Being asked to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of a friend or family member is an enormous honor, but it's not a duty you should take on lightly. While you're probably envisioning standing up next to the bride by the altar, looking pretty in your new dress and maybe even flirting with a cute groomsmen, a lot goes on behind the scenes when you're planning a wedding. Jezebel warns would-be bridesmaids to seriously consider the responsibilities of their position.

For one thing, the site says, being a bridesmaid can get extremely expensive, often costing up to and even over $1,000. If the costs start adding up, don't be afraid to talk to the bride about money - but do it early on, so you can back out of the responsibility if you know you won't be able to afford it. Once you're committed to being a bridesmaid, you can't bail. Another common bridesmaid fear is the ugly dress. Jezebels says you're just going to have to suck it up, though - so no complaining about the bride's style choices! The only time it's alright to criticize the dress that's been picking out for you is if there's a major problem that might affect the wedding. For example, if the dress lacks adequate bust support or doesn't come in your size, it's alright to speak up.

And if you really hate the bridesmaid dresses, hey, were not above reverse psychology. One sentence that usually does the trick? " Yeah, I love this style - I've seen it at a lot of weddings." Every bride wants a unique wedding, and she might change her mind if you make it sound like the dresses she's picked for you aren't