'Bridesmaids' Contract' Turns Out To Be Bad Joke
If by chance you were forwarded a "Bridesmaids' Contract" — a document asking bridesmaids to legally agree they won't gain weight or get a haircut without the bride's consent — you aren't alone. Katie Masters' email prank to her five bridesmaids ended up being one of the hottest forwards on the internet. "I thought it was hysterical," she tells PEOPLE in its new issue. "I thought everyone would think it was a joke." But her sister didn't get the joke, forwarding it to her husband, who then forwarded it to his friends (and so on). Poor Katie, seen as the ultimate bridezilla, ended up getting seriously harassed with critical emails (since her email address was on the forward). One man even tracked down her work number and threatened that he'd cancelled her order for her bridesmaids' dresses! (She's planning to hire security for September wedding to firefighter Bob Parker.) "I can't believe how many people believed it," she says. "When is it going to end?"
Did you get forwarded the "Bridesmaids' Contract? Tell us!
Photo Credit: Erica Berger
Michelle | Jun 21, 2007 3:48:35 PM
I did get that e-mail forwarded to me! I feel bad now that I called her a b**ch to myself..LOL
MR | Jun 19, 2007 3:55:52 PM
I think that whether it was a joke or not, it is absolutly hilarious! Wow, people need to lighten up and have a sense of humor. Even if it wasn't a joke, this email is nothing compared to what I've seen brides actually say and do to their bridesmaids. Regardless, I hope you have a great wedding!
Jenny T | Jun 13, 2007 12:42:53 PM
I think this is halarious! I am planning my own wedding for July 28, 2007 and if I had seen this sooner I would have sent it out to my bridesmaids.... In fact I copied and pasted it and sent it to my MOH and she thought it was too cute! I bet this will look good in this brides scrapbook! Way to go on having a sense of humor =)
lw | Jun 5, 2007 5:00:29 PM
Girls can become a totally different person when they are planning a wedding. Having watched even the funniest most laid back person become an completely wedding immersed to-the-minute planner, I can see how this kind of thing happens. It's not a joke... come on. the situation sucks and i hope her wedding works out, but hopefully this will give bridezillas out there some real perspective. Think of your bridesmaids comfort and happiness too when you plan... You're not the only one at your wedding after all. And -- if you're going to write a 'joke' contract, make it really obvious.
Bailey | Jun 5, 2007 12:58:26 PM
I know first hand that it was completely a joke, she revealed that to her sister the following day. And as for the "stupid" sister comments, know your facts before you make a rude comment. I totally see nothing wrong with the bridesmaid showing the contract to her husband, who wouldn't share this with their best friend if they got it, joke or not? This bride didn't want the entire world to know about her little joke between her bridesmaid, she was contacted by People magazine after someone who works there received it. She did not call the media looking for attention, but I can tell you that she received plenty of offers which she turned down. Just remember that anything can happen with the internet, so think before you judge people that you don't even know.
L | Jun 5, 2007 11:57:07 AM
It was a JOKE!!! You are dumb! And the guidelines were funny. You must just not have a sense of humor. That is sad.
kb | Jun 5, 2007 10:44:56 AM
A joke is a joke, but was it really a joke? Her own sister couldn't tell it was a joke. Isn't that something a sister is supposed to know...when your sister is joking?? And my final question in this matter - if it was a joke shouldn't the guidelines be funny?? They seemed very detailed and specific!!
C | Jun 4, 2007 4:41:20 PM
I was the person who finally emailed the bride directly to tell her what was going on! :) I wanted to see if it was real and just let her know since her email was part of the forward. She was very grateful.
Tina | Jun 4, 2007 8:57:06 AM
I was Matron of honour for my cousin and changed my hair length from my shoulders to a short bob (12 months before the wedding) and she had a huge fit saying that it was her wedding and she wanted me to have long hair. I pointed out that when she was in my bridal party 2 years earlier she wouldn't wear heels and I did not complain about her wearing flats as it was important to me who was there not how they looked and if she was going to be that silly about it she could find another Matron of Honour. I never got an apology but was still MoH even with my short hair.
michelle | Jun 2, 2007 6:47:36 PM
For my cousin's wedding we all went out and got shiny silver "stripper" shoes with lights in the bottom that flickered when you walked...when we said "hey, we decided to go out and get all the same shoes, what do you think?" on the day of her wedding. She about had a heart attack until we got on our real wedding shoes and took the pictures. (the silver flashers came out for the dance floor, though, everyone thought they were hilarious)
Ashley | Jun 2, 2007 6:27:55 PM
Jen,
If this "poor" bride didn't want to be judged by America, she wouldn't have sent in the story along with her picture for the whole world to see.
Jackie Netherly | Jun 2, 2007 10:06:38 AM
This is ludicrious!!! I don't know why anyone would take this seriously. Some of the wording is a bit off! I think that this was meant to intentionally hurt some feelings, but after media, it was made to be into a joke! Nonetheless, I think that you should watch what you put on the internet anyway.
Jackie
Lala | Jun 1, 2007 5:44:50 PM
Whats the big deal? I thought it was funny. It was a harmless personal joke that she sent to close friends. If i was that creative i would've done it too. None of her friends got mad about it, thats all that matters. To all the people who are so uptight about something like this "Seriously, get over yourself"
Jen | Jun 1, 2007 11:30:22 AM
I think the whole story is really sad. Here is this poor girl trying to have a little fun with her sisters and bridesmaids and now the whole country has their own opinions of her and thinks her business is their business. I got that e-mail forwarded to me and knew the second I read Sally Hansen’s nail growth it was a joke. I love how strangers think that they have the right to “judge” her. I also love how everyone is saying that it wasn’t a joke. Are you friends with this girl? I think that the people who believed the joke in the first place are stupid and they are just saying that it really wasn’t a joke to make them feel better. I don’t know the girl but I am human and I feel bad for her. I hope that after all this she can still have a nice wedding. I would hate for this stupid e-mail chain to have ruined that for her.
stephanie | Jun 1, 2007 1:28:30 AM
she got the idea off of something that was on the theknot.com website which is also a wedding magazine and i think that the one bridesmaid shouldnt have showed it to her husband and kept her mouth shut since it probably was meant to be a private joke just for the bride and her bridesmaids and if i was related or friends with the guy who sent the email i would never trust him with any secrets or private jokes ever again since he thinks it is fun to spread it around to the entire world through emails and her sister is pretty dumb for not getting the joke instead of sending it to her husband she should have called her sister to make sure it was a joke and what is with the creep who threatened to cancel her bridesmaids dresses and its very creepy that he tracked down her work number i would have called the police and reported him as a possible stalker people take these things way too seriously let me guess no sense of humor in the world today people get a life dont always read what u see and its junk mail who really takes that stuff seriously u should just delete it or at least ignore it
amanda | May 31, 2007 8:59:28 PM
*Bridesmaid’s Contract*
Hello my beautiful bridesmaids! Let me just say again how happy I am that you are going to be a part of my special day! Below are just a few guidelines for the wedding that I’d like you to review, please initial by each point, sign at the end and send back to me. Just want to make sure they’re aren’t any surprises! The planning bride is a happy bride!
Thanks a bunch! Love ya!
_____ My hair will remain at the length it is now or longer.
_____ I will not change my hair color without first consulting Katie and providing a sample photo or hair swatch for consideration.
_____ I will use Sally Hansen’s “Maximum Growth-Daily Nail Growth program” every day for the 4 months before the wedding day.
_____ I will not gain more than 4lbs from the weight I was when I was asked to be a bridesmaid.
_____ I swear to attend all showers, (lingerie, bridal & bachelorette) to arrive in a timely manner and do everything in my power to support and “be there” for the bride.
_____ I will purchase the David’s Bridal style # 81123 dress below in Latte/Champagne within 3 weeks of today.
______ I will NOT knowingly get pregnant without notifying the bride at least 4 months prior to the wedding so a suitable alternative can be found. I will also give my purchased bridesmaid dress to said alternative.
I do hereby swear that I will adhere to all of the above & other understood bridesmaid duties for the wedding on September 21, 2007
X_________________________
(sign, print and date)
Monique | May 31, 2007 5:35:56 PM
OMG that is great ... Is there any way to get a copy of this?? It never made it to me!!
U | May 31, 2007 4:03:44 PM
Regardless of whether or not it was a joke (I personally think it was), people need to mind their own business. And, maybe people should remember that not everything you read on the internet through emails is real?!?!?!
A | May 31, 2007 1:54:50 PM
I thought the same thing as R when I read the article. I think the bride was for real in the beginning and then saw the reaction from it and said it was a joke.
Belle | May 31, 2007 10:09:56 AM
Could you post the email for those who didn't see it?
Amanda | May 30, 2007 9:37:03 PM
HA! This sounds like something my sister--Bridezilla-- would do. I am her maid of honor for her August 25 wedding, and she just about shot me when I told her I was pregnant. But she got even more furious when I told her my due date: between August 17 and August 29. I really think if she sent me something like a contract, I would bail on her, and she's my only sister!
Tif | May 30, 2007 4:57:12 PM
Hahahaha....I just got this forward yesterday. I emailed my friend back and told her that if the bride of the wedding I'm in next year actually had the balls to send this to me for real, that I would definitely have to collect the rest of the bridesmaids for a "bridesmaid meeting" and beat the bride up. LOL!
r | May 30, 2007 4:48:10 PM
i totally got this forwarded to me! it did seem very believable, especially considering there was a follow-up email to the sister saying that the pregnancy clause didn't apply to her because she'd been trying to get pregnant. maybe it didn't start as one, but now she says it's a "joke" b/c of all the harassment she's received..? who knows.. she should still be allowed to have a nice wedding with no security threats...
Elisabeth | May 30, 2007 2:25:39 PM
It's interesting that the sisters of the bride didn't think it was a joke... the people who one would think would know the bride better than anyone else... wonder what it is in her personality that they thought she was serious?
B | May 30, 2007 1:47:49 PM
I received a 3 page email of my duties as a bridesmaid for my friends wedding. Only for her, it wasn't a joke. Her and her mother in law found it online and thought it was a good idea to send it to me. I was also the only bridesmaid to receive this. This caused some problems esp. since I was expected to do everything alone and pay for everything alone too! After a lot of thought I eventually decided to back out of the wedding.