Congratulations! You have been chosen to be the next best thing after being an actual bride. Think about it- you get to throw pre-parties with your friends, you can book yourself guilt-free spa treatments & beauty appointments, and you will ultimately spend an entire weekend lavishing in the joys of fantastic food, fashion, and friendship. Behold our Five Hottest Tips for the Bride’s Favorite Ladies.

1. Share your ideas with the bride, but don’t be hurt if she doesn’t use them. Most of the time, the bride has a pretty good idea of exactly what she wants her wedding day to look like. That doesn’t mean she has thought or heard of everything! Be open with your suggestions because you never know what might strike her fancy. If she signals for you to slow down, then respect her wishes and share only the best few ideas that you find. At the end of the day, it’s all about the bride and her specific vision.

2. Bring extra cash. No doubt you have heard of packing a wedding day emergency kit complete with bandages, aspirin, tweezers, and a needle & thread. These things are great, but they cannot buy you the conveniences that cash can offer. Let’s say you forgot something at home; you can pick up just about anything at the local drugstore. Taxi cabs take cash, waiters take cash, and cash-only bars take cash. Get the idea? Money talks!

3. Have a classy, unique toast prepared (hint: keep it short!). Should there be an unfortunate situation where the Maid of Honor bawls through the entire toast, is too nervous, or no one could hear her, have a few thoughtful lines prepared that sum up how special/hilarious/happy/thankful the bride and groom are, and deliver them like a boss. A nod to the parents in case someone forgets to thank them is another quick go-to toast and absolutely necessary if they are not otherwise mentioned.

4. Ask the bride for a list of no-no’s, and stick to it! The bride most likely has a mental list of cringe worthy conversation topics (exes, wedding costs, bachelorette party secrets) and behavior (complaining, constant texting, smoking near her dress) that she is hoping to avoid during the bridal festivities. By approaching her with this request, it takes the pressure off her from having to bring it up or worse– address problems directly on her wedding day. Some brides will already have this list prepared, and be very vocal about her no-no’s. But if you know your bud has a hard time being assertive, this list will be a lifesaving tool for her to keep the no-no’s at bay so she can relax and have the perfect day.

5. Be familiar with the wedding day logistics. Your bridesmaid dress acts like a beacon for guests to come and request information. Since you’re in the bridal party, you must know everything about the reception, transportation, where gifts go, you-name-it, right? If you don’t, study up! Review maps of where the ceremony and reception will take place. Know alternate routes in case there are road closures or an accident. Be familiar with the timing of events, things to do in the area, where people should park, etc. because you can’t always count on those groomsmen to know!

Share these tips with the bride and fellow bridesmaids. Better yet, add on some of your own must-have hot tips! Happy Bridesmaiding!