We don’t talk about friend breakups like we talk about relationship breakups, but if you have ever experienced the heartbreak of loosing a friendship that you deeply valued, then you understand that the loss of friendships can be just as traumatic and painful and the loss of a partner. Now we are not talking loss through death but instead loss through separation.

 

A friend breakup.

 

The loss of a friendship can be deeply traumatic and shocking. While we go into romantic relationships hoping they will work out long term we still know that there is a possibility that they might not. But when we start a friendship, we don’t often think that it could also one day end in a breakup.

 

When we don’t think a relationship could end, we often don’t work to maintain it and keep it healthy. We think it will just work itself out, just give it time, we have been friends forever! But a friendship is still a relationship, and relationships take work. Deep friendships are precious, can often last longer than a marriage and are hard to come by. We must protect these connections.

 

But the most common breakup for best friends comes after a wedding. Why is this and what can you do to make sure you and your bestie keep your friendship strong through and after the wedding process?

 

Weddings are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, but the reality is that they are emotionally and physically draining. There is so much work, stress and financial strain that it can really take a toll on an individual. And this is true if you are the Bride, Maid of Honor or a Bridesmaid

 

While we can’t necessarily get rid of all the stress of planning a wedding, we can mitigate its impact on our friendships. The key is to go in with eyes open and being willing to have hard conversations before issues arise. We want to think it won’t happen to us and to our friendships but that is the mindset that will keep you from being able to prevent friction from happening. Being honest that everyone gets stressed and might have different expectations about a wedding is what will help you keep the friendship strong. So, sit down and have those hard talks with your bestie so that after the wedding you can still have that her to talk to.

 

Need some help having those hard conversations and setting expectations? Download our FREE Setting Expectations Workbook, to help walk both of you through the entire wedding process, spot the issues before they come up and get equipped to take on the difficult moments together.

 

And if you want more help walking through the Maid of Honor process sign up for our waitlist for the Maid of Honor Manual.