<story><title>The surreal life of a professional bridesmaid</title><url>https://thehustle.co/the-surreal-life-of-a-professional-bridesmaid/</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>focusedone</author><text>I worked at a wedding supply business during college and later as a photographer. I&amp;#x27;ve probably been paid to attend a couple hundred weddings total.&lt;p&gt;It&amp;#x27;s a great way to see a wide cross section of people in a very stressful situation.  Some people get &lt;i&gt;so&lt;/i&gt; wound up on every little detail and even minor deviations from an unattainable perfection result in an avalanche of emotion.&lt;p&gt;Other people are totally chill and just there to celebrate something special with family and friends.&lt;p&gt;Either way, I can 100% see the need &amp;#x2F; benefit of having a professional (or seasoned wedding attender) in the wedding party.  Someone who&amp;#x27;s &lt;i&gt;seen some stuff&lt;/i&gt; and stays calm when whatever nutso thing happens.&lt;p&gt;Even perfectly reasonable, chill couples will have that one crazy aunt projecting expectations on everyone around them.  Having someone close to the party who can identify and firewall the crazy can keep a wonderful day from becoming a stress fest.&lt;p&gt;Anyway, the professional in the article identified a real felt need she could address and found a way to get paid fixing it.  Good for her!</text></comment>
<story><title>The surreal life of a professional bridesmaid</title><url>https://thehustle.co/the-surreal-life-of-a-professional-bridesmaid/</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>pjc50</author><text>Not an entirely new profession. In the past, this sort of thing used to happen more often with funerals and professional mourners; now &lt;i&gt;that&lt;/i&gt; has well and truly gone in the West.&lt;p&gt;There is an anecdote in &lt;i&gt;Naples 44&lt;/i&gt; about how the narrator&amp;#x27;s &amp;quot;fixer&amp;quot; in Naples had had a side gig as an &amp;quot;uncle from Rome&amp;quot; at funerals. By turning up in the right suit with the right accent and social graces this would enhance the social status of the deceased.&lt;p&gt;There used to be something of a market for &amp;quot;professional token Westerner&amp;quot; in Chinese events. I&amp;#x27;ve no idea if that&amp;#x27;s still a thing.</text></comment>