Q&A with the Bridesquad: How We Supported Our Girl Without Losing It

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Q&A with the Bridesquad: How We Supported Our Girl Without Losing It

Weddings are beautiful—but let’s not lie: they can be an emotional rollercoaster for everyone, especially the bridal party. From calming down pre-wedding jitters to handling dress disasters, bridesmaids often become part-therapist, part-coordinator, and full-time hype squad.

So how do you support your bestie through the most important (and occasionally most chaotic) time of her life without burning out or breaking down yourself?

We caught up with four bridesquads from real weddings across Southern Africa and the diaspora for some hilarious, heartfelt, and seriously useful insight. Spoiler: snacks, boundaries, and a group playlist saved the day.

🎙️ Squad 1: "The Schedule Saved Us" – Natalie’s Lake Kariba Wedding

The Bride: Natalie, a Type A planner with Pinterest boards for everything
Bridesmaids: Farai, Amy, Lerato & Tanaka
The Vibe: Luxe on a Budget meets Coastal Chill

Q: What was the trick to staying sane?
Farai: A master spreadsheet. No joke. We built it with timelines, tasks, and who’s responsible for what. Natalie could be intense about things being “just right,” so having structure helped her relax—and helped us avoid 500 WhatsApp messages a day.

Amy: Also, we had a rule: no wedding talk after 9PM unless it was a wine-fueled emergency.

Q: Any meltdown moments?
Lerato: One of the dresses tore an hour before the ceremony. We stitched it with fishing line and duct tape. Nobody noticed.

Tanaka: We turned it into a joke and kept her laughing—humour saved us!

🎙️ Squad 2: "The Long-Distance Lifesavers" – Samantha’s UK-to-Harare Celebration

The Bride: Samantha, based in London
Bridesmaids: Thuli (SA), Keira (Canada), Zoe (Zim)
The Vibe: Cultural Traditions meets Destination Wedding Drama

Q: How did you pull it off across countries and time zones?
Zoe: We had a bridesquad calendar with key dates—flights, dress orders, Roora ceremony timelines, etc. We also had monthly Zoom catch-ups and a “vent-only” WhatsApp group where the bride could offload.

Thuli: We each had a role: Keira handled logistics, I kept her emotionally grounded, and Zoe liaised with Zim vendors. We became a mini planning agency, haha!

Q: What was your proudest bridesmaid moment?
Keira: Surprising her with a Shona welcome dance we learned off YouTube. Her gogo cried.

🎙️ Squad 3: "The Peacekeepers" – Jess & Tinashe’s Jozi Rooftop Wedding

The Bride: Jess, marrying into a big Zimbabwean family
Bridesmaids: Naledi, Paige, Simphiwe & Julia
The Vibe: City Chic meets Cultural Fusion

Q: What was your biggest challenge?
Paige: Blending traditions respectfully. Jess didn’t grow up with lobola or Roora, so we helped her navigate that with sensitivity—and made sure she had the right outfits for each part.

Simphiwe: Also… family drama. We literally had a “bride protection squad” plan for redirecting any energy vampires. Aunties were not allowed near her dressing area!

Q: How did you protect your peace?
Julia: Group meditations. No joke. 5 minutes of silence, deep breathing, then blasting Beyoncé before walking down the aisle.

🎙️ Squad 4: "The DIY Divas" – Mbali’s Backyard Wedding in Bulawayo

The Bride: Mbali, DIY queen on a tight budget
Bridesmaids: Tasha, Lungile & Rea
The Vibe: Homestead Feels x Garden Romance

Q: How did you manage helping so much without burning out?
Tasha: We created a fun task day system. Instead of treating DIY days like work, we turned them into mini bridal brunches with mimosas and music. Decor got done and we bonded.

Rea: We also had honest chats—if one of us was tired, we could tap out. No pressure. The bride appreciated that we weren’t trying to be superheroes.

Q: Best moment of the wedding day?
Lungile: Seeing Mbali walk down the aisle with her handmade veil and paper flower bouquet—and knowing we helped her vision come to life. Oh, and the bridesmaid dance-off during the reception? Viral-worthy.