"Always a Bridesmaid"
Meadow Brook Theatre
Rochester, Mich.
Through June 21, 2026
June is a fitting time for a light-hearted comedy about bridesmaids, and Meadow Brook Theatre’s current production of “Always a Bridesmaid” is a great option for anyone looking for a couple of hours of light escapism. The show is directed by Travis Walter and runs until June 21.
The 2013 comedy by writing team “Jones Hope Wooten,” which includes Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, follows four Southern women who, in high school, had promised to be each other’s bridesmaids. Now in their middle age – with some embarking on multiple marriages – the women continue to honor that pact with varying levels of enthusiasm and lots of shenanigans.
Monette (Milika Cherée) is an outgoing, flirty type about to marry for the third time. Charlie (Dani Cochrane) is a landscaping tomboy hesitant to tie the knot. Deedra (Leslie Ann Handelman) is a cynical judge with marriage troubles. Libby Ruth (Cheryl Turski) is a hopeless romantic with an optimistic outlook to make the best of every situation. A random bride (Kari Ames-Bissette) – whose identity we learn later – gives an increasingly drunken speech throughout, while venue coordinator Sedalia (Stephanie Wahl) has little patience for the women’s antics.
There were some laugh-out-loud moments, but I found the show more amusing than side-splitting. The bridesmaid dress mishaps were my favorite moments, which included a wide interpretation of the color coral and the “revenge” tactic of asking your friends to wear the same bridesmaid dresses you had to wear in their weddings. The best were the French-themed bridesmaid dresses, which included a can-can dress, a French maid costume and a full-on Marie Antoinette-style gown and wig, complete with a birdcage on the head. (These may be the only bridesmaids ever that didn’t need prior approval from the bride in their dress selection.)
Some of the jokes felt dated and a bit cringeworthy. I won’t pretend women still don’t obsess over their looks, but weight jokes felt tedious, and we’ve heard about drunken family squabbles at weddings many times before. The jokes – and the wedding vibe in general – felt very 1990s, surprising for a play written in the 21st century. There’s plenty of original material available about modern-day women planning their weddings if we tried a little harder. I did enjoy the audience participation group reception dances at the end. While I'm pretty sure virtually nobody does the Chicken Dance, the Macarena or “Shout!” anymore – hey 1990s! – the nostalgia was fun.
The cast was embodied the over-the-top of bridesmaid tropes. Wahl gave a standout comedic performance as the no-nonsense venue coordinator increasingly fed up with the women’s chaos; she also had the best outfits.
Donna Beagle’s wedding venue set design featured an elegant pastel blue interior in a historic Virginia home. Paired with traditional pew bows on the aisles, it immediately created a romantic, feminine space from the moment we walked into the auditorium.
As someone who loves weddings and humor based on female experiences, I had high hopes for “Always a Bridesmaid,” which had the potential to be a smarter comedy. But the humor was largely based on dated stereotypes, which was amusing but not insightful or resonant. Still, if you’re looking for a good time without any heavy lifting, “Always a Bridesmaid” might be for you.
