laughs: "People joked about it, but I just smiled and felt a little embarrassed."

Caroline was bridesmaid for two of her cousins before being chief bridesmaid for her best friend.

"She got married when she was 22," she says. "So I wasn't really envious.

"I was in a completely different place to her at that point and I was thinking more about working hard than settling down."

She admits the idea of walking down the aisle doesn't scare her as much these days.

"As I've got a bit older, the idea isn't as daunting."