$ Ka- Ching! Get paid to be a bridesmaid!

Love weddings? Have an eye for organization? Enjoy lending a helping hand? Turn those skills into cash as a “professional bridesmaid”! That’s when you’re hired to be a bride’s personal assistant, therapist and gal pal rolled into one throughout the weddin

✔ TAP INTO YOUR SKILLS!

While you won’t be planning the wedding, as a pro bridesmaid, you may do everything from logging RSVPS and reviewing vendor contracts to giving pep talks— whatever the bride needs help with! If you’ve been a bridesmaid in the past, you already have a good foundation: “You know the flow of a wedding, are familiar with the types of vendors and have experienced all the emotions around the big day,” says original pro bridesmaid Jen Glantz, author of Always a Bridesmaid (for Hire). To sharpen those skills, consider watching the Bridesmaid Crash Course Video Series at Bridesmaidforhire.com, where you’ll also learn how to create different packages, ranging from $500 to $2,500 for your services depending on how involved the bride wants you to be.

✔ GET GIGS!

Spread the word on social media, volunteer to help friends and family (better yet, a friend of a friend, so it’s easier to be objective), and consider applying to join Glantz’s national network of professional bridesmaids. Also smart: Attend bridal shows and expos (find them on Weddingwire.com), where you can network with other industry pros and pass out your information.

✔ CONNECT WITH THE BRIDE!

Just as important as tending to logistics—setting up to-do lists, going over seating plans—is meshing with the bride’s personality. Glantz gets her clients to open up by building trust. “I explain different ways I’ve had other brides’ backs,” she says. For example, once at an outdoor wedding, she had to quickly pick up dog poop from the aisle!

✔ GET THE PARTY ON BOARD!

As a “wedding whisperer,” a pro bridesmaid often has to wrangle members of the bridal party without seeming overly directive. To pave the way, Glantz advises talking to them: “I walk up to each person, ask questions, introduce myself and find out what they need. Many bridesmaids have never done this before, so they feel more comfortable when they know I have.”

✔ KEEP A STRESS-FREE ZONE!

The number-one problem for brides? “The people around her stress her out,” says Glantz. You’ll want to nip any complaints in the bud so the bride doesn’t have to deal with them—or even know there are issues! Sometimes, the bride’s own anxiety is clouding her day. If she’s stressed, ask questions, says Glantz—often letting her simply talk it out is all it takes to ease any nerves and set the stage for a memorable wedding!

2-Ingredient Chocolate Fondue

This simple recipe makes enough fondue for up to eight guests and can easily be doubled. 1 can sweetened condensed milk 8 oz. semisweet chocolate ● Combine condensed milk and semisweet chocolate in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Transfer to fondue pot, or jazz it up with a fun variation:

Raspberry swirl: Add 1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam to the chocolate mixture as it melts. ● Chocolate-caramel: Add 1/2 cup of caramel topping to the melted chocolate mixture. ● Peanut butter: Add 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter to the chocolate mixture as it melts. ● Marshmallow: Add 1 cup mini marshmallows and 1 tsp. vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture, then stir until marshmallows are melted. ● White chocolate swirl: Transfer fondue to your fondue pot or slow cooker. Top with 1/4 cup chopped white chocolate, then drag a fork or knife across the surface for a marbled effect.